PINE GROVE - A bald eagle flying off in the distance greeted bird watchers Saturday morning at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park.
Denise Donmoyer, park naturalist and president of the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association, hosted a bird walk for about 40 people from 9 to 11 a.m. at the park.
"When you see a bald eagle, view it from a distance," Donmoyer said. "Everyone understands the concept of a mother bear and her cubs, eagles can hurt you if they want to."
The eagle was probably one of the two adults that have been visiting the park over the last three years, Donmoyer said. Earlier this year, the pair laid two eggs in what was the first eagle nest at the park and only the third reported in Schuylkill County.
In May, a windstorm knocked down the nest and injured one of the two eaglets. It recovered from a broken leg at Red Creek Wildlife Center in Schuylkill Haven and then joined the other eaglet and adult birds at the park.
"We have seen them all flying around ever since," Donmoyer said.
The eagle was only one of several different species that had local watchers glued to their binoculars Saturday.
"Another way we learn to identify birds is through their calls," Donmoyer said.
A king fisher was seen along the lake after being heard by the group. A flock of Canada geese flew overhead and the group was also able to see blue birds, an osprey, a green heron, a great blue heron and a great egret, which is endangered in Pennsylvania.
Some birds stay at the park into December, Donmoyer said.
"There are more birds here in the winter than some people realize," she said.
Susan Reier, Pottsville, said she spotted an eagle in July while kayaking at the park.
"A lot of people don't get to see a lot of these birds," she said. "People in Schuylkill County don't know how beautiful it is."
Reier said bird watching has become a hobby for her while enjoying other outdoor activities.
"I have not met as many birds in the book as I want to," she said. "It's also one of the best indicators of the health of the environment. Plus, they are just plain beautiful to look at."
Greg and Jennifer Reed, Friedensburg, took their six-year-old daughter, Piper, on the bird walk.
"I thought this would be fun and it gets her out of the house and walking around," Greg Reed said.
Greg said he brings her out to the park as often as he can. She recently caught her first fish at the lake in July, he said.
"It's really pretty out here." Piper said.
Bird watching is a hobby that Donmoyer said she would recommend to anyone.
"You can do it anytime. There are always birds outside," she said. "It also teaches kids an appreciation for nature."
Donmoyer said everything in nature has an effect on each another, from people to birds.
"It's an interesting hobby because there are so many different species. They are colorful and easy to see," she said. "It's also an inexpensive hobby. With a pair of binoculars and a book, you can learn a lot about birds and their habitats."
For more information about upcoming events at the park, visit www.sweetarrowlakepark.com.