#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Cedar Waxwing

In today’s edition of #RBWInterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at one of the most visually striking birds found at R. B. Winter State Park - the Cedar Waxwing!

A year-round inhabitant of Pennsylvania, Cedar Waxwings are medium-sized songbirds comparable in size to an American Robin. Known for their silky, shiny plumage and sleek crests, they typically have a pale brown head and chest that fades into a soft gray on the wings, with a distinctive black mask outlined in white. Their name derives from the bright red, wax-like tips that form on the secondary wing feathers of some adult birds.

Cedar Waxwings can be found in a variety of habitats, ranging from open woodlands and orchards to suburban gardens and parks. They are especially attracted to areas with abundant fruit-bearing plants, particularly berries, which make up approximately 80% of their diet. Unlike many other North American birds, Cedar Waxwings can survive for months at a time on just fruits and berries. They are also known to naturally disperse the seeds of the plants they eat, as they consume the entire fruit and pass the seeds through their digestive tract, spreading the seeds across the landscape as they search for their next meal.

At R. B. Winter State Park, Cedar Waxwings that have not migrated south can be found in the winter as flocks hunt through the forest for berries and other dried fruits to eat. The best time to see them at the park is right now! During the summer months, they often supplement their diet with insects and can be found near the dam, performing dizzying aerial acrobatics as they pluck mayflies, dragonflies, stoneflies, and other insects out of midair.

The next time you’re at the park, be sure to stop by the parking area near the Raymond B. Winter memorial at the dam and watch for these sleek-looking birds!

Picture by Friends of R. B. Winter State Park Board Member Kyle Fawcett

#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Northern Watersnake

With summer in full swing, today's edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday takes a look at one of the most common species of snakes you'll encounter at R. B. Winter State Park: the Northern Watersnake!

Northern Watersnakes are one of Pennsylvania's twenty-one native species of snakes and can be found in various habitats, including rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and marshes. At R. B. Winter State Park, you can find them anywhere near water, whether basking in the sunlight streaming through the trees along Rapid Run or chasing tadpoles and minnows along the shore of Halfway Lake. These snakes typically have a reddish-brown to grayish-brown body with dark crossbands. Younger snakes exhibit brighter coloring, which darkens as they age, making the pattern less distinct. Juveniles are usually around seven inches long at birth and can grow to over four feet as adults!

Should you come across a Northern Watersnake while visiting the park, remember to stay calm and give the snake its space. Despite their sometimes intimidating appearance, Northern Watersnakes are non-venomous and pose no threat to people. However, they may defend themselves if they feel threatened, so you should never attempt to handle or harm a watersnake. They are much more likely to flee and, when given the opportunity, will quickly slide into the water and swim away or slip under a rock to hide. If you walk away and come back in a couple of minutes, they'll most likely have silently moved away to an area where they are less likely to be disturbed.

In the 1800s and 1900s, Northern Watersnakes were considered a "fisherman's worst enemy," and bounties were offered for killing them. Today, we recognize that Northern Watersnakes play an essential role in maintaining the ecological balance of the natural ecosystem. For instance, they often prey upon diseased or dying fish or amphibians, limiting the spread of pathogens, especially in areas where fish or frogs may be overpopulated.

The next time you're visiting the park, watch for these fascinating creatures and the other wildlife that can be found at R. B. Winter State Park!

Picture by Friends of R. B. Winter State Park Board Member Kyle Fawcett

#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Bald Eagle

In honor of tomorrow's Fourth of July holiday, this week's edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday features perhaps the most iconic wildlife species found in the park: the Bald Eagle!

With their large body, massive wingspan, and distinctive adult coloring, Bald Eagles are one of the most well-known and easily identifiable wildlife species in North America. They can primarily be found near large bodies of open water, including lakes, rivers, and coastal regions, where they have ample access to their primary food source: fish. At R. B. Winter State Park, they can often be seen perched in trees around the lake, using their excellent eyesight to look for fish swimming near the water's surface. Upon spotting potential prey, they'll take flight and usually circle the lake several times before swooping down low over the water and snatching a fish with their long talons.

Bald Eagles were once a common sight across much of North America, with an estimated population of 300,000 to 500,000 individuals across the continent in the early 1700s. By the mid-1900s, various factors, including habitat destruction, unrestricted logging, wanton killing, and the use of chemical pesticides like DDT, caused Bald Eagle populations to plummet. By the 1980s, only three pairs of Bald Eagles were known to be nesting in Pennsylvania. In 1967, Bald Eagles were added to the Endangered Species List, and in 1972, DDT was banned in the United States allowing their populations to begin to recover.

In the early 1980s, the Pennsylvania Game Commission began a successful reintroduction program, and by the time Bald Eagles were removed from the Endangered Species list in 2007, more than 150 pairs were known to be nesting across the state, with an estimated additional 10,000 pairs nesting in other areas of the United States. Today, the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are more than 300,000 Bald Eagles, including over 70,000 nesting pairs, across the lower 48 states! Just a generation or two ago most Americans would only ever have the opportunity to see a Bald Eagle in a zoo or on tv, today it is not uncommon to see Bald Eagles soaring high in the skies above Penns Woods.

To learn more about these majestic animals and their return from the brink of extinction, visit their section of the Pennsylvania Game Commission website: https://www.pgc.pa.gov/.../Endangere.../Pages/BaldEagle.aspx

Picture by Friends of R. B. Winter State Park Board Member Kyle Fawcett