Sharon Historical Society Presents “Eagles of Schoharie County” with Bill Combs Jr.

SHARON — The Sharon Historical Society will present Eagles of Schoharie County as part of its Historical Lecture Series on March 9th at 7:00 PM in the Sharon Public Library Community Room. The program will also be available live via Zoom. For more information, visit www.sharonhistoricalsocietyny.org.

Few symbols are more closely tied to America’s identity than the bald eagle. Chosen in 1782 for the Great Seal of the United States after years of debate among the Founding Fathers and Congressional committees, the eagle has long represented strength and resilience. Yet despite its iconic status, the bald eagle nearly vanished from the American landscape. From an estimated 100,000 nesting birds in the late 1800s, populations plummeted due to habitat destruction, hunting, and the devastating effects of DDT. By the 1960s, only about 400 breeding pairs remained in the continental United States. Thanks to federal protections, including the 1940 Bald Eagle Protection Act and the eventual ban on DDT, the species made one of the greatest wildlife recoveries in conservation history, coming off the endangered species list in 2007.

Today, that remarkable comeback story is unfolding across Schoharie County.

The March 9 presentation will be led by Bill Combs Jr., widely known as “The Eagle Man,” a Cobleskill-based nature photographer and conservation advocate who has documented and monitored the region’s bald eagles since relocating from Florida nearly 20 years ago. Combs has become a leading authority on local eagle populations, actively monitoring at least 25 active nests and reporting data to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

In partnership with the Schoharie Economic Enterprise Corp. (SEEC), Combs founded the Schoharie County Eagle Trail, which officially launched in 2020. The self-guided birdwatching route features 20 viewing sites and wildlife “hot spots” throughout the county, including Gilboa, Middleburgh, and Cobleskill. Observation areas range from the deck at Sterling Insurance in Cobleskill to sites within Mine Kill State Park. Combs gained national attention for documenting a pair of eagles—later named John Jacob and Anna Maria—that famously nested near a Cobleskill Walmart, capturing public imagination and media coverage.

As spring unfolds along the Eagle Trail, nesting season is in full swing. Eaglets are hatching and growing rapidly, reaching full size in just nine weeks. After fledging, young eagles remain near the nest for four to five weeks perfecting their flying and hunting skills. This year’s nest counts across communities such as Cobleskill, Middleburgh, Schoharie, Carlisle, Seward, and beyond suggest that more than 50 bald eagles—adults and newly fledged young—will be soaring over Schoharie County skies from mid-summer into early fall.

Combs’ presentations combine history, biology, and firsthand observation. He discusses eagle nesting habits, conservation monitoring practices, and the designation of numbered nests such as NY-9, first recorded in 1989, alongside newer sites in Blenheim and surrounding areas. He also highlights the broader ecosystem along the Eagle Trail, where visitors may encounter Osprey, Great Blue Herons, Wood Ducks, Beavers, Porcupines, Deer, and even Black Bears.

Beyond public talks, Combs leads the Annual Eagle Count at Mine Kill State Park, publishes a monthly newsletter titled Tales from the Trail, and maintains active social media platforms under “Schoharie County Photos” and “Combs Wildlife Photography.” One of his most widely recognized images—capturing a red-winged blackbird riding on the back of a bald eagle at the Cobleskill Reservoir—was featured on national news outlets and viewed by millions online.

The March 9th program will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of America’s national symbol, the dramatic conservation success that brought it back from near extinction, and the vibrant bald eagle population thriving locally today.

Reservations are required to attend the presentation either in person or via Zoom and can be made online by visiting the Sharon Historical Website at www.sharonhistoricalsocietyny.org. For more information, contact the Sharon Historical Society by email at sharonhistoricalsocietyny@gmail.com or by calling (518) 860-5513.