Return of the Bald Eagle
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Coxsackie State Boat Launch

Return of the Bald Eagle, also, Coxsackie State Boat Launch. . , Imagine standing here knowing only one pair of bald eagles still nest in New York State. There are no young eagles left in the area. Year after year eggs are laid, but they do not survive due to the side effects of pesticides used in the region. People are moving into areas that eagles need for nesting and wintering, removing precious habitat. It looks like local extinction of the majestic bird is unavoidable. It is 1979., Now return to present day where more than 80 pairs of bald eagles nest and several hundred more winter each year. The bald eagles' success story in the region is the result of New York State programs aimed at restoring and protecting the species in the wild. It is also the result of local people coming together to preserve the places bald eagles live, winter, and grow., The decline of the bald eagle taught us that the success of any living creature depends on maintaining a healthy place to grow year after year. Efforts were made in the 1980s to control pollution that affected the eagles' eggs and to protect essential habitat important for nesting. These efforts continue today and have allowed bald eagles and many more types of birds and animals to flourish along the Hudson River., The bald eagles' retur to the Hudson River is a story that people and nature can celebrate together. At the Hudson Eagles Recreation Area sites, we can continue being responsible caretakers of nature. Doing so allows us to enjoy the outdoors alongside the bald eagle while helping to protect the Hudson River for generations to come., The Hudson Eagles Recreation Area , The Hudson Eagles Recreation Area is a collection of five waterfront parks in the Hudson River Valley that celebrate the return of the bald eagle to New York State. The sites are located in Athens, Hudson and Coxsackle, and at Schodack Island State Park and Crailo State Historic Site. Thanks to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Department of Environmental Conservation, local partners, and the surrounding communities for working tirelessly to restore habitat and foster resiliency along one of America's most important waterways. Welcome and enjoy., The Town of Coxsackie , Koxhacking, Koixhacking, and Koxsackle are three of the over sixty recorded spellings for present-day Coxsackie - the "Place of Owls". The name comes from the Mohican people that originally inhabited the region. Reed Street Historic District has thirty 19th-century commercial buildings that once supported industries such as shipbuilding and metalworking-Today the historic structures contain shops, cafes, and grocers. Local foods can be enjoyed at the farmers' market during the summer months in Riverside Park along with food trucks and live music. The boat launch allows docking for motorboats, canoes, and kayaks. Added seasonal docks are installed for fishing, picnicking and enjoying the views., The Hudson River , Centuries before European colonists first sailed up the Hudson River, thousands of Native Americans lived here. The Mohican people are among many nations that call this valley their ancestral home. They call the river "Muhheakantuck" or the "river that flows two ways." This fitting name reflects the fact that the Hudson River is a tidal estuary. Its water changes direction four times a day with the ocean tide. The tide travels 150 miles upriver to the Troy Dam. The rise and fall of the water breathe life into riverfront marshlands, hundreds of creeks and tributaries, and many historic towns and cities., The Hudson River is home to hundreds of unique animals and plants. The mixing of salt water from the Atlantic Ocean and fresh water from the surrounding watersheds result in an extremely diverse ecosystem called an estuary. More than 200 species of fish swim below the river's surface. The wealth of natural resources in the Hudson River and the surrounding valley led to many important American stories. This Ancient Highway" has given birth to countless Industries, inventions, tragedies, and dreams. Hundreds of years of human growth and use left the Hudson River changed and in need of help. The work to return the bald eagle to the region is one of many efforts to give back to the river that has given us so much, Learn more about the river, its history, and the work being done today at each of the Hudson Eagles Recreation Area sites., For more information on how you can improve the health of the Hudson River, connect with: The Now York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, The New York State Deparment of Environmental Conservation, and The Stockbridge-Munsee Community - www.mohican.com