MiddletownJournal.com

ROSS TWP. — Butler County's newest residents, a pair of bald eagles, are fast becoming a local attraction.

The eagles, the first known to be nesting in Butler County history according to the he Ohio Department of Natural Resources' Division of Wildlife, have nested along the banks of the Great Miami River on the private property of Martin Marietta Materials, an aggregate company in Ross Twp. While the birds cannot be viewed by land, a new boating livery, GMR Riversports, has begun offering "Bald Eagle Tours" near the nesting site.

"I've paddled by several times now. They are not afraid of humans. You can float right by the nest," said Misty Duff, co-owner of GMR.

The tours begin this Saturday, April 4, and will run every weekend until Memorial Day. GMR will then begin offering boating seven days a week through the summer.

Residents can paddle down an eight-mile stretch of the Great Miami, which begins just after the low dam in Hamilton and ends in Colerain Twp. The large eagles nest looms high above in a cottonwood tree just over the river about halfway through the tour. A nearby sycamore has become the birds' "favorite roost," Duff said, and they can typically be found nearby before noon.

Duff, along with her husband, Andrew, has touched base with the ODNR before organizing the tours, and put together a fact sheet on "eagle etiquette." They advise paddlers to stay on the left side of the river when viewing the eagles, not to speak loudly or make bird calls when near the nest. They also advise not to take souvenirs, such as feathers, since it's a federal offense.

"We just want people to have a good time and see the eagles," she said. "They are just so stunning. It's really beautiful."

The river also offers great opportunities for recreation and other wildlife viewing. Herons, kingfishers, ducks, geese, turtles and more can be seen along the banks. The winding route offers serene paddling as well as a few rapid areas and plenty of fishing, said Aaron Rourke, trustee of Cincinnati-based Rivers Unlimited.

The bald eagles, which mate for life, will use the local nest and should be seen around the area for years to come. However, as the end of the nesting season approaches, it does not appear the pair will lay eggs this year, said Aaron Ireland, Butler County wildlife officer.

"It appears to be a new pair and with any new parent these things can happen," he said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.

Bald Eagle Tours

When: Beginning April 4

Where: GMR Riversports, 12041 East Miami River Road in Colerain

Cost: $38/canoe, $25/kayak for four hour tour along Great Miami River

Age limits: Children younger than 5 cannot ride in a canoe; paddlers must be 12 years or older for a kayak

Information: (513) 907-4301 or www.gmrriversports.com