A chance to spot eagles and enjoy the silence of the lower Connecticut River is open to Tri-Town residents for the second half of the winter season as part of this year’s Winter Wildlife Eagle Cruises.

The tours are taking place on the RiverQuest vessel that is docked at the Connecticut River Museum and occurring during a relatively quiet time along the body of water, allowing cruisers to enjoy the quiet scenery of the wintertime.

“If you're used to being on the Connecticut River on a summer weekend, this is the polar opposite,” said museum Executive Director Elizabeth Kaeser. “There is something really amazing about being the only boat on the water. It makes it feel like it's your river in some ways. You're not sharing it with anybody else. Then, you can really appreciate the beauty, the majesty, the sort of natural wonder that this body of water represents.”

The first cruise took sail on Feb. 9, and the program will run through Wednesday, March 13. Cruise times will take place during the morning and afternoon hours from Friday to Sunday.

With no leaves on the trees, the cruises also offer the opportunity for people to view the “abundance” of surrounding wildlife, including the “star of the show,” which are eagles, said Kaeser. The executive director added that this time of year offers “the best possible chance of seeing as many eagles as you can” as the birds migrate south from Canada and north to New England.

“An eagle in flight is a truly beautiful thing to experience,” said Kaeser. “You can't understand just how good it is until you've seen it for yourself.”

However, the spotting of wildlife is not just limited to eagles.

“There are opportunities to see a variety of different kinds of creatures,” added Kaeser. “We do occasionally see seals bopping around. There are your sort of standard issues: seagulls and ducks and mergansers.”

While on board, tourists will be guided by naturalists to watch out for wildlife that may also include grebes, foxes, deer, swans, coyotes, and possibly bobcats. Tourists will also be told stories about the history and geography of the Connecticut River and its islands by RiverQuest's captain and on-board naturalists. Tourists are also encouraged to bring cameras and binoculars with them as part of the experience. If they do not have the instrument, one will be provided on board. RiverQuest does have a heated cabin in which tourists can situate themselves, but Kaeser said that, “The best views are outside of the heated cabin, so we recommend that people dress in layers.”

RiverQuest is also handicap accessible.

Broadly, the Winter Wildlife Eagle Cruises provide another way for the Connecticut River Museum “to engage the next generation of river stewards and to inspire people through river experiences aboard our vessels,” said Kaeser. Such a goal is perfect timing given that the museum is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary with the mission in mind of keeping the historic body of water as clean as it can be for future generations.

“We want everyone to care about this river and about its watershed because it is so impactful for everyone who lives here,” said Kaeser. “It’s easy to assume that it's already been cleaned up and the work is done and you can just enjoy it to a certain extent. You can, but we all are perpetually making choices that are going to impact the river for decades to come. So, as we are thinking about our 50th anniversary and we're looking back over the past years, we’re also thinking ahead.”

“How do we inspire people who live along the water, people who are part of the 2.4 million people that are in the river’s watershed, to make choices that are going to sustain the river for the next 50 years and well beyond?”

More information and booking times are available at https://ctrivermuseum.org/events/2024-winter-wildlife-eagle-cruises-on-riverquest/.