Each winter, thousands of birds migrate "south" in search of warmer climates and in particular, warmer and unfrozen waters. These waters become a sanctuary for birds to congregate and use for hunting during the winter months. In the past, bald eagles were unseen in our area. Now these giant birds of prey are making a triumphant return (over 100 are seen at Croton Point Park each year).

How can you catch a glimpse? Teatown Lake Reservation is hosting its 6th Eagle Fest at Croton Point Park to celebrate not just bald eagles, but all raptors that make their way back "home" for the winter. EagleFest-ivities take flight at 8am on Saturday at Van Cortlandt Manor with a FREE bird walk and tour of the Croton River by the Hudson Valley Audubon's Michael Botonick. After your tour of the grounds, meet in Van Cortlandt Manor's visitor center for hot beverages, light snacks, and a number of hands-on craft activities. Then migrate over to Croton Point Park for the Birds of Prey show, storytelling, heated tents for eagle viewing, and much more. Don't forget your binoculars!

Click here for a complete listing of EagleFest-ivities

For a story about the growing trend of historic house museums emphasizing the stories of slaves and servants, Marketplace reporter Ashley Milne-Tyte recently visited Philipsburg Manor and Van Cortlandt and spoke with our interpreters and our curator, Kate Johnson.

The story aired nationally during the Aug. 7 edition of Marketplace. You can read the transcript or take a listen to this compelling piece online.

When a digital portrait is showing a little too much "character," a few virtual brushstrokes can make it blemish free. But when the medium is canvas and oil and the problem isn't "character," but rather dirt and grime, the process is a wee bit more involved.

Guest blogger and Historic Hudson Valley curatorial intern Valaer van Roijen reports this week about a successful painting restoration project. It's kind of like analog Photoshop. You can see the before, above, and the painting as it hangs at Van Cortlandt Manor.

And now, Valaer...

Thanks to a grant from Greater Hudson Heritage Network, Historic Hudson Valley's portrait of Gertrude Van Cortlandt Beekman has been restored to match the sitter's youthful beauty.

Modern folks seem to always be trying to maintain youth or turn back the clock, and women of the 18^th century were no exception. At the apex of youth, often the age of marriage, it was common for young women of wealthy families to sit for their portrait.

One such portrait, recently donated to Historic Hudson Valley, features a raven-haired beauty thought to be Gertrude Van Cortlandt Beekman, the aunt of Pierre Van Cortlandt, patriarch of the Van Cortlandt Manor. Thanks to this portrait, Mrs. Beekman (1687-1777) has appeared for more than 300 years as she did at the youthful age of thirty. However, due to the travails of time, the true age of the painting has begun to show.

The painting arrived at Historic Hudson Valley headquarters buried under layers of dirt and mold. Cracks and even one large gash covered the painting's surface. The 18^th-century frame in which it was contained had also suffered considerable losses. While Gertrude peered out of the painting with a youthful glow, the state of its condition spoke to its considerable age.

After outlining a plan of attack, restorers set to work reviving both centuries-old relics. Conservator Sean Digney-Peer from the Metropolitan Museum of Art set to work on the canvas while Marylou Davis tackled the frame. After nearly 70 hours of work repairing both structural and superficial damage and removing surface dirt and mold, both the painting and its frame can once again be seen in a state of renewed youth.

Through the generosity of Greater Hudson Heritage Network and hard work of restorers, Gertrude has, in a way, found the fountain of youth. Her portrait now hangs in the family home, Van Cortlandt Manor, with renewed clarity and accuracy. Now, modern day visitors can see the portrait as if they were viewing it at the time of its creation.

On this Fourth, you  can celebrate our country's independence by actually becoming a part of it. Whether you're a history buff, a sports fan, nature lover, or family of nine you will find something to fit your tastes at either of this years July 4th events at Historic Hudson Valley. 

First decide whether you'd like to travel 150 or 200 years into the past to experience a more traditional celebration of America's independence. (Don't worry, you can do both!)

Independence Day 1809 is at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson. Packed like a cannon with traditional celebrations including a reading of the Declaration of Independence, historic reenactments, and hands-on activities that will have you experiencing your very own military camp. You might forget you are in the year 2009.  If that's not enough, there's a parade that marches the entire property in all its glory.

At Independence Day 1859 at Washington Irving's Sunnyside in Tarrytown, visitors will be welcomed with period style music and dancing and can play "Town Ball," a traditional version of baseball from the 19^th century. If the sun becomes too much, dip into Irving's cottage for a tour or help churn ice cream the old fashioned way. 

If you visit today, let us know and send us some pics!

Summer is beginning to wind down, at least for kids who are facing the mixed emotions of the back-to-school bell, so we thought it appropriate to piggyback on our Aug. 14 entry and offer some final thoughts on the pilot Riverweek program at Van Cortlandt Manor, which ran from Aug. 4-8 and was organized by Danielle Fontaine, HHV summer camp guru (shown above).

Danielle said she found it particularly rewarding to work with the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater organization, which centers around a boat built by folksinger Pete Seeger in the 1960s to bring attention to pollution and environmental degradation plaguing the Hudson.

Riverweek wasn't the first time these two organizations partnered on projects. Danielle is a long time volunteer for Clearwater and had worked with Clearwater educator Dan Einbender on past projects such as the Summerweek program at Sunnyside.

After several brainstorming sessions between HHV Program Director Ross W. Higgins, Van Cortlandt Manor Site Director Althea Corey, and Clearwater Director Jeff Rumpf, the team of Dan and Danielle created the program that would become Riverweek's. With the addition of Camp Director Christin Creary and the talents of HHV's interpretive staff, Riverweek came to life.

A true blend of both organization's missions and educational programs, Riverweek featured a split day: mornings being spent in the early 19^th century with the Van Cortlandt family and other residents of the manor, with students studying how the Hudson and Croton Rivers shaped our history.

The afternoons were spent learning about the environment, ecology, and our effect on the future of our rivers. Campers built their own boats, prepared a lunch featuring Van Cortlandt family recipes for river fish, tied nets, studied the Hudson River School of painting, and made hand crafts of sailors past such as scrimshaw, knot work, and sailor's valentines. Students also spent  time studying aquatic life, examining the food web through games, and testing the waters of the rivers.

One entire Riverweek day was spent at Croton Point Park, seining in the Hudson River, collecting fish, and taking water samples. Students got to learn how they, as stewards of the river, can protect the waterways for future generations. Each day at lunch, there was a moment of silence, providing a chance to just listen to the surrounding environment and feel a part of nature, rather than just watching it on a screen.

Campers wrote their own song parodies and designed story boards with their own photographs, reflecting on what they learned during the week. They presented the end results in a concert for parents on the final day.

Danielle says by all measures the program was a huge success.

"After reviewing comments from campers and the written responses from parents, we are very hopeful that Riverweek will become a permanent part of Historic Hudson Valley's summer program offerings," she said.

From HVBLogger's perspective, any program that gets kids outside and thinking about the implications of man's footprint on the environment is a good thing, indeed. Bravo to Danielle and the entire crew for making it happen.