I was there too. Canoeing later that afternoon, I believe I saw two of the three sitting in a tree checking things out. They weren’t more than a couple of hundred yards from where they were released. In a few hours I saw 5 different eagles. Mason Neck is a beautiful place. In the dead of winter about 15 years ago, I counted 19 mature eagles sitting on a sheet of ice at Mason Neck. Not bad for 25 miles from D.C.
Before the release there were at least 3 flying around the area. Our daughter said that they knew what was up and had come to welcome the new arrivals. One of the released ones went to a tree was still hanging out in it when we left...probably wondering when the people would be bringing supper. The guy said that these three had never fished and would have to learn by watching the others and possibly stealing from them. He also said that statistically, only one of the three would make it to maturity, maybe.
Hope you had a great time canoeing! We are probably going to have to break down and buy one. Our house is next to the Occoquan (great view from the deck and dining room from Oct-April and a nice view from the master bedroom all year), and the daughter has been very pointed in her observation that we are the only people she knows that do not own a boat of some type. hint hint, right? LOL