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| The fourth Saturday in January is designated at Eagle Day in Illinois |
To accommodate visitors who want to take advantage of the opportunity to experience the bald eagles' majesty and glory, towns and parks across much of the state will host specially planned eagle observation programs and exhibits throughout the prime-viewing season. For anyone interested in American history, bird-watching and the environment, bald eagle season in Illinois is a not-to-be-missed opportunity.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is pleased to highlight a number of eagle-watching locations and events planned for this winter:
Pere Marquette State Park Bald Eagle Days - Grafton, IL
January 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 31; February 2, 6, 7, 9, 15, 21, 25; March 3
- Reservations Required
- Informative Programs begin at the park visitor center at 8:30 am
- Video Presentation
- Observational Driving Tour of Eagle Watching Locations near the Park
- For additional information, https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Documents/BaldEagleDaysPereMarquette.pdf or call 618-786-3323
Bald Eagle Festival - Pere Marquette Lodge, Grafton
January 29 (11:00-3:00)
Mississippi River Visitor Center - Rock Island IL - Eagle Watch / Clock Tower ToursJanuary 29 (11:00-3:00)
- Festival will feature live music and entertainment by the World Bird Sanctuary as they showcase the Bald Eagle and several other raptor species in their Masters of the Sky Show at 11:00, 1:00 & 3:00.
- $3 Tickets for the shows can be purchased on the web site in advance or at the Front Desk at 10:00 the morning of the Festival.
- Unique vendor booths, grab a bite to eat in our restaurant, taste locally made wines.
- The Bald Eagle Festival takes place indoors. Entry into the Festival is free, for more information visit http://www.pmlodge.net/2016/11/bald-eagle-festival/
January 14 & 28; February 4 & 11
- Combination eagle watches and historical clock tower tours at 10:00 & 12:00
- Reservations required. Group size is limited.
- For more information or to make reservations call the Visitor Center: 309-794-5338
- For more information www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/MississippiRiverProject/Education/EagleWatching.aspx
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Eagle Watch, Marion, IL
January 21, 22, 28 & 29
- Bald Eagle and Waterfowl Viewing
- Guided Tours of the Refuge
- Reservations Required, 618-998-5933
- For more information www.fws.gov/refuge/crab_orchard
Quincy Bald Eagle Watch – Lock and Dam 21, Quincy, IL
January 21-22
- Outdoor viewing at Lock and Dam 21.
- Indoor exhibits & events 9:00-5:00 both days at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center
- For more information call the Muscatine Ranger office: 563-263-7913
- For more information www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/MississippiRiverProject/Education/EagleWatching.aspx
Carlyle Lake Eagle Watch
January 28 (9:00-1:00)
- Case-Halstead Library
- The World Bird Sanctuary will present a Bald Eagle demonstration at 10:00 & 12:00
- Eagle viewing from Carlyle Lake Main Dam, bring binoculars & dress accordingly for the weather.
- For more information; http://carlylelake.com/eagle-watch-event/, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project Office (618) 594-2484 or email carlylelake@usace.army.mil
Bald Eagle Watch - Starved Rock State Park Lodge & Illinois Waterway Visitor Center - Utica, IL
January 28-29 (9:00-4:00)
- Activities at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center, Starved Rock Lodge and Illinois Waterway Visitor Center (Lock and Dam) with interpretive programs, spotting scopes, and family and children’s activities. Hosted by the Illinois Audubon Society, IDNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Starved Rock Lodge, Starved Rock Audubon and Starved Rock Foundation.
- Children’s Activities
- Live Illinois Birds of Prey 10:00, 1:00 & 3:00
- Update: Osprey Recovery Project presentation; Sunday 1:00-2:00
- Youth Owl Calling Contest; Saturday 4:30
- Free Admission
- Park & ride the trolley between Starved Rock Lodge, Starved Rock Visitor Center and the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center - $1.00
- For Event Information, call Illinois Audubon Society 217-544-2473
- For more info www.illinoisaudubon.org/PROGRAMSEVENTS/BaldEagleWatchWeekend.html
February 4 (9:00-3:00)
- Numerous events: Lewistown Visitor's Center, The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve, Havana Nature Center and Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge.
- Spotting scopes
- Warming stations with hot cocoa
- Visit with experts
- Live Raptor Exhibit
- Kids activities
- For more information http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/illinois/eagle-day-flyer-2017.pdf
February 4 (9:00-3:00)
- Eagle watching with spotting scopes.
- Meet feathered inhabitants of the World Bird Sanctuary 10:00, 11:00 & 1:00
- Physic of Flight presentation given by the Natural History Education Co., of the MidSouth at 12:00 & 2:00
- Event is free, lunch is available for a suggested donation of $5/person, to cover lunch expenses.
- Families & leash-trained dogs welcome
- For more information, contact the U.S, Army Corps of Engineers Kaskaskia River Project Office at 618-284-7160
- For more info http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/643706/2016-kaskaskia-eagle-fest/
Lake Shelbyville Eagle Day
February 11 (9:30-2:00)
- Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center (off of Route 16 East of Main Dam) 9:30 - 2:00
- Bald Eagle Program for Kids 10:00 - 10:30 (seating is limited)
- Eagle Talk & Gawk (Q&A/pictures) 11:00 - 12:00
- Birds of Prey Program 12:30 - 1:30 (seating is limited)
- Tickets are first come, first served and can be reserved by phone or in person at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake Shelbyville Project Office Monday - Friday from 8:00 - 4:30. Remaining tickets will be available the day of the event.
- Free Admission
- For more information call (217) 774-3951or http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/643699/lake-shelbyville-eagle-day/
Family Eagle Watching Day/Open House at Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
February 11 (12:00-4:00)
- Free Admission & open to the public
- Live eagle presentation by TreeHouse Wildlife Center at 2:30
- Junior Ranger nature hikes with refuge staff.
- The bald eagle photography exhibit will highlight local professional and amateur photographers and will be on display at the refuge visitor center Feb. 10-17.
- For more information about the refuge open house, call 618-883-2524 or email tworivers@fws.gov. For More Information, www.fws.gov/refuge/two_rivers
Masters of the Sky Eagle Events, National Great Rivers Museum - Alton, IL
February 18 & 19 (9:00-5:00)
- Eagles, Hawks, Owls and More!
- 1 Hour Programs Featuring Live Birds of Prey – 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00
- Tickets are $3.00 for kids 12 & under, $5 for adults
- For More Information, http://www.meetingoftherivers.org/html/upcoming_events.html or 618-462-6979
Mississippi River Eagle Watching
January-February 2017
- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes visitors to see bald eagles at lock and dams along the Mississippi River each winter. Locations and dates are available at http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Mississippi-River-Project/Education/Eagle-Watching/
Friends of the Hennepin Canal ‘Hike the Canal’
February TBA
- Family hike centers on eagle watching along the Hennepin Canal between Lock 30 and Lock 32 (4.6 mile hike). For more information http://www.friends-hennepin-canal.org. Hikers will meet at the Steel Dam in Milan by 1:30 pm and will be shuttled to the Mississippi to begin the walk back. The event is free, dress weather appropriately.
In addition to special events, bald eagles have been found wintering throughout Illinois at locations including the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in northeast Illinois; at locations all along the Illinois River; along open waters on the Du Page River and Fox River in northeast Illinois, including Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry; at Volo Bog State Natural Area, Ingleside; along the Des Plaines River near Channahon State Park, Channahon; near the I-88 bridge in North Aurora on the Fox River; on the Fox River at the Pleasant Valley Forest Preserve in Woodstock; and, along the Rock River at locations including Lowden State Park, Oregon, Illinois.