Ferryville to host Bald Eagle Watching Day with variety of events Saturday
The Ninth Annual Bald Eagle Watching Day is scheduled to take place this Saturday, March 4 in Ferryville, WI at the Village Community Center located on State Highway 35, “The Great River Road”. This program is sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council, co-sponsored by Friends of Pool 9 and free to the public.
Event activities are scheduled to take place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Doors will open at 9:45 a.m. New to the program is the Decorah Raptor Rearch Project Eagle Cam organization presenting at 12:30 p.m. on “What we learned from an Eagle’s Nest”. John Howe of the Raptor Resource Project and his team will be in attendance for the first time.
Free refreshments and children’s craft activities will be available throughout the event. There are many eagle nests in the Ferryville, WI area, including a new one just south of Ferryville. The Pool 9 section has more nests than in any other part of the Mississippi River.
At 10 a.m., Bald Eagle nest building will take place. Dr. Michael White, with the help of children/youth from the audience, will build a Bald Eagle nest. Learn how “really big” these nests are, how heavy they are and how they are constructed.
Live Bald Eagle programs will take place at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. featuring eagles from the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. Learn how Bald Eagles have returned to this area in increasing numbers and what can be done to support this effort to help eagles flourish. The University of Minnesota Raptor Center is back for the eighth year with raptors and an eagle. Returning for the sixth year in a row is “Lois, The Owl”.
Local photographic artist Larry Knutson will be exhibiting his award-winning art featuring scenes of nature, eagles and the area. Knutson is a native of Ferryville and the region.
At 11:30 a.m., there is a “Hooting Contest” for folks of all ages with awards and ribbons in each of the five age categories: five and under, ages six-12, ages 13-18, ages 19-54, age 55 and up).
At 12:10 p.m., Middle School Art/Project awards will be distributed. At 12:15 p.m., a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) presentation will take place on DNR Assets of the Region, as well as a drawing for free eagle license plates for one year. From 12:30-1:30 p.m., the Decorah Raptor Research Project will present “What we learned from an Eagle’s Nest”.
For additional information about Saturday's events, see all related advertising in the Entertainment section in this week's issue of The Standard or go to the Ferryville Tourism Council website at www.visitferryville.com.
