Ferryville, WI to host its 15th Annual Bald Eagle Day - a free family event - March 1
Building an eagle’s nest ... A member of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service helps local children build a bald eagle nest at last year’s Eagle Day in Ferryville, WI. This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, March 1. Photo by Deb Warren Photography, Ferryville, WI.
Mark the calendar for the 15th Annual Eagle Day, a free family-friendly event scheduled for Saturday, March 1 at the Village Community Center on State Highway 35 – The Great River Road in Ferryville, WI. Hosted by the Ferryville Tourism Council and co-sponsored by Friends of Pool 9, this event celebrates the majesty of bald eagles and the beauty of the Mississippi River.
This year, Friends of Pool 9 introduces a new feature, wood duck box adoption. Kids can adopt a wood duck box for free, choose to install it themselves or have a volunteer place it on the river, and track their box’s activity on Facebook. Plus, every child who adopts a box receives a free hooded sweatshirt from Friends of Pool 9.
Event highlights include the following:
• Bald Eagle Nest Building at 10:15 a.m. Watch and participate as a real eagle nest is built, showing just how massive and strong these nests are.
• Live Raptor Program at 10:30 a.m. For the first time, a Golden Eagle will be featured alongside other raptors from River Valley Raptors located in Buffalo City, WI.
• Hooting Contest at 11:30 a.m. - Anyone can test their owl-calling skills and compete for the title of best “hooter.”
• Decorah Raptor Resource Project at 12 p.m. John Howe and Amy Ries present “Eagles of the Mississippi River”, sharing insights into eagle families along the river.
• Duck ID Program at 1 p.m. “Waterfowl Safari: A beginners guide to duck identification on the Upper Mississippi River.” Learn about local waterfowl with experts from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Middle school students from De Soto, WI and Seneca, WI will display their bald eagle-themed art and science projects, competing in categories such as Creativity, Most Informative, Judges’ Choice, and Most Artistic. Awards will be presented at 11:45 a.m.
Attendees can fill out a comment card for a chance to win door prizes, including gift certificates from local businesses and other prizes. A special 16”x20” metal print of a bald eagle in flight, donated by local photographers Deb and Don Warren, will also be raffled off. Proceeds go toward keeping Eagle Day a free event for years to come.
Located right on the Mississippi River, Ferryville is in Pool 9, home to more bald eagle nests than any other section of the river. With over 200 active nests in the Pool 9 region, it’s a perfect place to witness these birds in their natural habitat.
Eagle Day is a must-attend event for nature lovers, families, and wildlife enthusiasts. Enjoy a day of learning, fun, and eagle watching along the Mississippi River. For more information about Eagle Day, visit www.visitferryville.com or facebook.com/ferryvillewi.
