Plan now to attend the Fifth Annual Bald Eagle Watching Day on Saturday, March 1 in Ferryville at the Village Community Center located on Highway 35, ‘The Great River Road.’
This program is sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council and is free to the public. It is co-sponsored this year by the Green Bay Packers and the Friends of Pool 9. The Tourism Council submitted an application to the Packers approximately six months ago and was honored to learn that Ferryville’s Bald Eagle Day was selected for sponsorship. Wonderful news! It is also a tremendous ‘plus’ to be co-sponsored by our Friends of Pool 9, an organization that does so much in our area to preserve and protect our environment and the Mississippi River Region of Pool 9.
Event activities are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with not only exciting opportunities to see and learn about Bald Eagles, but also enjoy refreshments and there will be free children’s craft activities throughout the event. Ferryville, located right on the Mississippi River, is an ideal place to host Bald Eagle Day. There are many eagle nests in the area and the Pool 9 section has more nests than in any other part of the Mississippi River.
Fantastic live Bald Eagle Programs will be held at noon and 2 p.m. featuring eagles from the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota. Learn how the Bald Eagles have returned to this area in increasing numbers and what you can do to support this effort to help our eagles flourish. The University of Minnesota Raptor Center is back for the fourth year with raptors and an eagle. Gail Buhl will be with us and is an outstanding presenter, telling the story of these birds and their journey. You can take photos of the eagles and other raptors and have your photo taken with our wonderful national symbol. Returning for the third year in a row is Lois, The Owl.’ Lois loves an audience and flies about the room during her segment of the raptor presentation. Maybe you can even hear her hoot.
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. His art is well known throughout the Driftless Region and it is an opportunity to meet him in person.,
At 10 a.m., Upper Mississippi River U.S. Fish and Wildlife staff, McGregor District, will present a fascinating program about our Refuge (right here where we all live). This is an excellent opportunity for children and school youth, as well as adults to learn more about the importance in this region. This program is interactive as well as educational as you learn about our national symbol, the American Bald Eagle.
10:30 a.m. – New – ‘Night Roosts of the Eagles.’ Do you know where the eagles sleep and reenergize? Kelly McKay, biologist and researcher, has studied the roosting and nesting habits of the eagles in Pool 9. Have you heard about this before? Most have not and so.....this is a very engaging presentation for people of all ages. Kelly is a fun and perfect person to tell us where the eagles go at night.
11:00 a.m. – Chloris Lowe, Ho Chunk Nation – Chloris Lowe is back with us for the thirrd year and comes wearing his full traditional ceremonial dress with many historical artifacts to show all. Lowe tells us about the importance of the Bald Eagle to the Native American culture.
Are you a great ‘Hooter?’ At 1 p.m., there is a Hooting Contest for folks of all ages with awards in each of the four age categories. (Under five years old, ages 5-11, ages 12-18, and age 19 and up) Practice up and see if you are one of the champions at hooting.
Bald Eagle Nest Building: At 1:30 p.m., Dr. Michael White will build a Bald Eagle nest with the help of children and youth in the audience. Learn how really big these nests are, how heavy they are and how they are constructed.
DeSoto Middle School students, St. Charles Middle School students of and Seneca Middle School students are participating in a display of art and science projects that educate about Bald Eagles. Kathy Schwarz, a teacher of DeSoto Middle School, art teacher Meg Buchner of St. Charles Middle School, and Cody Sime, art teacher at the Seneca Middle School, are all working with the Ferryville Tourism Council to create this exhibit as part of the day’s activities. Students compete for awards which will be for: Category 1 – Creativity, Category 2 – Informative, Category 3 – Judges Choice and Category 4 – Most Artistic. Student teams will receive trophies to recognize their scholastic achievements at the awards ceremony at 1 p.m.
Do you love treats, especially eagle and owl cookies, hot chocolate, coffee or Kickapoo Orchards Cider? Be sure to enjoy these on your visit to Ferryville’s Bald Eagle Day festivities. Local restaurants are featuring special items just for Bald Eagle Day. It is ‘Bald is Beautiful Day’ at the Wooden Nickel so check out the specials there. Other merchants have plans for you as well. Everyone is invited to join in the fun.
This is a “must attend” event on Saturday, March 1, 2014 so spend a beautiful Wisconsin day enjoying the great outdoors, be with us at our Bald Eagle Watching Day and look along the river for sightings of Bald Eagles. For additional information, go to the Ferryville Tourism Council Website: www.visitferryville.comFor Facebook, check us out at www.facebook.com/ferryvillewi
