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Watching the eagles in Ferryville
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Mark your calendars now for Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m for an outstanding day of seeing bald eagles and other raptors at the Fourth Annual Bald Eagle Watching Day in Ferryville.

The event is held in the Ferryville Village Community Center, located on Highway 35.

This program is sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council and is free to the public. The day’s events will not only offer exciting opportunities to see and learn about bald eagles, but there will also be refreshments to enjoy. This year, there will be children’s craft activities throughout the event.

Ferryville, located on the Mississippi River, is an ideal place to host Bald Eagle Day, as it supports a close-by nesting site located between Hobbs Hollow Road and Kettle Hollow Road on Highway 35. Eagles can be seen in the nest along the Mississippi River as you pass by on Highway 35.

Fantastic live bald eagle programs will be at 12 p.m. 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.

Laura Freeman is back for the third year with her raptors and eagle. She 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 second 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 this is an opportunity to meet him in person.

At 10:15 a.m., Brett Forestiere of the Upper Mississippi River U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office, McGregor District, will present a fascinating program about our Refuge (right here where we all live). This is an excellent opportunity for children, as well as adults, to learn more about the importance of this region.

Forestiere is a very engaging speaker and his program is interactive as well as educational. The wildlife expert is bringing eagle mountings to compliment his program about our national symbol, the American Bald Eagle.

Do you love a guitar, love to hear about birds you didn’t know about, enjoy a good time? At 11 a.m., Jon Stravers is bringing his guitar and voice, storytelling and birding observations to our stage. Bring your kids and whole family because this is for you. What a treat to have Jon.

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 5 years old, age 5 to 11, age 12 to 18, 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 Genoa, and Seneca Middle School students are participating in a display of art and science projects that educate about bald eagles. Middle School teachers of DeSoto, art teacher Meg Buchner of St. Charles Middle School and Cody Sime of 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 also. You are all invited to join in the fun.

This is a “must attend” area event on Saturday, March 2, 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.com