Bald Eagle Watching Day to be held in Ferryville, WI March 7


Part of the events again this year ... A trainer staff member from the University of Minnesota Raptor Center holds Maxim, an American Bald Eagle, during a previous Ferryville Bald Eagle Day presentation. The University of Minnesota Raptor Center will be presenting for the 11th year at this year’s Bald Eagle Day event in Ferryville, WI. Photo by Sherry Quamme.

The 12th Annual Bald Eagle Watching Day is scheduled to be held Saturday, March 7 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 is free to the public to attend.

Event activities are scheduled to take place from 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m., with doors opening at 9 a.m. Returning to the program is the Decorah Raptor Resource Project/Decorah Eagle Cam organization presenting at 12:30 p.m. on “Rehabbing the 2019 Eagles”.  John Howe and Amy Reis of the Raptor Resource Project and their team tell about these frisky eaglets and how they recovered from injury to fly the Mississippi River Valley once again.

Free refreshments and children’s craft activities are available throughout the event. Located right on the Mississippi River, Ferryville, WI is an ideal place to host Bald Eagle Day. There are many eagle nests in the area, including a new one just south of Ferryville and another new nest on Hwy 82, the dike road to Lansing. The Pool 9 section has more nests than in any other part of the Mississippi River.

Live Bald Eagle Programs will be held at 10:15 a.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 can be done to support this effort to help eagles flourish in the local area. The University of Minnesota Raptor Center is back for its 11th year with raptors and an eagle.

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.

Additional scheduled activities include the following:

• 9:30 a.m.: Bald Eagle Nest Building - FOP9 & USFWL, 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.
• 10:15  a.m. and 2 p.m.: University of Minnesota presents Live Eagle and Raptor Programs.
• 11:15 a.m.: Brenda Kelly, DNR will present the “Get your Ducks in a Row” program about ducks of the Mississippi River region.
• 11:45 a.m.: “Hooting Contest” for folks of all ages. Practice up to become one of the champions at hooting.
• 12:30 p.m.: Decorah, Raptor Research Project: “Rehabilitating Eagles of the Mississippi River” by John Howe, Amy Ries and team.
• 2 p.m.: Live Eagle and Raptor Program.

De Soto Middle School students, Seneca Middle School students, St. Charles Middle School students and homeschool students are participating in a display of art and science projects that educate about bald eagles.  Students compete for awards for based on Creativity, Informative, Judges Choice and Most Artistic. Student teams will receive awards to recognize their scholastic achievements at the awards ceremony at 11:45 a.m.

Area merchants, restaurants and other organizations also have special events or offers planned for the day. For additional information, go to the Ferryville Tourism Council social media presence or website at www.visitferryville.com.