EAGLE WATCHING & EVENTS

Transcription

1 EAGLE WATCHING & EVENTS

2 The bald eagle, national bird and national emblem of the United States, was removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species in Here in Illinois, we have more wintering American bald eagles than in any other state outside Alaska. There are many places to observe bald eagles in our region of Illinois during the winter months (December March). The best viewing usually occurs in January and February and coincides with eagle events throughout Great Rivers Country. It is during these winter months that bald eagles make their home near large bodies of open water with an abundant food supply and old growth trees for nesting. Great Rivers Country contains 33 counties with the Mississippi River as its western boundary and the Illinois River on the eastern side, making it the perfect location to eagle watch. Traveling from North to South, we ve provided eagle events as well as eagle watching site maps to help you find the best general locations for viewing these magnificent birds. For more information, please call us at or visit GreatRiversCountry.info. Connect with us to find out about events in our region: Illinois River Mississippi River 1

3 GALENA/JO DAVIESS COUNTY CONVENTION 101 Bouthillier Street Galena, IL Galena.org Gramercy Park 300 Gramercy Street East Dubuque, IL East Dubuque Boat Launch 2nd Street & Menominee Avenue East Dubuque, IL Keough Effigy Land & Water Reserve 1683 N. Cross Road Galena, IL Casper Bluff Land & Water Reserve 870 S. Pilot Knob Road Galena, IL Apple Canyon Lake 14A158 Canyon Club Drive Apple River, IL Apple River Canyon State Park 8763 E. Canyon Road Apple River, IL EAGLE WATCHING EVENT: Bald Eagle Bus Tour January 11 February 8 & 22 EagleNature.com A four hour bus tour of five bald eagle wintering communities. View bald eagles feeding, roosting and/ or nesting. Reservations required. GreatRiversCountry.info 2

4 BLACKHAWK WATERWAYS CONVENTION 201 N. Franklin Avenue Polo, IL BWCVB.com Mississippi Palisades State Park 16327A Illinois Route 84 Savanna, IL Marquette Park & Savanna Marina Wayne King Drive and Randolph Street Savanna, IL Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge/ Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center 7071 River View Road Thomson, IL USACE Thomson Causeway Recreation Area Lewis Lane Thomson, IL USACE Lock & Dam Lock Road Fulton, IL Hennepin Feeder Canal 209 Emmons Ave Rock Falls, IL EAGLE WATCHING EVENTS: Bald Eagle Watch January 4 at 8am Lock and Dam 13 off IL Highway 84 Fulton, IL StewardsUMRR.org Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge & the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be presenting the 29th Annual Bald Eagle Watch on Saturday, January 4, Educational programs and environmental exhibits will be held at Clinton Community College in Clinton, Iowa. Bald Eagle Viewing Van Tours Tour Schedule: January 11, 18, 25 at 1pm February 7, 21 at 9am February 16 at 2pm March 2, 9 at 2pm Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center 7071 Riverview Road Thomson, IL (just south of Savanna) or stewardsumrr@gmail.com StewardsUMRR.org Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge are pleased to announce Bald Eagle Viewing Van Tours during January, February and March They will be traveling to locations where they have the ability to see the most eagles, so destinations may change from week to week. Tours will be cancelled in case of inclement weather. Tours leave from Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center and each tour takes approximately 3 hours. Space is limited to 14 people and preregistration is required. 3

5 QUAD CITIES CONVENTION 1601 River Drive, Suite 110 Moline, IL VisitQuadCities.com Illiniwek Forest Preserve/ Lock and Dam 14 Illinois Route 84 Hampton, IL Hampton Heritage Center 251 S. State Avenue Hampton, IL Mississippi River Visitors Center/ Lock and Dam 15 Arsenal Island Rock Island, IL Schwiebert Riverfront Park Between 17th & 20th Streets on 1st Avenue Rock Island, IL Sunset Marina 10 31st Avenue Rock Island, IL Lock and Dam 16 Route 92 Illinois City, IL Lock and Dam 17 New Boston, IL Lock and Dam 18 Gladstone, IL Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Locks 30, 31 & 32 Access from Route 67 Milan, IL EAGLE WATCHING EVENT: Quad Cities Bald Eagle Days January QCCA Expo Center, th Avenue, Rock Island, IL QCCAExpoCenter.com For those looking for a festival atmosphere to enjoy their bald eagle experience, the Bald Eagle Days Environmental Fair and Wildlife Art Show is the place to be. The show is heralded as the largest event in the Midwest dedicated to the United States national symbol of freedom. Last year, 30,000 people turned out for the event that includes live eagle, hawk, owl, and vulture flying demonstrations along with educational programs, interactive activities, and over 200 booths. Admission is charged. Free for children 5 and under. Free parking is available at the show GreatRiversCountry.info 4

6 HENRY COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU 224 W. Third Street Kewanee, IL VisitHenryCounty.com Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Lock 25 Colona, IL Interstate 80 exit 9, head west on Route 6 to 84W, turn south on 6th Street, turns into Hennepin Canal Parkway Street, Colona Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Lock 24 Geneseo, IL Interstate 80 exit 19, turn east on to Oakwood Avenue, head east to Route 6, turn north on to Chicago Street which turns into Grange Road, parking area is located at Lock 24 on east side and Bridge 26 on west Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Lock 23 Atkinson, IL Interstate 80 take exit 27, head north to Route 6, head east to 2500th Street, turn north to North 1920th Street. Parking located on 1920th Street. Walking distance to Lock 23 is ¼ mile. Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park Bridge 23 Annawan, IL Interstate 80 exit 33, head north on Highway 78, ¼ mile on left is turn to the parking lot located on west side of Highway 78 5

7 PEORIA AREA CONVENTION 456 Fulton Street, Suite 300 Peoria, IL Peoria.org Lacon Marina Marina Drive Lacon, IL Shore Acres Park Located alongside the river at the south end of town Chillicothe, IL River Beach Drive Accessed from Route 29, north of Peoria Rome, IL Mendenhall Park Wetland Area Mendenhall Road Bartonville, IL The Nature Conservancy Emiquon Preserve State Routes 78/97 Lewistown, IL EAGLE WATCHING EVENTS: Eagles on the Illinois River January 11, 10am 12pm Forest Park Nature Center 5809 N. Forest Park Drive, Peoria Heights, IL Each year hundreds of bald eagle over-winter in the Illinois River Valley. Join Forest Park Nature Center, Peoria Audubon Society, and Wildlife Prairie Park, as we celebrate this magnificent bird. This program will feature presentations including a live bald eagle and a tour to view bald eagles in their natural habitat along the river. Donations requested. Eagle Day Festival February 8, 9am-4pm Dickson Mounds Museum and the cities of Lewistown and Havana N. Dickson Mounds Lewistown, IL Activities include art and poetry competitions, crafts for kids, live raptor programs, and bird watching. Sponsored by Dickson Mounds, The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, UIS Therkildsen Field Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, Fulton and Mason County Arts Councils, Havana and Lewistown Chambers, Havana Public Library District and Nature Center, and Emiquon Audubon. Free for all ages. Donations Welcomed. Havana Nature Center 416 N. Schrader Street Havana, IL Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge E. County Road 2110N Havana, IL Henry, Peoria, East Peoria and Pekin Riverfronts GreatRiversCountry.info 6

8 QUINCY AREA CONVENTION 532 Gardner Expressway Quincy, IL SeeQuincy.com Hamilton, IL Illinois Highway 96 Across from Keokuk, IA Lock & Dam 19 Quinsippi Island Bonansinga Drive & Cedar Street Quincy, IL Lock and Dam W. Lock and Dam Road Quincy, IL Two Rivers Marina at Pike Station U.S. Highway 54 Rockport, IL EAGLE WATCHING EVENT: Great River Eagle Days January 25 & 26 9am-5pm Oakley Lindsay Civic Center and Lock & Dam 21 3rd & York Quincy, IL or Standing Bear Council celebrates the American Bald Eagle and Native American traditions during this 2 day festival held at the Oakley Lindsay Center in Quincy. The event will kick off Saturday with a presentation by Dr. Drew Kaiser of the Raptor Rehabilitation Center, followed by the the Grand Entry Ceremony into the Circle, honoring veterans. Blessing of the Eagles Ceremony by Forrest Liggett is on Sunday at 10am and attendees will enjoy up close eagle viewing and be entertained by the Black Fox Singers & Native American Dancers, with prizes for the dancers. There will also be a presentation on Native American Mounds by Steve Tieken, and a presentation on Chief Keokuk history by Tawnya Jones, the Chief s great, great, great granddaughter. Admittance to the event at the Oakley Lindsay Center is $3.00 per person 12 years old and above. Rangers will be available with complimentary scopes at Lock and Dam 21 for viewing eagles. 7

9 ALTON REGIONAL CONVENTION 200 Piasa Street Alton, IL VisitAlton.com Hardin Riverfront On Route 100, cross the Joe Page Bridge in Hardin. Hardin, IL Pere Marquette State Park Visitor Center Lane Grafton, IL Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge at Gilbert Lake One half mile upriver from the Brussels Ferry Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge at Swan Lake HC 82 Box 107 Brussels, IL Ride across the Brussels Ferry into Calhoun County & follow the signs to Swan Lake. Brussels Ferry State Highway 100 W Grafton, IL Grafton Riverfront Walk the riverfront to view eagles perched in the trees and soaring over the river. Grafton, IL Elsah Elsah, IL TreeHouse Wildlife Center Green Acres Road Dow, IL Piasa Harbor Lockhaven Road Godfrey, IL Clifton Terrace Park 6 miles from Alton, along Route 100 The Nature Institute 2213 S. Levis Lane Godfrey, IL Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary The Audubon Center at Riverlands 301 Riverlands Way West Alton, MO The National Great Rivers Museum/ Melvin Price Locks & Dam #26 #2 Lock & Dam Way Alton, IL Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower 435 Confluence Tower Drive Hartford, IL EAGLE WATCHING EVENTS: Alton-Audubon Eagle-Ice Festival January 4, 10am 2pm Alton Visitor Center 200 Piasa Street Alton, IL The Audubon Center at Riverlands 301 Riverlands Way West Alton, MO VisitAlton.com/EagleFestival Join us for the kickoff of the eagle watching season. Activities include: live eagle meet & greet, preview of events at the Eagle Watching Hot Spots, kid s activities, crafts and eagle viewing walks. Learn about eagle watching how to spot eagles, where to look and what brings the eagles here each winter. Stop in Downtown Alton for ice sculpting on the streets during our annual Ice Block Party and a chance to win an eagle shirt and other giveaways. Admission is free. GreatRiversCountry.info 8

10 Bald Eagle Days at Pere Marquette January 3, 15, 17, 24, 29, 31 February 3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 21, 26 March 7 Pere Marquette State Park Visitor Center Lane, Grafton, IL VisitAlton.com Spend the day eagle watching with your guide, site interpreter Scott Isringhausen. Learn to distinguish between immature and mature bald eagles, what eagles eat, why they spend winter months in the area and more. Reservations required. Free admission. Live Bald Eagles at TreeHouse Wildlife Center Saturday and Sunday in January and February, 10am 2pm TreeHouse Wildlife Center Green Acres Road, Dow, IL TreeHouseWildlifeCenter.com There will be live bald eagles every weekend in January and February at the TreeHouse Wildlife Center. Free admission. Donations are appreciated. Lunch-n-Learn January 10, 24; February 7, 21 12pm Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge HCR 82 Box 107, Brussels, IL FWS.gov/Midwest/TwoRivers Bring your own lunch and sit down with the staff at Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge to learn about eagles. Then head out for a short hike to see some eagles soar over Swan Lake. Free and open to all ages. Eagle Meet and Greet January 11, 18, 25, 10am 2pm Alton Visitors Center 200 Piasa Street, Alton, IL VisitAlton.com Come see live eagle demonstrations by the World Bird Sanctuary. See a live bald eagle up close and personal! Ask and learn about their species and habitats. Then, grab your official All Around Alton Eagle Watcher's Guide as you journey out along the Great River Road to see eagles in their natural habitat. Free. Audubon Eagle Watch January 12, 19, 26, 10am 4pm Audubon Center at Riverlands 301 Riverlands Way West Alton, MO Riverlands.Audubon.org Join us at the new Audubon Center at Riverlands this eagle season for eagle viewing and education in this designated Important Birding Area at the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary. Enjoy the view from the comfort of the new building or venture out to the bird blind on the water s edge for a closer look. Free admission. Native American Tribute to the Bald Eagle February 1, 12pm 4pm Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower 435 Confluence Tower Drive Hartford, IL ConfluenceTower.com Celebrate the elegance and significance of the American Bald Eagle and its impact on a variety of native cultures during this event at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower. Listen to Native American folklore and watch an authentic Eagle Dance performed every hour from noon to 3 p.m. The event is free. There is an admission to tour the Tower. Masters of the Sky February 15-17, 9am 5pm National Great Rivers Museum 2 Lock & Dam Way, Alton, IL MTRF.org Witness the Masters of the Sky birds of prey demonstration. Come see eagles, falcons, owls and other birds of prey at this educational and informational program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary. Show times at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission fee: $5 for adults; $3 for children 12 and under; 3 and under are free. Only 10 tickets per person. Also, there will be a free eagle display at noon and 2 p.m. for 30 minutes in the gallery on Feb

11 THE TOURISM BUREAU ILLINOISouth 4387 N. Illinois Street, Suite 200 Swansea, IL TheTourismBureau.org Old Chain of Rocks Bridge W. Chain of Rocks Road Madison, IL Kaskaskia Lock & Dam 4800 Lock and Dam Road Modoc, IL Chester Welcome Center 10 Bridge By-Pass Road Chester, IL EAGLE WATCHING EVENT: Eagle Trek February Kaskaskia Lock & Dam 4800 Lock and Dam Road Modoc, IL Come out for eagle-watching with spotting scopes and meet some of the feathered inhabitants of the World Bird Sanctuary. Also, enjoy short interpreted walks both upstream and downstream from the Dam, and see the confluence of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia Rivers. Our experts will be on hand to tell you about other eagle-nesting sites nearby! Families and leash-trained dogs are welcomed for the hike. SOUTHERNMOST ILLINOIS TOURISM BUREAU P.O. Box 378 Anna, IL SouthernmostIllinois.com Devil s Backbone Park Brunkhorst Avenue Grand Tower, IL Union County State Fish and Wildlife Area 2755 Refuge Road Jonesboro, IL Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area Just East of Route 3 Miller City, IL GreatRiversCountry.info 10

12 While visiting Great Rivers Country contact any of the following for more Information: ALTON REGIONAL CONVENTION 200 Piasa Street Alton, IL VisitAlton.com BLACKHAWK WATERWAYS CONVENTION 201 N. Franklin Avenue Polo, IL BWCVB.com BROWN COUNTY BrownCountyIL.com GALENA/JO DAVIESS COUNTY CONVENTION 101 Bouthillier Street Galena, IL Galena.org GALESBURG AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 2163 E. Main Street Galesburg, IL VisitGalesburg.com GREENE COUNTY EldredHouse.com VisitWestCentralIllinois.com HENRY COUNTY TOURISM BUREAU 224 W. Third Street Kewanee, IL VisitHenryCounty.com MACOMB AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU 201 S. Lafayette Street Macomb, IL MakeItMacomb.com PEORIA AREA CONVENTION 456 Fulton Street Suite 300 Peoria, IL Peoria.org QUAD CITIES CONVENTION 1601 River Drive Suite 110 Moline, IL VisitQuadCities.com QUINCY AREA CONVENTION 532 Gardner Expressway Quincy, IL SeeQuincy.com SCHUYLER COUNTY SchuylerCountyIllinois.com SOUTHERNMOST ILLINOIS TOURISM BUREAU P.O. Box 378 Anna, IL SouthernmostIllinois.com THE TOURISM BUREAU ILLINOISouth 4387 N. Illinois Street Suite 200 Swansea, IL TheTourismBureau.org GREAT RIVERS COUNTRY REGIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OFFICE 11/13 20M 581 South Deere Road l Macomb, IL P l F GreatRiversCountry.info