FERRYVILLE - Plan now to attend the 10th Annual Bald Eagle Watching Day on Saturday, March 3, at the Village of Ferryville Community Center, located on Highway 35, ‘The Great River Road.’ 

This program is co-sponsored by the Ferryville Tourism Council and Friends of Pool 9, and is free to the public.  It is always a tremendous “plus” to partner with Friends of Pool 9, an organization that does so much in our area to preserve and protect our environment and the Mississippi River Valley Region of Pool 9. 

Event activities are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  (doors open at 8:45 a.m.)  Returning to the program is the Decorah Raptor Research Project – Eagle Cam organization presenting at noon on ‘What we learned from an Eagle’s Nest.’  John Howe and Amy Reis of the Raptor Resource Project and their team will be with us for the second time.

 There will be free refreshments and 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, including a new one just south of Ferryville.   The Pool 9 section has more nests than in any other part of the Mississippi River.

Fantastic live Bald Eagle Programs will be at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., featuring eagles from the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota with Kelsey Griffin as presenter.  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 ninth 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.

At 9 a.m., Bald Eagle Nest Building: Dr. Michael White, 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.

9:30 a.m. – DNR presentation:  Brenda Kelly, DNR Wildlife Biologist from the LaCrosse District presents ‘Duck, Duck, Goose’ telling stories about the ducks and geese of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge – Pool 9.

10:30 a.m. and  2 p.m.  University of Minnesota presents Live Eagle and Raptor Programs

11:30 a.m. - Are you a great ‘Hooter?’  At 11:30 a.m., there is a Hooting Contest for folks of all ages with awards & ribbons in each of the five age categories.  (5 years old & under, age 6–12, age 13–18, age 19–54, age 55 and up).  Practice up and see if you are one of the champions at hooting!

12:10 p.m.   Middle School Art/Project Award presentations to students/teachers present.

12:30–1:15 p.m.  Decorah, Iowa Raptor Research Project ‘What we learned from an Eagle’s Nest’ – John Howe, Amy Ries and team.

1:15–2 p.m. p.m. Kelly McKay  - ‘Night Roosts of the Eagles’ and his research

DeSoto Middle School students, Seneca Middle School students and St Charles Middle School students are participating in a display of art and science projects that educate about Bald Eagles.  Kathy Schwarz, Middle School teacher of DeSoto, Lindsey Kuennen, Middle Schoolart teacher of DeSoto, Cody Sime of the Seneca Middle School and Meg Buchner of St. Charles Parochial 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 11:30 a.m.

Do you love treats, especially eagle and owl cookies, hot chocolate, coffee or Kickapoo Orchards Cider and fresh apple slices from Oakwood Fruit Farm – Richland Center?  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 plus they have their new Bleu Cheese Eagle Burger w/chips, Swing Inn has a grilled chicken breast and choice of soup or potato as their ‘Eagle Special’ for the day.   Ferryville Cheese has free 12-ounce coffee with purchase of breakfast sandwich so check out the specials.  Other merchants have plans for you also.  You are all invited to join in the fun.

This is a ‘must attend’ event on Saturday, March 3, 2018 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

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