Kaskaskia Eagle Fest a success

Nearly 300 people braved the cold and ice Feb. 1 for the 4^th Annual Kaskaskia Eagle Fest at the Kaskaskia Lock & Dam in Modoc, Ill.

“Despite the weather we had a lot of enthusiastic visitors who were able to come out and make the Kaskaskia Eagle Fest a success,” Stephanie Vallett, park ranger with the St. Louis District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said.

Visitors had the opportunity to have a close-up encounter with Patriot, a rehabilitated bald eagle from the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Mo. The lone survivor after her family’s nest fell into floodwaters, Patriot sustained lung damage that leaves her unable to survive in the wild.

Bald eagles are commonly seen in the Midwest along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers during the winter months as they migrate to the south in search of open water.

On any given day during the winter, between 10 to nearly 40 eagles can be seen nesting, feeding or playing near the Kaskaskia Lock & Dam.

“The turbulence that is created below the dam provides open water and plenty of fish for the eagles,” Vallett said.

Visitors also had the opportunity to see eagles in their natural habitat atop the Kaskaskia Lock & Dam, view them through spotting scopes while on guided interpretative walks around the area, and learn more about eagles from presentations given by the World Bird Sanctuary, U.S. Fishand Wildlife and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The Kaskaskia Eagle Fest is just one of many eagle events throughout the St. Louis District this season. For more information about upcoming programs visit: 2014 Eagle Watch

2012 Eagle Day at Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center

Bald Eagle catching fish in the Kaskaskia River.
(Photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Over the last few years, Bald Eagle sightings have been on the rise at Lake Shelbyville, along with an increase in public interest in these magnificent birds.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-St. Louis District would like to invite you, your family and friends to Eagle Day at the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center on Saturday, February 18, 2012 from Noon until 4:00 p.m. to learn more about our national bird.

The Illinois Raptor Center will be presenting a Birds of Prey program that will feature a live Bald Eagle and a Golden Eagle along with other birds of prey at 2:00 p.m.  This is an excellent program and you will be able to see the eagles and other birds up close, so be sure to arrive early to get the best seats available. 

From Noon to 4:00 p.m. park rangers will have spotting scopes and binoculars available so you can view the birds that should be active on Lake Shelbyville, including Bald Eagles and waterfowl that are migrating through the area.  There will also be crafts and activities for children of all ages to enjoy.

You don’t want to miss this opportunity to see and learn more about the most magnificent bird in this country, so bring your friends and family to the Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center's Eagle Day.

           

 For more information on this event contact the Lake Shelbyville Interpretive Services and Outreach Department by email lakeshelbyville@usace.army.mil or by calling 217-774-3951 Ext. 2.      

2nd Annual Eagle Trek at Kaskaskia Lock & Dam

The Eagles have arrived! Join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – St. Louis District for the second annual Eagle Trek, February 4, 2012, at the Kaskaskia Lock & Dam from 9 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Come out for eagle-watching with spotting scopes and meet some of the feathered inhabitants of the World Bird Sanctuary (9am-noon)! Also, enjoy short interpreted walks both upstream and downstream from the Dam, and see the confluence of the Mississippi & Kaskaskia Rivers. Our experts will be on hand to tell you about other eagle-nesting sites nearby! 

Contact Allie McCreary at (618) 566-4451 x21 or allie.mccreary@swircd.org to register. Please reserve your spot by February 1, 2012 so we can account for the number of lunches. A suggested donation of $5/person is asked to cover lunch expenses. Families and leash-trained dogs are welcome for the hike.

This event is made possible thanks to our partners: Southwestern Illinois Resource Conservation & Development, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Southwestern Illinois College, Kaskaskia Regional Port District, Lower Kaskaskia Stakeholders, Inc., Chester Tourism Committee, and CLIFFTOP.

2012 Eagle Trek Flyer 

National Great Rivers Museum Brings “Masters of the Sky” to Alton

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District's National Great Rivers Museum along with the Meeting of the Great Rivers Foundation announces the return of the “Masters of the Sky” bird shows, presented by the World Bird Sanctuary, February 18-20, 2012, at the National Great Rivers Museum.

Trevor, a Eurasian Eagle Owl from Africa
seems to say, “I can see you,very, very
well,”as he stares at the audience
through his piercing, orange eyes.
Trevor is a prime, young example of his
species, which are the largest owls in the
world. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
photo by Public Affairs Specialist
Romanda Walker)

Our one-hour educational shows proudly complement the winter migration by bringing live bald eagles, owls, falcons, vultures and hawks to the National Great Rivers Museum where everyone can get an up-close view. These rehabilitated birds serve as ambassadors for their species. Naturalists focus their presentations on teaching the importance of raptors in the food chain, challenges they face as they travel from their northern nesting grounds to find a food source along the Mississippi River, and interesting traits of the species. One highlight of the show is experiencing flyovers from specially trained birds that skim just above the audience.

Shows begin at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Seating is limited to the first 200 tickets per show. Due to high demand, shows will be conducted outside in a heated tent. Please dress accordingly. Cameras and binoculars for Eagle spotting are welcome. Other activities include hands-on craft workshops, photos with “Eric the Eagle”, a 14-minute film “Where Eagles Soar”, and more. Tours of the Melvin Price Locks and Dam will also be available for free. Show tickets are $5 per adult, $3 per child. Tickets are on sale at the National Great Rivers Museum, over the phone by calling 618-462-6979, or can be purchased online at www.mtrf.org. 

This program is made possible by the Meeting of the Rivers Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and preservation of rivers. The National Great Rivers Museum is located off River Heritage Parkway (IL Hwy 143) at #2 Lock & Dam Way, East Alton, IL 62024, adjacent to Melvin Price Locks & Dam. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has free admission plus the locks and dam tours. For more information, or to purchase tickets to a “Masters of the Sky” show, call 618-462-6979 or toll free 877-462-6979, or go online to www.mtrf.org. You can also find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GreatRivers.       

National Great Rivers Museum to host local authors in speaker series

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District's National Great Rivers Museum is pleased to present local authors Eddy L. Harris, Cheryl Eichar Jett, and Dan Brannan for live meet and greets with the public during January and February to talk about some of their local writings.

Eddy L. Harris, author of the critically acclaimed Mississippi Solo will kick off the series at the museum and host a book signing on Sunday, January 22, 2012. He will read from his memoirs and discuss his adventures in canoeing from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota to the mouth in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Eddy also wrote Native Stranger, South of Haunted Dreams, and Still Life in Harlem.

Freelance writer and historian Cheryl Eichar Jett of the Images of America series will be at the museum Sunday, January 29, 2012 to discuss the intriguing history of Alton, Illinois. The Images of America series includes Alton, Route 66 in Madison County, Route 66 in Edwardsville, and Route 66 in Springfield.

Local author Dan Brannan will be at the museum on February 12, 2012 to speak on Boy Giant, based on the tallest man in recorded history, Robert Wadlow. In addition, Brannan is the executive editor of the Alton Telegraph and has led the paper to more than 100 awards during his tenure. He has also published The Courage to Live, Everyday Angels, and Life to the Fullest: Stories of People Coping with Diabetes.

All presentations will be held from 1-3 PM at the National Great Rivers Museum. You may purchase some of these books in the museum bookstore or bring a copy along to have signed by the authors. A live American Bald Eagle will also be at the Museum from 12-4 PM. Come out for an up close and personal experience!

            The National Great Rivers Museum is located off River Heritage Parkway (IL Hwy 143) at #2 Lock & Dam Way, East Alton, IL 62024, adjacent to Melvin Price Locks & Dam. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has free admission plus the lock and dam tours. For more information, call 618-462-6979 or toll free 877-462-6979, or go online to www.mtrf.org. You can also find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GreatRivers.