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.
Liberty, an American Bald Eagle was injured by a car while trying to hunt for food, now makes his home at the
World Bird Sanctuary.
(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by
Public Affairs Specialist Romanda Walker)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - St. Louis District in cooperation with the Carlyle Grade School will be hosting
a program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary entitled “All about Eagles” on Saturday,
February 11th, at 12:30
p.m. at the Carlyle Grade School Gymnasium. The World Bird Sanctuary will have a live Bald
Eagle on display for an up close view of this beautiful bird. After
the presentation, eagle viewing will take place at various locations around
Carlyle Lake. Participants are
encouraged to bring binoculars and dress accordingly for the weather.
Bald Eagles have recently been sighted in various
locations at Carlyle Lake. The
population of Bald Eagles in Illinois has steadily increased over the past
several years due to Federal laws and conservation efforts that have been made
to save this majestic bird of prey.
In past years active nests have been located
at Carlyle Lake. With the increased numbers of eagles visiting over the past
years, it is possible that additional eagles will remain in the area and nest.
With 83 miles of shoreline, Carlyle Lake offers excellent habitat for eagles
and has all the resources available for their survival.
For additional
information on this presentation or on Bald Eagles please contact the Carlyle
Lake Project Office at (618) 594-2484 or email at carlylelake@usace.army.mil.
Students listen to Jacob Prebianca, St. Louis District co-op
student as he describes what the Water Control office does.
(Photo by Lafayette HS Student Shadow Brendan Donahue)
By Mary Tomlinson, Eureka High School Student Shadow
As Students from
the Rockwood School District Career Shadowing Program waited anxiously in the
lobby of the Robert A. Young Federal Building in St. Louis, Mo., the morning of
Nov. 4, 2011, similar thoughts ran rapidly through their heads: What should they expect? Who would their
shadow be? Would they gain anything from this full day of shadowing? Seven
hours and one informative experience later, those questions no longer lingered
and even more had been answered.
More than 30
students from four Rockwood School District high schools took time out of their
busy schedules to shadow professionals from a variety of careers within the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Coast Guard. The careers ranged from civil
engineers and architects to attorneys and graphic designers.
Col. Chris
Hall, the Corps’ St. Louis District commander and one of the civil engineering
career experts, said the experience was “a great opportunity for a glimpse of a
career.” “Your involvement as citizens will help shape the Corps' priorities. The things you
learn about today, the projects and plans we’re working on, are all rooted in
the voice of your parents and any voting Americans.
Mary interviews Commander of the St. Louis
District Col. Chris Hall as part of her shadow day experience.
(Photo by Lafayette HS Student Shadow Brendan Donahue)
The colonel’s
shadow, Meghan Pregler, a junior at Lafayette High School, shared the colonel’s
opinion on the productiveness of the program. She said it expanded her
knowledge of her desired career and that she learned about “the different
pieces that make up civil engineering.”
“I especially
enjoyed getting a glimpse into the world of civil engineering and seeing how it
affects the community,” Pregler said.
Just as civil
engineering has a direct impact on the community, Shadow Day had a direct
impact on the students’ lives. Chief Warrant Officer Brandon Hansen of the
Coast Guard, though he wasn’t directly involved in the shadowing, still
realized the importance of the day. Hansen helped to arrange for nine students
to work with members of the Coast Guard.
“The great
thing about Shadow Day,” Hansen expressed, “is its ability to identify the
right career path or to point out the wrong career path.”
At the end of
the day, students walked away embodying Hansen’s belief. Shadow Day gave
students a first-hand look at potential career fields and answered questions
that couldn’t have been answered any other way. It helped prepare them for the
real world and has the potential to be a valuable experience to look back upon.
Students from the Rockwood School District talk about their career aspirations during shadow day with the St. Louis District and the U.S. Coast Guard. (Video by Public Affairs Specialist Romanda Walker and Lafayette HS Student Shadow Brian McKanna)
Editor’s Note: This
article and its associated content were created by students in the Rockwood
School District during their Shadow Day experience with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers St. Louis District’s Public Affairs Office November 4, 2011. (Author: Mary Tomlinson, Photographer: Brendan
Donahue and Videographer: Brian McKanna)
