Bald eagles have recently been sighted, both in the Chicagoland area and in recent media reporting. If you’d like to see a bald eagle this weekend — guaranteed — while also having the opportunity to learn much more about eagles and other birds, check out either of these outstanding events: Eagles in Flight at Turkey Run State Park; and Eagles Over Monroe near Bloomington.
“Eagle viewing in winter depends a lot on the weather,” explained Aaron Douglass, interpretive naturalist at Turkey Run State Park. “If the weather is good for humans to be out, the eagles spread out more and are harder to see. When it’s really cold and the lakes are iced over and it’s cold for us to be out there, the eagles congregate by open water and are easier to see.”
Lucky for attendees that both of this weekend’s events will have dedicated and knowledgeable bird spotters stationed at specific locations in the field to point out eagles and to let visitors use spotting scopes to get a closer look. Plus, both of these events offer a variety of indoor sessions including programs with bird rehabilitators and the opportunity to see bald eagles and other raptors up close.
*Eagles In Flight starts tomorrow night with two programs that should be a hoot. In the first program attendees will get a chance to see owls up close.
“Leslie Grow from the Hardy Lake Raptor Rehab Center will talk about owls and bring in some of the common owls of Indiana. I think she’ll bring a barred owl, a screech owl, a barn owl and maybe others. After her program we’ll go out on an owl prowl and look, listen, and call out and see if any reply to us. Hopefully we’ll at least get to hear them,” Douglass said.
“Saturday morning starts with our famous roost trip. We go out while they’re still at their overnight roost, then come back for one of the weekend highlights – to meet an eagle. We’ll see one up close and learn about them.”
“On Saturday afternoon we’ll have the eagle nest and eagle fishing site tours with naturalists out at four of the destinations. Then, after dinner will be a program on the rest of the raptors. Even though eagles are highlighted this weekend there will be hawks, owls and some other amazing raptors that Mark Booth of Take Flight Wildlife Education will bring out and share their stories,” said Douglass.
Other programs include a repeat of the roost road trip on Sunday morning, a winter hike and a silent auction.
Registration for the Eagles in Flight Weekend 2017 at Turkey Run State Park is $15 for ages 13 and over, $10 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for children under 4. There is also a gate fee of $7 per car. Details can be found at www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2964.htm. The event takes place at the Turkey Run Inn. For reservation information call 1-877-LODGES1.
*Eagles Over Monroe starts tomorrow and offers 14 sessions with a wide range of topics for birders of all levels, including children, but eagles take the spotlight.
1n 1991, Lake Monroe was the site of Indiana’s first successful bald eagle nests in almost 100 years. According to the DNR website “loss of habitat and decreased reproduction due to pesticides, such as DDT, contributed to the bald eagle’s disappearance from Indiana” after 1897.
“Now there’s a year-round population of bald eagles at Lake Monroe which is generally supplemented in the winter by eagles from up north that come down. Based on the number of nests, the estimate is that there are 8 to 12 breeding pairs on Lake Monroe and then a number of juveniles that are in the year round population,” explained Jill Vance, interpretive naturalist for Monroe Lake.
Eagles Over Monroe is a new take on an event that originated in the 1990s, according to Vance.
“This event will look more at what’s going on currently. For example, our keynote speaker, Dr. Brain Washburn, is actively involved in research on eagles adapting and changing their behaviors as their habitats are changed by human activity. He uses a lot of high tech tools in his work, and he’ll also present a session on those. Another session is 21st Century Birding which will get into how to use smart phone apps to augment your birding.
“Another new program we’re excited about this year is Lunch with the Eagles. This special lunch is in partnership with the Indiana Raptor Center. They’ll present a live raptor program to go with the ‘eat like a raptor’ themed taco bar, and will bring a bald eagle, a golden eagle and other raptors,” Vance said.
Other sessions in the Eagles Over Monroe weekend include: a lantern lit owl prowl; a photo exhibit; a session on better bird photography; a session on the bones of raptors and what makes bird skeletons unique; a talk on eagles around the world; a birding hike; a movie night featuring the documentary “American Eagle”; and a self-guided eagle driving tour.
Vance added, “There will also be eagle crafts and activities on Saturday afternoon. Everything is adult friendly and most of the programs are kids friendly. Another thing kids would like is if you stay at the resort, there’s an indoor pool.”
Eagles Over Monroe is kicks off with tomorrow’s owl prowls and ends on Sunday with a naturalist hike to the tower where the bald eagle reintroduction program started back in the 1980’s. Registration for the weekend’s programs, excluding the lunch, costs $15 per person. Lunch With the Eagles is $22 per person and $16 for children 10 and under. The event will be based at the Four Winds Lakeside Inn. For complete details, advance registration and lodging information, go online to www.visitbloomington.com/eaglesovermonroe.
Joan Dittmann is a freelance columnist for the Post-Tribune.
