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Bald Eagle Watch Weekend is Coming January 23-24th at
Starved Rock


Jane Seitz from the Illinois Raptor Center brings an American Eagle out for a visit to the audience. (http://www.illinoisraptorcenter.org)
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo

January 23-24, 2010
Starved Rock Lodge and
Illinois Waterway Visitor Center
by Ed Vincent

Bald Eagle Watch Weekend is still free and hosted by the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center
Illinois Audubon Society
US Army Corps of Engineers
Starved Rock Foundation
Starved Rock Audubon
Starved Rock Lodge.
Each year the Eagle Watch Weekend gets better and better with more things to see and do at two seperate locations.  The Illinois Waterway Visitors Center has the Predator show from the Illinois Raptor Center, and each year they come with a different selection of native raptors and give both a talk and demonstration and I have been priveledged to see many years of them on these past weekends.  The shows have all been informative, interesting, and very entertaining.  The shows are all free but you still need tickets for the shows, and you must be in person to get a ticket.


There are also shows running at the Starved Rock Lodge and they too require tickets and are also free to the public, and tickets must be gotten in person on the day of the event.

This Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) might be checking the
attendees for a Hogwart's student.
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo

The Snowy Owl is the official bird of Quebec, but seems to be welcomed everywhere they are found. 


Jane Seitz displays a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), and finds no dead people in the audience.
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo



The photos above show a year with a good Eagle turn out, some years have more some less.  You will need good binoculars and long lenses to take shots of the visitors to the dam.
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photos
There are different bird counts each year and much of the count is based upon the weather.  Since it has been getting a bit warmer this year prior to the weekend, the count may not be as large as the photo above.  You still might see that one eagle dive into the river right in front of you and there is also wonderful events celebrating our nation's symbol at the two different locations.  There are also numerous canyons and trails that are wonderful the entire year. 




© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc. photo

The photo above was taken a week before the event in 2010, when it was a bit colder.  If you want to hike some of these great trails dress warmly with gloves, a hat, and perhaps boots.  The photo above is from St. Louis Canyon.



The map above shows a route to Starved Rock. It shows a  path that goes from I-55 or 294 South to Route 80 west to Utica, Illinois and then south a mile or so to the locations.




Click Here for Full PDF brochure of Event

http://www.illinoisaudubon.org/
http://www.illinoisraptorcenter.org/
© Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc.
published by Suburban Journals of  Chicago Inc.