LECLAIRE — Soar to LeClaire this weekend to see bald eagles in their natural habitat, a host of presentations, ice sculpture demonstrations and more during the second annual Eagle Fest.
Sponsored in part by the Riverboat Twilight, this year’s Eagle Fest – Eagles & Ice will be held Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20-21, in downtown LeClaire.
“We were thrilled with the success of last year’s inaugural LeClaire Eagle Fest. Both the turnout and the feedback far exceeded our expectations,” LeClaire Tourism Manager Cindy Bruhn said in a news release.
Good year for viewing
“This year’s event promises the same opportunities for the general public to witness live bald eagles — once a rarity in this part of the country — and appreciate the natural grandeur of the Upper Mississippi River Valley,” she added.
Bald eagles typically migrate south to the Midwest from northern portions of North America from December through March in search of food. That’s according to the release which cited the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
Eagle Fest seeks to provide visitors with an “unparalleled glimpse” of how these birds of prey live in the wild.
“To see so many people fascinated with these incredible animals is extremely heartening, given the bald eagle’s history as a critically endangered species,” Ty Smedes, a wildlife photographer, said in the release. The photographer has documented the bald eagle population’s rebound after conservation efforts.
“This renewed interest shows the public is vested in protecting bald eagles and seeing our national symbol flourish in their own backyard. I’m honored and privileged to be involved with this amazing event for the second straight year and help spread awareness of our impact on the natural world.”
For this year’s event, organizers have added numerous attractions to the lineup. They include presentations from The RARE Group, or Raptor Advocacy, Rehabilitation & Education, an Iowa City nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and conservation of birds of prey throughout Iowa.
Fest full of highlights
The group will present on its rehabilitation and conservation efforts with help from two of its Avian Ambassadors: an eastern screech owl and a rough-legged hawk.
Other highlights of the two-day fest Eagle Fest include:
- Ice sculpting by Rob Storm at Aunt Hattie’s Fanciful Emporium (102 S. Cody Road) 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, and at Mississippi River Distilling Co. 11-1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21.
- Eagle presentations 11 a.m.4 p.m. Sunday at the Celebration Center (229 N. Cody Road), plus a hot cocoa bar while supplies last, sponsored by Blackhawk Bank & Trust.
- Spotting scopes on the Celebration Center rooftop patio, accompanied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, allowing attendees an up-close look at eagles and other birds.
Businesses along the Historic Cody Road also will host related events, activities and displays, the release states. For an up-to-date schedule, including more information about the presentations, vendors and participating businesses, visit the website.
The LeClaire Eagle Fest is sponsored by the Riverboat Twilight, the Holiday Inn Express – LeClaire, Mississippi River Distilling Co., Ty Smedes Nature Photography. In addition, Fox Tales International, Aunt Hattie’s Fanciful Emporium, Bela, Bamboo Baby Boutique, LeClaire McDonalds, LeClaire Chamber of Commerce. Also the Potter’s House, Cody Road Trading Post, Cody Road Coffee, Buffalo Bill Museum, First Central State Bank, Blackhawk Bank & Trust, and LeClaire Tourism.
