All Entries Tagged With: "wild birds"
Just in case you missed Eagle Days…
As if you need a good excuse to visit beautiful Fort Belle Fontaine, St. Louis County Parks has planned a whole day of eagle-related activities. Come out this Saturday from 11am to 2pm and you’ll not only spot Bald Eagles in the trees near the river, but you can also view one of these majestic birds up close…
Fort Belle Fontaine Park is located @ 13002 Bellefontaine Road, 63138. Admission to this event is free.
Eagle Days returns to Chain of Rocks this weekend
FROM THE NEWS WIRE:
Eagle Days 2012, January 14 and 15
9:00 am to 3:00 pm
View eagles in your own backyard!
Residents of the bi-state area are invited to view bald eagles this January at Eagle Days – a free public program at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. During the winter, the Mississippi River hosts one of North America’s largest concentrations of bald eagles, who are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food. The Chain of Rocks rapids to the south of the Bridge are ideal fishing grounds.
From the Bridge, an ideal viewing platform, visitors can watch eagles fishing, riding ice floes, soaring overhead or roosting in nearby trees.
Additional Eagle Days Programming Includes:
Live Eagle Educational Program
By the Wild Bird Sanctuary, repeated every 20 minutes from 10:00 a.m. until 2:40 p.m.
Eagle Viewing
Scopes at the center of the bridge are staffed by trained volunteers to help you view eagles diving for fish, roosting in the trees along the banks of the Mississippi, and soaring over the bridge.
Eagle Nest Replica
This full-size eagle’s nest is a great photo opportunity!
Warming Tent Activities
Hands-on art activities for children facilitated by Green Center (Saturday) and the EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden (Sunday).
Living History Demonstrations
Lewis and Clark re-enactors from the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri and the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site. Don’t miss the raising and lowering of the flag at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the Missouri Bridge entrance!
St. Louis Audubon Display
Featuring hands-on exhibits of local birds courtesy of the St. Louis Audubon Society.
The Confluence Partnership Display
Learn about the history and importance of The Confluence region and America’s Great Rivers.
Refreshments
Ed’s Food will be serving hot dogs, chicken strips, shish kabobs, egg rolls, crab rangoon, hot cocoa, lemonade, soda, and water.
Things to Bring:
- Binoculars
- Very warm clothes including a hat and gloves
- Camera
- Comfortable Shoes (It is about a 1/2-mile walk to the eagle scopes and additional Eagle Days programming, both located at the middle of the Bridge.)
- Cash (Eagle Days is free but select parking lots and food vendors will only accept cash)
- Curiosity
Please Leave at Home:
- Your dog Fluffy or any other pets
Parking:
Free parking is available at two satellite lots in Missouri, the St. Louis Welcome Center at Riverview Drive and I-270 and North Riverfront Park, off of Riverview Drive south of the waterworks. A free shuttle will be available from both locations. Free parking is also available at the Illinois Bridge entrance. Parking at the Missouri Bridge entrance costs $5.
Volunteers:
If you are interested in volunteering for Eagle Days, please contact Jamilia Harris at 314-877-1309 or jamilia.harris@mdc.mo.gov.
Sponsors:
Dana Brown Charitable Trust
Trio Foundation of St. Louis
Edward Jones
Great Rivers Greenway
Illinois Conservation Foundation
Metro East Parks and Recreation District
Pettus Foundation
Missouri American Water
Cargill
America’s Central Port
ConocoPhillips
Additional Support:
Chipotle
City of Madison, IL
Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, MO
EarthWays Center of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Katy Bike Rental
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
Marshall Scott Enterprises
Mostly Bikes, LLS
Pei Wei Asian Diner (Ladue & Creve Coeur)
St. Louis Audubon Society
Starbucks
Sweet Tomatoes (Creve Coeur & Crestwood)
The Green Center
The Pasta House Company
World Bird Sanctuary
A big thank you to all our volunteers. This event would not be possible without your help.
Produced by:
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For more information on Eagle Days call 314.436.1324 x117 or e-mail charles@trailnet.org.
Watch for Eagles from Fort Belle Fontaine
If you happened to miss Eagle Days this past weekend, no worries… The Friends of Fort Belle Fontaine and St. Louis County Parks are teaming up this Saturday, January 22, to host another eagle-viewing event, this time surrounded by the beautiful winter landscape at Fort Belle Fontaine Park.
Besides watching for eagles along the Missouri River, you can take a guided three-mile trail hike and view live birds of prey up close, courtesy of World Bird Sanctuary. Living history experts from the Lewis & Clark Visitor Center in Hartford, Illinois, will also be on hand with their amazing replica of the Corps of Discovery’s flat-bottomed “pirogue” boat.
Admission is free, and all are welcome. January 22, 11am-2pm @ 13002 Bellefontaine Road, 63138
If you’ve never been to Fort Belle, please note that there’s a semi-menacing-looking guard’s post at the entrance. It’s not a big deal – just protection for the children’s home located in one section of the park. Just mention the eagle event, they’ll write down your license number and you can drive right in. Follow the signs toward the Grand Staircase.
Eagle Days are here again!
Even if you’re not a regular bird watcher, seeing an American Bald Eagle is an amazing and profound experience, especially when it’s right in your own backyard. I don’t know about you, but I think one of the most awesome and underrated things about North County is that every single winter, we are home to hundreds of migrating Bald Eagles, many of whom are clearly visible at our river shorelines.
A few years ago, my husband and I were driving across the new Chain of Rocks Bridge toward Illinois, and literally 20 feet away was a magnificent eagle in flight. I was able to look him (or her) right in the eye, and it’s a moment I will never forget. I wish the same incredible experience for you, NOCO fans, so I encourage you to attend one or both of this weekend’s Eagle Days events…
The first is at Columbia Bottom Conservation area and runs from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, January 15. You can watch eagles as they soar above the Confluence, using magnified scopes to zoom in your view. There will also be a warming tent, short hikes and a photography class, and everything is free. Just drop in at 801 Strodtman Road, Saint Louis, MO 63138.
Also on Saturday, January 15, you can watch for eagles from the old Chain of Rocks Bridge, where the Confluence Greenway is hosting a free public program from 9am to 3pm. Bring your own binoculars or use the viewing scopes on site. You can also see an eagle’s nest replica, living history demonstrations, a St. Louis Audubon Society display, and a real live eagle up close! Live eagle educational programs will be repeated every 20 minutes from 10:00am to 2:40pm. And yes, just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate, there’s a warming tent nearby.
Hope to see you there… 10950 Riverview Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63137
