Illinois ranks 2nd behind Alaska for wintering bald eagles, and festival season is underway

How a lot do eagles love Illinois?

The state, with its many rivers, has the second largest winter inhabitants of bald eagles within the nation, based on Forest Protect District of Will County program coordinator Jess McQuown.

“The one state that does higher than us is Alaska, which I believe is honest,” McQuown stated with a chuckle. “Like, OK, that’s higher habitat. However even in comparison with Michigan, even in comparison with Wisconsin, Illinois (wins out).”

The state’s abundance of eagles is on proud show this month, as communities host eagle festivals giant and small. One of many closest festivals for Chicagoans, the Will County forest preserves’ Eagle Watch on Jan. 14 in Channahon, will characteristic a great likelihood to see a nesting pair that likes to perch simply throughout the Des Plaines River from the 4 Rivers Environmental Training Heart.

Throughout chilly stretches when smaller rivers freeze over, different eagles make their solution to the 4 Rivers stretch of the Des Plaines, McQuown stated. She’s seen six at a time and a fellow naturalist has noticed 12.

“You might be extremely prone to see an eagle outdoors, in addition to inside,” the place the middle has a spotter scope for magnified (and heated) viewing, McQuown stated.

As soon as an endangered species, bald eagles rebounded after the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972, from a low of about 420 nesting pairs within the decrease 48 states to an estimated 71,400 as we speak, based on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. There are an estimated 3,100 eagles wintering in a minimum of 27 Illinois counties annually.

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Eagle Watch shall be held from 11 a.m. to three p.m. Jan. 14 at 4 Rivers Environmental Training Heart. Contributors can hike the middle’s trails to search for bald eagles fishing and trying to find waterfowl on the Des Plaines River.

Inside the middle, a bald eagle named Victor E. and 4 owls shall be a part of the fowl shows provided by Hoo’s Woods Raptor Heart in Milton, Wisconsin. Two 45-minute fowl shows will happen at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. A 20-minute “meet and greet” is about for 12:30 p.m. Seating shall be on a first-come, first-served foundation.

Eagle Watch attendees can be part of 40-minute guided hikes to seek for and study eagles, attend 15-minute “Talon Talks,” strive household crafts or be part of an Eagle Eye Scavenger Hunt.

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Different festivals, based on the Illinois Workplace of Tourism, embody Bald Eagle Days on the Quad Metropolis Conservation Alliance Expo Heart in Rock Island from Friday by Sunday. The biggest occasion within the Midwest devoted to the bald eagle, Bald Eagle Days attracts 1000’s of residents and guests for dwell eagle applications and dwell fowl of prey demonstrations, in addition to shows, actions and bus excursions for (wild) eagle viewing. Admission is $6 for adults and $1 for teenagers 6-15 years and is free for teenagers on Friday evening, Jan. 6.

The Alton Eagle Ice Pageant is a free public occasion held Saturday with an eagle meet and greet and an opportunity to get your image taken with a bald eagle, in addition to meals vehicles, drinks, ice carvers, Eagle Fest Beer from Previous Bakery Beer Firm, fireplace pits with s’mores kits on the market, and face portray for teenagers. The Nationwide Nice Rivers Museum will supply talks by eagle specialists and eagle movie showings. Eagle shuttle excursions at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. will showcase one of the best spots to view the birds. Tickets for the shuttle excursions are $15.

Pere Marquette State Park Bald Eagle Days shall be held in Grafton on Thursday and Jan. 19; Feb. 1, 3, 6, 7, 14, 16, 21, 22, 23, 24; and March 2 and 9. Guests will be taught to differentiate between immature and mature bald eagles, what eagles eat, and why they spend winter months within the space. There shall be a brief video presentation adopted by a drive to view the wintering bald eagles. Packages start at 8:30 a.m. and reservations are required.

Starved Rock Lodge at Starved Rock State Park presents bald eagle trolley excursions in January and February. The trolley goes from the park to the Illinois Waterway Customer Heart for eagle viewing and an academic program. Ticket worth contains your choice from their trolley lunch menu and the tour. Tickets are $34 for adults and $29 for teenagers 10 and below.

Nice River Eagle Days shall be held in Quincy from Jan. 28 and 29. The Standing Bear Council will host their Winter Gathering and their annual Nice River Eagle Days with quite a lot of actions all through the weekend. The occasions, that are open to the general public, honor Native American traditions with quite a lot of sacred ceremonies and entertainments. The normal blessing of the eagle ceremony shall be held Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Over 30 Native American distributors and meals cubicles shall be on website each days, and choices will embody genuine “Fry Bread.” This yr the competition will once more characteristic an expanded space for youngsters’s academic and enjoyable actions. Native American dancers and drummers will carry out.

nschoenberg@chicagotribune.com