Gary’s Blog 1-17-10 23rd Annual Bald Eagle Days a Huge Success

    Yesterday, January 16 was the 23rd Annual Bald Eagle Days in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin. Nothing could have turned out better! The magnificent bald eagles cooperated with numerous eagles usually available for viewing at the Overlook on Water Street and on the various stops around town that the bus tours took. There’s been years with more eagles, but the warmer weather had the local birds fairly active and regularly flying near Eagle Island.

I worked as a Ferry Bluff Eagle Council volunteer and spent half of the day adjusting spotting scopes for the many visitors at the Downtown overlook. The Vortex scopes are excellent optics and allowed viewers sights that they had never seen before. I get enjoyment and satisfaction having children and senior citizens marvel at seeing an egle up close for the first time. There is something magical and breath-taking when someone sees their first eagle! Children screamed “I just saw an eagle!” and older adults who were truely amazed at the something that many had never seen in their lives. Yes, these are truely magical birds that we are so lucky to have in this area.

The other activities this weekend were well received particularly the Raptor Group and their birds from the University of Minnesota. The DNR had face-painting and other activities for the kids and all the other presentations were top-notch.

Alliant Energy, the DNR, and the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council were main sponsors and theirare many more to be thanked for making this a SUPER weekend!!Go to the Sauk Prairie Chamber of Commerce andd the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council websites for more information.

DNR Secretary Matt Frank and Ferry Bluff Eagle council member Jeb Barzen at the Eagle Overlook.  Photos by Gary Engberg Outdoors