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Starved Rock Bald Eagle Watch set for January 25–26

by Melanie Jongsma

OGLESBY, Ill. (January 8, 2020) – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) reports that Starved Rock Bald Eagle Watch Weekend is set for Saturday, January 25, and Sunday, January 26, at Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, Illinois.

Activities are scheduled to begin at 9:00am both days at the Illinois Waterway Lock and Dam Visitor Center, Starved Rock Visitor Center, and Starved Rock Lodge. The Bald Eagle Watch Weekend is hosted by the Illinois Audubon Society, Illinois Raptor Center, IDNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Starved Rock Lodge, and is sponsored in part by Ameren Illinois.

Bald Eagle Watch Weekend celebrates the American bald eagle in Illinois. The two-day event offers programs, activities, and exhibits at three locations—the Starved Rock Lodge, the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center, and the Starved Rock Visitor Center. All three venues are within a short driving distance, or a trolley conveniently connects them all, and a $2.00 all-day armband is available for purchase on the trolley.

More information about the scheduled programs—including dates, times, and descriptions—is available at the Illinois Audubon Society website.

The weekend provides plenty of opportunities to see bald eagles, though the numbers vary year to year and even day to day. Cold weather tends to concentrate the birds by the open water at the dam. When the weather is warmer, birds will hunt up and down the river, and there will be fewer to view. Starved Rock Audubon Society members will be on hand to provide high powered scopes and answers to guests’ eagle questions.

Starved Rock State Park is located at 2668 E 875th Road, Oglesby, Illinois.

Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma grew up in Lansing, Illinois, and believes The Lansing Journal has an important role to play in building community through trustworthy information.