Bald Eagle Viewing Event Held at Locations Along the Fox River This Weekend

Area birders or those simply interested in the majestic beauty of the bald eagle are invited out to a free event this Saturday, which will celebrate the return of eagles to the Fox River Valley.

From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Dec. 12, representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and McHenry County Audubon will be on hand at four locations along the Fox River to help search for eagles and other birds using the waterway, according to a Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge press release.

Volunteers and USFWS staff will be sharing views through spotting scopes and binoculars and helping novices identify the birds they see at the McHenry Dam, the Algonquin Dam, the Carpentersville Dam, and the Burlington Dam in Wisconsin.

A map of the locations can be viewed here. The Algonquin Dam is located at Cornish Park, 123 S. Harrison St. in Algonquin; the McHenry Dam is located west off of River Road, 1 mile north of Moraine Hills State Park’s entrance; the Carpentersville Dam is located at the Fox River Shores Forest Preserve and the preserve’s parking lot is located across the street from 317 N. Lincoln Ave., according to the news release.

Volunteers and USFWS staff will be sharing views through spotting scopes and binoculars and helping novices identify the birds they see at the four dams.

Following the outdoor excursions, the public is invited to enjoy free hot chocolate at the McHenry County Conservation District’s Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road in Crystal Lake. There they can learn more about eagles at free presentation with live raptors.

“You will meet two kinds of eagles (Bald and Golden) so you can see the power and beauty of these truly magnificent birds of prey,” according to the news release. “You will also see other birds of prey that are commonly misidentified as eagles.”

The Raptor Program is free but space is limited and registration is required. To register, call 815-479-5779.