CLINTON —
Unseasonably warm weather provided a dearth of birds for much of the 28th Annual Bald Eagle Watch, but attendees didn’t seem to mind. The hundreds of visitors to Clinton Community College Saturday were treated to educational and entertaining programs, and even came face to face with some real live birds of prey.
“Now we’re going to bring out some birds you might not like,” said Candy Ridlbauer, of Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education, as she brought out a pair of Coopers Hawks during a live show.
The Coopers Hawks are known for devouring songbirds, which doesn’t endear them to bird enthusiasts. However, Ridlbauer said that their vicious reputation is undeserved, as they were drawn to the area by humans providing food.
“It’s our fault that this bird is killing your songbirds,” she said. “Don’t take it out on the birds.”
The Coopers Hawks were joined by Peregrine falcons, Barred and Horned owls, kestrels and other raptors, or birds of prey, at the event, which entertained more than 500 visitors. Several education programs were presented at the college campus, and visitors were also invited to Lock and Dam 13 in Fulton to try to spot a few eagles.
The purpose of the annual event, according to Park Ranger and organizer Ben Deroo, is to inform and entertain. Speakers and educational booths promote preservation and environmentalism, and serve as a good opportunity to introduce both young and old to the diverse local wildlife. Though the climate wasn’t optimal for eagle watching, a few were spotted by the observant, and attendance wasn’t drastically affected.
In fact, while the warm, clear weather may have proven unappealing to the eagles, it may have had the opposite affect on event attendees. Deroo has helped with the annual event for the past few years, and said that this year’s crowd was quite large.
“It’s grown each year that I’ve been here,” Deroo said.
Following the live raptor show, visitors were invited to listen to Rudy Vallejo, an American Indian trained in the art of Bald Eagle dancing.
Booths were also set up around the room, providing visitors with information on various environmental organizations, including the United States Fish and Wild Life Service and the Clinton County Conservation Board.
Jessica Steines, an interpretive naturalist for the Clinton County Conservation Board, had several animals on display, including an Eastern Screech Owl, a snake and a turtle. Those dropping by her booth were invited to pet some of the animals, and learn a little more about local fauna. Steines said that her wildlife program travels around to elementary schools, where it is a hit not only with kids, but with people of all ages.
“It’s everybody, not just kids,” Steines said. “We are very hands on. We like to let them touch the animals.
“It’s an experience they’ll remember for a lifetime,” she added.
The annual event is presented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Clinton Community College and the stewards of the “Upper Miss” Refuge. According to organizers, over 2,500 bald eagles visit the upper Mississippi region annually.
Local News
Related Photos
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Candy and Steve Ridlbauer of Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education show off a couple birds of prey. Ben Jacobson/Clinton Herald
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Rudy Vallejo performs a Bald Eagle appreciation dance. Ben Jacobson/Clinton Herald
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A lack of eagles didn’t scare away bird watchers at Lock and Dam 13 near Fulton, Ill., on Saturday. Ben Jacobson/ Clinton Herald
Discussion
Eagle Watch draws bird enthusiasts
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