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Eagle watching opportunities abound in coming weeks |
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Where can you find eagles? Start your thinking with water. The big, majestic birds are usually found around water because fish make up a major part of their diet. The Arkansas River all the way across the state is prime eagle territory in winter. So are the big man-made lakes and even smaller lakes. For beginners in the eagle viewing game, participation in a specially designed state park program can help. Some of these state park eagle events are long-running, annual activities. Dress warm, take the family and head out for a day of wildlife watching. Arkansas State Parks eagle events: Jan. 14-15, Eagle Awareness Weekend, Bull Shoals-White River State Park http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/bullshoalswhiteriver. Over 100 bald eagles winter in the Bull Shoals area each year. This weekend features lake tours, guided bird walks, guest speakers, live bird demonstrations (including a bald eagle) and musical entertainment at Bull Shoals Theater of the Arts. All programs are free, except tours. Jan. 15-16, Eagle Awareness Weekend, Petit Jean State Park http://www.petitjeanstatepark.com. Guest speakers, live "birds of prey" show, and car caravan to nearby Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge to see wintering bald eagles along the Arkansas River. Admission is free. Jan. 28-30, 26th annual Eagles Et Cetera Festival, DeGray Lake Resort State Park http://www.degray.com . This is the longest running eagle awareness program in Arkansas. Lake tours, guest speakers, indoor and outdoor programs, live birds of prey shows with a bald eagle and other raptors. All programs, except tours, are free. Jan. 29, Eagle Watch Weekend, Cane Creek State Park http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/canecreek. Eagles are present in southeast Arkansas too. Park interpreters help visitors to learn more about these magnificent raptors and help search for them. Contact the park for a detailed schedule of activities. Admission is free. Feb. 5-6, Winter Wings Weekend, Lake Chicot State Park http://www.arkansasstateparks.com/lakechicot . Birdwatchers and nature lovers observe the diversity of waterfowl wintering at Lake Chicot. Field trips and lake tours help spot bald eagles, ducks, herons and many other birds in the famed Mississippi Flyway. Admission is free except for van and lake tours. Other
parks with eagle tours by water or by land include: Some other tips for eagle outings:
Use binoculars. Bring your own that you're already familiar with using. You can adjust the neck strap for yourself; focus the eyepieces for your own eyes, and practice finding objects while looking through them. If you don't have a pair of binoculars, call ahead to the park you're visiting; it's likely they'll have some you can check out or share. Take along bird field guides. Even though you're planning to see eagles, you can also view other wintering birds during your outing. Different species are common in the natural divisions of Arkansas, and water areas give glimpses of loons, grebes, herons and a variety of ducks. |
LITTLE
ROCK - Winter is eagle time for growing numbers of Arkansans. Migrating
bald eagles along with a few golden eagles are in the state and commonly
attract “oohs” and “aahs” from young and old viewers.
Look
for flying eagles in the skies and roosting eagles in treetops. Eagles
soar with wings straight out from their bodies; vultures soar with wings
in a V shape. Scan the treetops carefully. Sometimes eagles will sit in
dead or leafless trees, making them easy to spot, but at other times one
may be tucked up in the boughs of a pine tree.
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