Sixth Annual Teatown Hudson River EagleFest

Teatown Lake Reservation will host the 6th Annual Hudson River EagleFest on Saturday February 6, 2010 from 9 am to 4 pm. The event will be headquartered at Westchester’s Croton Point Park, with eagle viewing sites located along the Hudson River.
By: Lisa Fine, LF Communications
 
Jan. 5, 2010 - PRLog -- Ossining, New York.... Teatown Lake Reservation will host the Sixth Annual Hudson River EagleFest on Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  EagleFest Headquarters and all theaters will be located in heated tents at Westchester County’s Croton Point Park, with additional eagle viewing sites located at the Croton train station boat ramp, George’s Island in Montrose and Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center in Peekskill.  Hudson Valley EagleFest 2010 is made possible by a broad collaboration of 28 organizations united to promote appreciation of an environmentally healthy and vibrant bald eagle population in the Hudson Hills and Highlands. In the event of severe weather, the alternate date for the EagleFest will be Sunday, February 7.

EagleFest coincides with the annual winter gathering of the bald eagle in the lower Hudson Valley and offers participants a chance to observe our national symbol up close in their natural setting.  Adults and children attending EagleFest will learn about the bald eagle’s natural history, recent recovery, and habitat needs through activities led by local experts and environmental conservationists.

“While the recovery of the bald eagle is a great conservation success story, caring for them well into the future will require an on-going public-private partnership to protect eagle habitat, including the Hudson River,” suggests Dr. Fred Koontz, Teatown’s Executive Director. “The EagleFest demonstrates through its many collaborating host organizations and event participants that our regional community sees the natural value of having bald eagles living in our midst.”  

EagleFest activities will include:

Eagle Headquarters at Croton Point Park. Heated tents filled with educational displays, collaborator’s exhibits and children’s activities about bald eagles and other birds of prey. (suggested donation is $2 per person)

Eagle Theatre (seating 325). Shows include:
10:00     “Winter Raptor Migrants” with Bill Streeter from the Delaware Valley Raptor Center, $5
11:00   “Winter Raptor Migrants” with Bill Streeter, $5
12:00   “Winter Raptor Migrants” with Bill Streeter, $5    
1:00   “Eagles and More” with Hope Douglas, executive director of Wind Over Wings, $5
2:00   “Eagles and More” with Hope Douglas, $5
3:00   “Flight of the Raptors” with Falconer James Eyring, free
Tickets can be purchased in advance at 914-762-2912, ext. 110.

Eaglet Stage (Seating 100). Shows include:
9:00   Teatown Lake Reservation presents EagleFest 2010
9:45     “Hudson River Eagles” Talk by Christopher Letts
10:30    Jonathan Kruk Storyteller
11:15    Choosing Birding Optics
12:00    Raptor program by Teatown Lake Reservation
12:45    Jonathan Kruk Storyteller
1:30    Teatown Lake Reservation presents EagleFest 2010
2:15    Steve Sachs – eagle photographer

Eagle Exploration Bus Tour. The tour will begin at the headquarters at Croton Point Park and will visit three eagle viewing sites. The 2-hour tour is geared to adults and teens (14 years and older), and offers the expertise of an environmental educator in the comfort of a chartered 36-seat bus. Tour times: 9:30-11:30am and 2:00-4:00pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance for $20 at 914-762-2912, ext.110.

Bird Walks. Join expert birders on guided walks to see the various birds that frequent the area.  Free.

Eagle Viewing Sites Along the Hudson River. Individuals and families can visit at no charge three eagle-spotting sites along the Hudson River: (1) Croton-Harmon train station boat ramp (Sponsored by Saw Mill River Audubon Society); (2) George’s Island Park in Montrose; and (3) Annsville Creek Paddlesport Center in Peekskill (Sponsored by Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary and New York State Parks, Taconic Region).  Each site will be staffed by eagle experts with spotting scopes, warming tents and hot chocolate.

Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest 2010 is generously sponsored by Westchester County Parks Department, Westchester County, Friends of Westchester County Parks, Club Fit, NY State Assembly, and TD Bank.

EagleFest collaborators include: Audubon Greenwich, Beczak Environmental Education Center, Bedford Audubon Society, Bronx River Sound Shore Audubon Society, Clean Air NY, Constitution Marsh Audubon Center and Sanctuary, Croton Point Park Nature Center, Delaware Valley Raptor Center, The Eagle Institute, Greenburgh Nature Center, Historic Hudson Valley – Van Cortlandt Manor, Hudson River Estuary Management Program, Hudson River Foundation, New York City Audubon, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NY-NJ Trail Conference, New York State Parks – Taconic Region, Pace University Environmental Center, Putnam Highlands Audubon Society, Riverlovers, Saw Mill River Audubon Society, Steve Sachs, Teatown Lake Reservation, Village of Croton, Wave Hill, Wild Bird Center, Wild Birds Unlimited and Wind Over Wings.      

In the event of severe weather, the alternate date for the EagleFest will be Sunday, February 7th. Please check Teatown’s website — www.teatown.org — for program details and weather updates, or call Teatown at (914) 762-2912, ext. 110.

About the Bald Eagle in the Hudson Valley

Each winter, between December and March, bald eagles from Canada and northern New York and New England fly south to the lower Hudson Valley to feed on fish and waterfowl found in unfrozen waters.  The bald eagle, which was considered an endangered species prior to 1995, shed its federal threatened status in 2007.
Biologists estimate that about 150 bald eagles overwinter in the Lower Hudson Valley, but according to the Bedford Audubon Society this number is growing!  Bedford Audubon Society annually conducts Lower Hudson Valley surveys of roosting bald eagles at several sites along the River and at the New Croton Reservoir.  Their research indicates a steady increase in the number of bald eagles wintering in this area.  In 2009, they found  an average of 74 and a peak of 139 bald eagles was recorded at the monitoring sites, compared with an average of 51 and a peak of 84 bald eagles in 2008.  This 45% increase in the average and 65% increase in the peak is truly cause for celebration by both bird lovers and environmentalists.  The rescue of the bald eagle, our national emblem is in and of itself a success story, but, it also speaks for the success of sound environmental policies and will help promote our cause in turning our focus to environmental sustainability as a whole.  Studies also show that the lower Hudson Valley is one of the largest wintering areas for bald eagles in the eastern lower 48 states outside of the Chesapeake Bay region. According to Birder’s World, the Hudson Valley was ranked # 18 on their list of best bald eagle viewing spot in the country. Every year the bald eagles’ return affirms the continued health of the Hudson River and nearby habitats for wildlife and people – and a reminder that people working together can make a difference!  

About Teatown Lake Reservation

Teatown Lake Reservation is a nonprofit, regional environmental organization with an 834-acre nature preserve and education center located in the Towns of Yorktown, Cortlandt, and New Castle, New York.  Teatown’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations.  Teatown is devoted to conserving biodiversity, teaching ecology and promoting nature-friendly living throughout the Hudson Hills and Highlands.

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LF Communications, Inc. meets the needs of local-based businesses for their marketing, public relations and event planning efforts, throughout Westchester County in New York … and beyond.
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Source:Lisa Fine, LF Communications
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Tags:Eagles, Nature, Birding, Raptors, Eagle Viewing
Industry:Education, Environment
Location:Ossining - New York - United States
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