IOWA CITY, IOWA –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Coralville Lake will be hosting a Bald Eagle Watch and Expo on Saturday, February 9, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This event is free to the public and will have two different locations going simultaneously.
Indoor Expo Venue
The indoor Expo will be at the Brown Deer Golf Club, 1900 Country Club Drive, Coralville, Iowa. Fantastic multi-media presentations from three speakers are lined up. At 10:30 a.m., Ty Smedes, an Iowa author and world travelled photographer will present “The Return of Iowa’s Bald Eagles”. Mr. Smedes will also have copies of his newest book of the same title available for purchase and signing.
At 12:00 noon, Luke Hart, from the Macbride Raptor Project, will present “Kestrel, Swainson, and Harris Hawks” using live hawks from the rehabilitation facility.
At 1:30 p.m., Mike Havlik from the Des Moines Y-Camp at Boone, Iowa, will have live owls for his program, “Big Owls Hoot and Little Owls Toot”.
Exhibitors with hands-on displays and informational materials will be: the Iowa Wildlife Federation, the Johnson County Conservation Board represented by staff from the Kent Park Conservation Education Center, The Songbird Project, Iowa Ornithologist’s Union, Iowa Young Birders, nature photographers Linda and Robert Scarth, selling their unique gift items, and The Pella Wildlife Company showcasing bats with their “Guardians of the Night” display. The Otter Side of Nature Store specializes in educational nature related merchandise.
Snacks and beverages will be available on a cash sales basis through the Marriott Hotel Catering service.
Outdoor Viewing Site
This site will be located at the Tailwater West Picnic Shelter downstream from the dam at Coralville Lake, Individuals wishing to go to the outdoor venue, however, must provide their own transportation. Maps will be available at the Expo site. Volunteers from the Corps and the Iowa DNR will be on hand with scopes and binoculars to help you view the birds along the river. Hot refreshments will be available for purchase from Boy Scout Troop 218.
More Information
Again, this event is free to the public. For more information call the Coralville Lake office at 319-338-3543 ext 6300, visit our web site at www.coralvillelake.org, or check our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/coralvillelake