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Eagle Watching

Quad Cities Bald Eagle Days - Rock Island, IL

Januay 5-7, 2024

Quad City Conservation Alliance Expo Center - 2621 Fourth Ave, Rock Island IL

Admission and more information; 309-788-2543 www.qccaexpocenter.com

Alton–Audubon Eagle Ice Festival at Center at the Riverlands & Downtown Alton, IL

January 6

  • Eagle Meet & Greet 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Eagle Viewing Walks
  • Kids Activities
  • Ice Sculpting
  • Wildlife Art/Photography
  • Free Admission and shuttle tours available for more information call 618-465-6676
  • Additional information on eagle watching activities throughout the Alton area can be found at  http://www.visitalton.com/seasons/eagle

Pere Marquette State Park Bald Eagle Days - Grafton, IL

December 27, 28; January 25; February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 15, 21, 22, 23; March 26, 2024.

  • Reservations Required (starting November 15)
  • Informative Programs begin at the park visitor center at 8:30 a.m.
  • Video Presentation
  • Observational Driving Tour of Eagle Watching Locations near the Park
  • For additional information, call 618-786-3323 
  • https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/Parks/Pages/PereMarquette.aspx

Eagle Watch  - Four Rivers Environmental Education Center

January 13

  • Four Rivers is a favorite hangout of bald eagles during the colder months. Celebrate these fascinating birds of prey with guided hikes, family activities, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
  • Dress for the weather and use caution while walking outdoors as snow and ice may be present on paths and parking areas.
  • For more information call the Forest Preserve District of Will County at 815-722-9470
  • For more information 
    https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/news-events/event-calendar

Mississippi River Visitor Center - Rock Island IL - Eagle Watch / Clock Tower Tours

January & February TBA

Clinton, Iowa Annual Bald Eagle Watch

January TBA

Keokuk Iowa Bald Eagle Days - Lock and Dam 19 - 39th Annual Bald Eagle Appreciation Days

January TBA

  • Indoor programs and Environmental Fair at the River City Mall, Keokuk, Iowa 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  • Live Eagle Programs Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., and Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  • Outdoor viewing along the River Front 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  • For more information call the Keokuk Chamber of Commerce: 1-800-383-1219 or 1-319-524-5599
  • For more information visit https://www.traveliowa.com/calendar/35th-annual-bald-eagle-appreciation-days/1618605/

Muscatine Iowa Bald Eagle Watch

January TBA

Bald Eagle Festival - Pere Marquette Lodge, Grafton

January 28, 2024

  • Festival will feature live music and entertainment by the World Bird Sanctuary as they showcase the Bald Eagle and several other raptor species in their Masters of the Sky Show at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m, & 3:00 p.m.
  • $5 Tickets for the shows can be purchased on the web site in advance or at the Front Desk at 10:00 a.m. the morning of the Festival.
  • Unique vendor booths, grab a bite to eat in the restaurant, taste locally made wines.
  • The Bald Eagle Festival takes place indoors. Entry into the Festival is free, for more information visit 
    http://www.pmlodge.net/category/events/​

Annual Great River Eagles Days – Lock and Dam 21, Quincy, IL

January TBA

  • Outdoor viewing at Lock and Dam 21 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Indoor exhibits & events 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center, admission into the event is $5 for ages twelve and older and $3 for adults over sixty. For more information call:​ 217-577-1930.
  • The Omeyocan Dancers, a spectacular Aztec dance company hailing from Milwaukee, WI, performing both days at 2:00 p.m. 
  • Bald eagles will be present all weekend for close-up viewing from the Raptor Rehabilitation Center.
  • The traditional blessing of the eagle ceremony is to be held Sunday at 10:30 a.m.   
  • Native American vendors and food booths will be on site both days, offering authentic "Fry Bread" and Indian tacos.

  • https://seequincy.com/events/great-river-eagle-days-6/

  • For more information on the Lock & Dam events call the Muscatine Ranger office: 563-263-7913
  • For more information https://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Mississippi-River-Project/Education/Eagle-Watching/

Carlyle Lake Eagle Watch

January TBA

Starved Rock Eagle Watch Weekend - Utica, IL

January 27 & 28

  • Lots of great family-friendly fun activities 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
  • Guided Eagles Tours at 11: 00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
  • Live Birds of Prey Show with Illinois Raptor Center.
  • Free Admission
  • For more information Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center

Fulton-Mason Eagle Day (Havana & Lewistown)

February 3
 
  • Activities include The World Bird Sanctuary's Raptor Awareness programs at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. at Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds auditorium. Free tickets for the programs will be available on a first come first served basis, in the Museum's lobby beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 3.
  • Bird watching at various locations in Lewsitown and Havana.
  • Food will be available for purchase.
  • Kids activities.
  • Sponsored by Forbes and Illinois River Biological Stations, Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds, Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery, Therkilden Field Station at Emiquon, The Nature Conservancy, USFW Illinois River Refuges Complex.
  • For more information illinoisstatemuseum.org/content/dickson-mounds-events 

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Eagle Watch, Marion, IL

February TBA

Flock to the Rock ’24 - Rock Falls

February 10

The public is invited to come to join at the lower dam in Rock Falls from 9 am - 10 am to view the eagles. Then head over to the Rock Falls Community Building in Rock Falls, at 10:00 am. There will be nature-related vendors at this event and a speaker or two about birds. Presentation by the Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education. The event is FREE to the public. 

  • 9:00 am meet at the lower dam (142 W. 1st Street) to view the eagles along the Rock River.
  • 10:00 am Rock Falls Community Building (601 West 10th St), speakers and nature-related vendors. 
  • For more information, visit https://visitrockfalls.com/
  • All activities are free.

Eagle Days - The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge 

February TBA

Each session will include a special 30-minute presentation in the nature center’s auditorium by World Bird Sanctuary featuring a live bald eagle – and a chance for close-up photo opportunities from 9:00 am to 3:00 p.m.

  • Live Eagle Educational Programs.
  • Viewing Scopes for Eagle Watching available.
  • Hosted by the IDNR, Missouri Dept. of Conservation, and The Confluence
  • For more information visit http://greatriversgreenway.org/eagledays
  • All activities are free.

Masters of the Sky Eagle Events, National Great Rivers Museum - Alton, IL

February TBA

  • Eagles, Hawks, Owls and More! 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • 1 Hour Programs presented by Treehouse Rehabilitation Wildlife Center, Featuring Live Birds of Prey
    11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
  • Tickets are $3.00 for kids 12 & under, $5 for adults (children under age 3 may attend for free)
  • For more information, https://www.mtrf.org or 618-462-6979 or 1-877-462-6979

Kaskaskia Eagle Fest, Jerry F. Costello Lock & Dam - Modoc, IL

March TBA

  • Eagle watching with spotting scopes
  • Presentations by the World Bird Sanctuary
  • Animology presentations
  • Children's craft
  • Experience the confluence of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia River
  • Tour the Jerry F. Colstello Lock and Dam
  • Families & leash-trained dogs welcome
  • Food trucks on site.
  • For more information, contact the U.S., Army Corps of Engineers Kaskaskia River Project Office at 618-284-7160

Dubuque Iowa Bald Eagle Watch

TBA

Lake Shelbyville Eagle Day

Canceled for 2023

  • Lake Shelbyville Visitor Center (off of Route 16 East of Main Dam) 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • This event is offered free of charge, however space and seating is limited.  
  • Please contact the Lake Shelbyville, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reserve free tickets for the bald eagle program for kids and the birds of prey show.  Tickets can be reserved either by phone, email, or in person at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office.  
  • Eagle program for kids 10:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
  • Talk & Gawk in lobby 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
  • Birds of Prey 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
  • The Project Office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For additional information or to reserve tickets, call (217) 774-3951 X 2 or email lakeshelbyville@usace.army.mil.
  • Free Admission, for more information visit http://www.lakeshelbyville.com

Mississippi River Eagle Watching

January - February TBA

The U.S. Army Corps of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes visitors to see bald eagles at lock and dams along the Mississippi River each winter. Locations and dates are available at

Rock Island District > Missions > Recreation > Mississippi River Project > Education > Eagle Watching (army.mil)

In addition to special events, bald eagles have been found wintering throughout Illinois at locations including the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in northeast Illinois; at locations all along the Illinois River; along open waters on the Du Page River and Fox River in northeast Illinois, including Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry; at Volo Bog State Natural Area, Ingleside; along the Des Plaines River near Channahon State Park, Channahon; near the I-88 bridge in North Aurora on the Fox River; on the Fox River at the Pleasant Valley Forest Preserve in Woodstock; and, along the Rock River at locations including Lowden State Park, Oregon, Illinois.