Annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival Set for Feb. 5-7
Thursday, February 04, 2010 | 05:35am
NASHVILLE - The 6th Annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival is set for Friday through Sunday, Feb. 5-7. This annual winter pilgrimage of the majestic American Bald Eagle will bring these winged creatures back to northwest Tennessee from their summer homes in the upper Great Lakes and Canada. With wingspans of six to eight feet and weights up to 16 pounds, the American Bald Eagle has been returning to the open water, marshes and cypress-laden sloughs of Reelfoot Lake for generations.
The Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival celebrates one of the largest wintering populations of bald eagles outside Alaska. The Eagle Festival offers a wide range of opportunities for Reelfoot Lake visitors to see these magnificent birds in the wild. Local park and wildlife experts will sponsor walking tours, bus tours, lectures, interpretive sessions and special photography displays throughout the weekend. Bald eagle and waterfowl tours, along with educational lectures will continue through Feb. 28 at the park.
A highlight at this year's event is David Haggard's Reelfoot Birds of Prey program, slated for Saturday, Feb 6, beginning at 7 p.m. A 23-year veteran of Tennessee State Parks, David Haggard served 18 years as a naturalist at Reelfoot Lake State Park and the last five years as the West Tennessee Regional Naturalist. In addition to Bald Eagles, Haggard has worked with various birds of prey for environmental education programming and rehabilitation his entire career. Using birds that cannot be returned to the wild, Haggard's role is to help educate park visitors about the natural world and the significance of these amazing birds.
“The return of these American Bald Eagles to Reelfoot Lake has become one of the most exciting winter events in Tennessee,” said Reelfoot Lake State Park Manager James Cox. “The entire staff at Reelfoot Lake State Park looks forward to providing an opportunity for guests to see our national symbol in its natural habitat.”
The annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival is sponsored by the Reelfoot Lake Tourist Council, Reelfoot Lake State Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Designated a national natural landmark, Reelfoot Lake was created by a series of violent New Madrid fault zone earthquakes in northwest Tennessee during the winter of 1811-1812. Reelfoot Lake State Park offers outstanding recreational activities, such as wildlife viewing, fishing, boating, hunting and hiking. The park is located in Lake and Obion counties near Tiptonville. The park’s 280 acres are divided into 10 segments along 22 miles of the Reelfoot Lake shoreline. The park’s visitor and interpretive centers, auditorium and picnic and camping areas are located along State Highways 21 and 22.
For more information about activities and lodging during the Eagle Festival, call the Tourist Council at 1-888-313-8366. For more information about Reelfoot Lake State Park, please call the park office at (731) 253-8003 or visit www.tnstateparks.com/reelfootlake.
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