Conservationists Celebrate Success of Eagles in Illinois
Friday, February 5, 2016
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The population of eagles in Illinois has hit record numbers in recent years, and conservationists are celebrating the bird's success this weekend.
The Nature Conservancy will host Eagle Day on Saturday at the Emiquon Preserve and other sites in central Illinois. Jason Beverlin, deputy director of the Conservancy, said part of the idea is to help Illinois families understand how programs such as the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund help protect the birds' homes.
"We have experts on hand to talk a little bit about the importance of protecting these areas," he said. "There's things like the LWCF and other programs that are out there that help preserve these lands."
Beverlin said more than 200 eagles recently were spotted on the Emiquon Preserve, and he's hoping they will show up for Saturday's event. In nearby Havana, the World Bird Sanctuary will host a free show featuring large birds of prey.
Beverlin credited a decades-old ban on the use of the pesticide DDT and cleaning up Illinois waterways as some of the reasons for the bald eagle's resurgence. He said the birds have become a popular attraction in the state.
"It's a big, majestic-looking bird," he said. "If we're lucky on Eagle Day and we can see a bunch of them, when you see these numbers of them, I don't care who you are, you cannot help but be impressed by it."
All four Eagle Day events will be free. More information is online at ExperienceEmiquon.com.
get more stories like this via email
United Nations experts are raising concerns about chemical giants DuPont and Chemours, saying they've violated human rights in North Carolina…
Social Issues
The long-delayed Farm Bill could benefit Virginia farmers by renewing funding for climate-smart investments, but it's been held up for months in …
Environment
Conservation groups say the Hawaiian Islands are on the leading edge of the fight to preserve endangered birds, since climate change and habitat loss …
Environment
April has been "Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month," but the pests don't know that. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's the …
Health and Wellness
The 2024 Arizona Alzheimer's Consortium Public Conference kicks off Saturday, where industry experts and researchers will share the latest scientific …
Environment
Environmental groups say more should be done to protect people's health from what they call toxic, radioactive sludge. A court granted a temporary …