LAWRENCE, Kan.— The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Clinton Lake and the Jayhawk Audubon Society invite you to the 18th Annual Kaw Valley Eagles Day in Lawrence, Kan., on January 25.
The event will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Free State High School and is geared for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Presentations will exhibit live eagles and other raptors, discuss the historic Riverkings of the Kaw River, and highlight black-footed ferrets in Kansas. Other activities will include arts and crafts, field trips to view eagles in the wild, fun games, and many other exhibits. The event is free to the public.
Bald eagles are found only in North America. In 1782, when the bald eagle was adopted as our national symbol, it is believed there were as many as 50,000 nesting pairs in the lower 48 states. However, habitat destruction, contamination of their food source, and illegal shooting caused a significant reduction in the bald eagle population. By 1963, their numbers had decreased to only 417 nesting pairs. Protection efforts over the years have made an incredible improvement in bald eagle numbers. There are now more than 10,000 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states.
In 1989, the first successful bald eagle nest in Kansas was documented at Clinton Lake near Lawrence. This past nesting season, Clinton Lake boasted a total of four active nests. Since the first eagles moved in to Kansas, over 100 documented eaglets have fledged from Clinton Lake. Statewide there have been 60 known nesting territories since 1989 with over 600 eaglets fledged.
Kaw Valley Eagles Day is your opportunity to see these fascinating birds up close and to learn more about them. For more information, contact the Clinton Lake Project Office at (785) 843-7665 or visit the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ClintonLakeUSACE.
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Release no. PA-2014-02