Fulton-Mason Eagle Day Event on Feb. 3

ISM Location: Dickson Mounds

For Immediate Release:

LEWISTOWN, IL – The annual Fulton-Mason Eagle Day event will be held on February 3, 2018.  Activities include live raptor programs, hands-on activities and crafts for kids, and wildlife viewing in various locations along the Illinois River. 

Dickson Mounds Museum will host a suite of activities from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Visitors may enjoy interacting with scientists and wildlife experts and viewing native and invasive fish and wildlife displays, accompanied by river and lake research vessels.  Visitors may be surprised to learn how tasty Asian carp can be, with free samples of fried Asian carp filets available during the event.  Ameren Illinois will present an interactive display featuring birds of prey and electrical safety.  Kids may have fun with different make-n-take arts and crafts and learning about chemistry, wetlands, and waterfowl through hands-on science activities.  Visitors will also be able to tour through the Illinois Natural History Survey’s Traveling Science Center throughout the day.  Emi the Eagle will be available for visiting and photo opportunities from 2:00-3:00 p.m. 

World Bird Sanctuary will present ‘Raptor Awareness’ at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the Museum’s auditorium.  This one-hour program, featuring live hawks, owls, and an eagle, will highlight their important relationship to the environment and some of these creatures’ unique qualities through free-flight demonstrations.  Free tickets for these shows will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Museum’s lobby the day of the event.  Seating is limited.  Tickets will not be reserved in advance. 

Eagles: Kings of the Sky, photography by Jeff Moore, will be open for public viewing in the Museum’s exhibit gallery.  Admission to the Museum and all of the day’s activities is free.  Visitors are encouraged to enjoy food for purchase from Jo-Jo’s Wagon and Red’s Little Wagon.  The Fulton County Arts Council will be hosting a bake sale.

At the Emiquon Preserve, off of Route 97/78, Lewistown, from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., The Nature Conservancy and the University of Illinois Springfield Therkildsen Field Station will host a warming station, displays, and lakesides activities, including wildlife viewing.  Visitors are encouraged to participate in a self-guided driving tour of the Preserve.  Emi the Eagle will be available for visiting and photo opportunities from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Several activities are being held in Mason County.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge will have their Auto Tour route opened to the public from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.  Visitors may warm up inside, meet Refuge rangers, and receive an up-close look at Wildlife Prairie Park’s Birds of Prey from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Also, the Havana Park District’s Nature Center will host wildlife viewing opportunities and kid’s activities, including painting Eagle rocks.  Food will be available for purchase.  Admission to these facilities and activities are free.  

Eagle Day is sponsored by the City of Havana, City of Lewistown, Forbes Biological Station, Havana Jaycees, Illinois River Biological Station, Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds, Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, The Nature Conservancy, USFWS Illinois River Refuges Complex, and Lewistown Chamber of Commerce.  Activities and displays will be contributed by Ameren Illinois, Astoria High School’s Environmental Club, Emiquon Audubon, Fulton County Arts Council, Havana Park District, Illinois River Scenic Byway, USFWS Carterville FWCP Wilmington Substation, University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute's Traveling Science Center, and the University of Illinois Extension's Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and 4-H club.

The Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds is located between Lewistown and Havana off Illinois Routes 78 and 97. The museum is open free to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. Tours and special programs are available for groups with reservations. For more information call 309-547-3721 or TTY 217-782-9175. Also visit us on Facebook at Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds or online at the Dickson Mounds link on the Illinois State Museum website at www.illinoisstatemuseum.org.

Contact Person: Christa Foster

Contact Email: christa.foster@illinois.gov

Contact Phone: (309) 547-3721

Release File (pdf): dicksonmounds-eagleday2018_final.pdf

Release File (doc): dicksonmounds-eagleday2018_final.docx