Central College to help host 22nd annual Bald Eagle Days
PELLA — Central College will co-host the 22nd annual Bald Eagle Days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Douwstra Auditorium will host live eagle shows hourly from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The live eagle shows presented hourly in Douwstra Auditorium will be conducted by staff from the University of Minnesota’s Raptor Center and will allow visitors to get an up-close look at bald eagles and other birds of prey.
In Graham Conference Center, the Iowa State University’s Wildlife Care Clinic programs offer raptor shows at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. There also will be events at the Red Rock Dam. All events are free and open to the public.
Other event highlights include the Pella Wildlife Company’s adventure shows with live wolves and other animals at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., as well as artist Bob Kroese’s lifelike wildfowl wood sculptures and incredible wildlife photography by Ron Huelse and an “Environmental Fair” showcasing environmental groups and agencies. Larry Stone, co-author of a new book titled “Gladys Black: Beyond the Bird Lady” will be on-site during the event to talk about it.
A free shuttle service from Central College to the Red Rock Dam will be available. The shuttle will head to the North Tailwater Recreation Area to watch eagles feeding and flying below the Red Rock Dam. Event staff and volunteers will be on site with spotting scopes to help spot eagles and answer questions.
The Red Rock Visitor Center, located on the south side of the Red Rock Dam, also will be open throughout the event. Volunteers will be there to answer questions about the lake area.
The event is sponsored by Central College, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Marion County Conservation Board, Pella Wildlife Company, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pella Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pella Rolscreen Foundation, Vermeer Charitable Foundation, Red Rock Lake Association, Marion County Reminder, Comfort Inn and Suites of Pella and Town Crier Ltd.
