Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - USFWS

8th Annual Eagle Festival at Blackwater

Also Grand Opening of Refuge Library
and Celebration of Blackwater's 75th Birthday

Saturday, March 15, 2008
8:00am - 4:00pm
Entrance Fee Waived, All Events Free
Except for the bird walk, programs will run approximately 45 minutes.

Schedule of Events

8:00am	Bird Walk - 2nd Annual Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk - With leader Terry Allen, come observe resident and migratory birds including eagles, Canada geese, ducks, herons, and song birds. Bring binoculars. Approximately 2 hours. Meet at the entrance to the Visitor Center.
9:00am	"How to Photograph Wildlife" - John Lore and Dominic Spolitino.
10:00am	"Night and Day Predators" - Raptor's Eye Naturalist Liz Smith with live birds
10:00am	Birding and Natural History Library - ribbon-cutting ceremony in library with Dick Kleen.
10:00am - 11:00am	Expert birder - will man spotting scopes on the Wildlife Drive.
10:30am	Eagle Prowl - Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center. (Register in advance at 410-228-2677).
11:00am	Live Peregrine Falcon Program - Falconer Andrew Bullen will have his peregrine falcon to observe while you learn about this magnificent bird and how it is returning from near extinction by adapting to its changing environment. In program tent.
11:30am	Eagle Prowl - Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center. (Register in advance at 410-228-2677).
12:00pm	"Bald Eagles and Other Maryland Endangered Species" - with Glenn Theres.
12:00pm	George Fox Middle School Ukulele Ensemble music
12:30am	Eagle Prowl - Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center. (Register in advance at 410-228-2677).
1:00pm	"Global Warming and Sea Level Rise in Your Backyard" with supervisory biologist Dixie Birch.
1:00pm	Native American Flute Music - with Ron Warren.
1:00pm - 2:00pm	Expert birder - will man spotting scopes on the Wildlife Drive.
2:00pm	Live Bald Eagle Program - Observe the magnificent live bald eagle as Mike Callahan from the Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Center provides interesting information and facts about our national symbol. In program tent.
2:30pm	Eagle Prowl - Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center. (Register in advance at 410-228-2677).
3:00pm	"History of Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge" presentation - with refuge-expert Bill Giese, who was recently named National Wildlife Refuge System "Employee of the Year."
3:00pm	"How to Photograph Wildlife" - John Lore and Dominic Spolitino

During the Day

Food - Hurlock Lions and Chicone Ruritans will provide food (9:00am-4:00pm).

Eagles Nest Book & Gift Shop - sale in the Visitor Center. All proceeds go toward Refuge projects and programs (9:00am-5:00pm)

Meet Blackwater's "Tom Eagle" - the Blackwater eagle that greets kids throughout the day.

Candy Rabbitt and the Chesapeake Winds musical group (10:00am-12:00pm).

Exhibit Tent -- 9:00am-4:00pm

Carrie Murray Nature Center Live Birds of Prey

Salisbury Zoo Live Birds of Prey

Raptor's Eye Birds of Prey

Visitor Center -- 9:00am-4:00pm

Patrick Lynch photography

John Lore and Dominic Spolitina photography

Wild Birds Unlimited Optics Display

Ron Warren Native American Flutes CD display

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research Exhibit

Children's Events

9:00am-10:00am	Youth Blue Bird Nesting Box Construction - All materials supplied. Limited to 50 youths, register in advance at 410-228-2677.
10:30am	Youth Photo Contest Awards Presentations
11:30am	"What in the World is Carbon Sequestration?" activity
12:30pm	Owl Pellet Activity - What is an owl pellet? Learn about owls, owl pellets, and what their latest dinner was by examining an owl pellet. In exhibit tent.
1:30pm	Kid’s Eagle Migration Game
2:30pm	Endangered Species Puppet Show - Join Albert the Delmarva fox squirrel, Hoot the owl, Red the fox, Edith the bald eagle and their friends in discovering life on a Refuge. Free Albert the Squirrel coloring book to participants. In Visitor Center conference room.
3:30pm	Kid’s Puppet Construction

Get driving directions.

For information call 410-228-2677
or email maggie_briggs@fws.gov