Blackwater NWR
7th Annual Eagle Festival

Also Grand Opening of the Visitor Center
& Wild Birds Unlimited "Pathways to Nature" Observatory

Saturday, March 10, 2007
8:00am - 4:00pm
Entrance Fee Waived, All Events Free

Except for the bird walk, programs will run approximately 30 - 45 minutes.

Schedule of Events

8:00am	Bird Walk - 1st 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.
10:00am	Eagle Prowl - Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center. (Register 410-228-2677).
10:00am	Springtime Babies - Naturalist Liz Smith will tell you what to do when you find one of those springtime baby critters. Learn what to do and who to contact to help them survive. In program tent.
11:00am	Live Peregrine Falcon Program - Falconer Andrew Bullen will have his peregrine falcon Gypsy 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 410-228-2677)
12:00pm	Project Owl Net - Join Regional Ecologist Dave Brinker to learn why the little saw-whet owl is called a "lump lump" and what they have learned about this smallest owl in eastern North America from the Owl Net project. In Visitor Center conference room.
12:00pm	George Fox Middle School Ukulele Ensemble - Teacher Ben Thompson will lead ukulele ensemble from George Fox Middle School in Pasadena, MD in music they have created about Blackwater and the Chesapeake Bay. In program tent.
1:00pm	Grand Opening of Visitor Center & Wild Birds Unlimited Pathways to Nature Observatory. In program tent.
1:00-2:00pm	Expert birder will man spotting scopes on the Wildlife Drive for assistance in sighting eagles' nests and other birds.
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 410-228-2677)
3:00pm	Eagles in the Nause Waiwash Indian Culture - Chief Sewell Winterhawk Fitzhugh of the Nause Waiwash tribe will tell how the eagle is part of the Nause Waiwash culture, as well as tell about the tribe's ceremonies, music, dress, food gathering and preparation, families, and shelter. In program tent.

During the Day

Food - Hurlock Lions will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, hot and cold drinks, chips, etc. (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.

Chesapeake Winds Music (12:00pm-4:00pm)

 

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

Carrie Murray Nature Center Live Birds of Prey

Salisbury Zoo Live Owls

Raptor's Eye Birds of Prey

Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research Exhibit

Ron Warren Native American Music

 

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

Chuck Robertson Carvings

Photographer Lynn Layton Display

Chesapeake Author Tom Horton & Photographer David Harp -- "The Great Marsh"

Wild Birds Unlimited Optics Display

Author Carolyn Stearns -- "Quiet Please - Eaglets Growing"

South Dorchester Folk Museum oral history display

Children's Events

9:00am-10:00am	Youth Blue Bird Nesting Box Construction - Construct Blue Bird Box to take home. All materials supplied. Limited to 50 youths. In exhibit tent. Register at 410-228-2677.
10:30am	Eagle Puppet Construction - Make a great puppet from paper material and take it home. In exhibit tent.
11:30am	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.
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.
2:30pm	Build a Bird of Prey - What is a bird of prey? Learn what makes a bird of prey different from other birds. Build your own bird of prey to take home. In exhibit tent.
3:30pm	Bird Bingo - Play a great game of bingo while learning about the birds of Blackwater. In exhibit tent.

Get driving directions.

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

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Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge
2145 Key Wallace Dr
Cambridge, Maryland 21613