The second annual Merrimack River Eagle Festival, co-hosted by the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and the Massachusetts Audubon's Joppa Flats Environmental Center, was held on February 17, 2007.  The day long festival included live eagle demonstrations at the Newburyport City Hall, live raptors and family activities at the Joppa Flats Center, and presentations on "Birds in their Habitats" as well as other youth activities at Parker River refuge visitor center.  Throughout the day, twelve guided eagle tours took place with stops to several locations to view eagles. 

The event was a big success with over 2000 people of all ages attending the various activities during the day.  Visitors had plenty of opportunities to see bald eagles, either on guided or self-guided tours, with at least 21 adult and immature bald eagles observed along a four mile stretch of the lower Merrimack River throughout the day. 

The festival, which has become a community wide event, was possible due to the efforts of the two organizations along with over 70 volunteers, the City of Newburyport and the Chamber of Commerce, and event sponsors including the Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company and many others.