Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge - USFWS

9th Annual Eagle Festival at Blackwater

Saturday, March 14, 2009
8:00am - 4:00pm
Entrance Fee and All Events Free
Except for the bird walk, programs will run approximately 30-45 minutes.

Schedule of Events

8:00am	Bird Walk - 3rd Annual Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk - With leader Terry Allen, observe resident and migratory birds including eagles, Canada geese, ducks, herons, and song birds. Bring binoculars. Participants car pool approximately 2 hours. Meet at the entrance to the Visitor Center.
9:00am	Photography Workshop - Jim Clark, contributing editor for Outdoor Photographer magazine and author of three books, including Between Ocean and Bay, will offer tips and techniques to capture outstanding images of nature. In Visitor Center conference room.
10:00am	What Am I? - Naturalist Liz Smith will use live birds to provide easy tips on identifying local raptors thru field markings and flight patterns. In program tent.
10:30am	Eagle Prowl - Tickets limited. Acquire free ticket in Visitor Center by 10:15am. Expert Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center.
10:00am - 11:00am	Expert birder will man spotting scopes on the Wildlife Drive for assisting viewers in sighting birds, as well as eagles' nests.
11:00am	"MD Endangered Species and the Bald Eagle" Program - Glenn Therres from MD DNR will present a great program on what’s happening with the bald eagle in Maryland and what you can do to help the eagle. In Visitor Center conference room.
11:00am	Live Peregrine Falcon Training Demonstration - Falconer Andrew Bullen will demonstrate how he trains his peregrine falcon to hunt. Outside Visitor Center.
12:00pm	"Create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat" - Mike Hollins from the Ecosystem Resource Institute will help you to create a backyard habitat with native species to attract and support wildlife and for your enjoyment. In Visitor Center conference room.
12:00pm	Native American Music with Ron Warren - Native American Ron Warren will demonstrate his native music on several types of flutes. In program tent.
12:30pm	Eagle Prowl - Tickets limited. Acquire free ticket in Visitor Center by 12:15. Expert Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center.
1:00pm	Hunter of the Night - Join a naturalist form the Pocomoke River State Park as you explore the world of the hunters of the night. Enjoy a close-up encounter with some local species of owls and learn what adaptations they have that allows them to be our great hunters of the night. In program tent.
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 - 3:30pm	Expert birder will man spotting scopes on the Wildlife Drive for assisting viewers in sighting birds, as well as eagles' nests.
2:30pm	Eagle Prowl - Tickets limited. Acquire free ticket in Visitor Center by 2:15pm. Expert Zeeger de Wilde will help you locate eagles here on the refuge. Meet outside the Visitor Center.
3:00pm	Raptors Rule Program - With a live red-tailed hawk, barred owl, and screech owl, Mike Callahan from the Nanjemoy Creek Environmental Center will demonstrate why raptors rule. In program tent.

During the Day

Food - Hurlock Lions Club will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, hot and cold drinks, chips, etc. from 9:00am-4:00pm.

Eagles Nest Book & Gift Shop sale in the Visitor Center. Also see eagle display and Eagle Cam monitor. All proceeds from sales go toward Refuge projects and programs. 9:00am-5:00pm.

Meet Blackwater's "Tom Eagle" - the Blackwater eagle that greets kids throughout the day. Also, kids' coloring and pasta collage creation throughout the day in the exhibit tent.

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

11:00am - 2:00pm Photographer and author Jim Clark will sign his Between Ocean and Bay

10:00am - 1:00pm Photographer Dave Harp and author Tom Horton will sign their books The Nanticoke: Portrait of a Chesapeake River and The Great Marsh

Wild Birds Unlimited Optics Display -- 9:00am-4:00pm

Ron Warren Native American Flutes CD display -- 9:00am-4:00pm

Bill Nuttle's bird carving display -- 9:00am-4:00pm

Children's Events

9:00am	Youth Blue Bird Nesting Box Construction - Construct Blue Bird Box to take home; all materials supplied. No pre-registration. In exhibit tent.
10:30am	Kids' 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.
11:30am	Kid's Arts & Crafts - Kids will create an endangered species or raptor mobile to take home. Youngsters can also create a raptor or endangered species mask. In exhibit tent.
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	Kids' Paper Eagle Puppet Program - Kids will create their own paper eagle puppet to take home. In exhibit tent.
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	Kids' Arts & Crafts - Kids can create their own wildlife magnet to take home. In exhibit tent.

Get driving directions.

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