Iowans "Flock" to See Special Birds

“Appreciation Days” are scheduled at 11 different Iowa sites over the nexttwo months to lure Iowans out to see bald eagles. Pat Schlarbaum(schlar’-bomb), an Iowa Department of Natural Resources wildlife diversityspecialist, first saw bald eagles in Iowa 24 years ago, on the Mississippi,near Bellevue. Schlarbaum says bald eagles are powerful, muscular birds thatcan have a wing-span of up to seven feet, and weigh up to 10 pounds.Schlarbaum says going to one of the “appreciation days” will expose you topeople who love watching the birds. There are over 100 bald eagle nestingsites in Iowa and Schlarbaum says up to two-thousand eagles could spendtheir winter in the state. Here’s the schedule of “Bald Eagle AppreciationDays”: January 6 in Clinton; January 6 & 7 in the Quad Cities, January 13in Dubuque; January 13 & 14 in LeClaire; January 14 in Bellevue; January 20in Muscatine; January 20 & 21 in Keokuk; January 20 & 21 in Guttenberg;February 17 at Red Rock; February 25 at Saylorville; and now throughFebruary 18, you can call the Mississippi River Visitors Center Eagle WatchTower and schedule a tour (309-794-5338).