First Illinois "Eagle Day" Celebrated

By Roger Shamley

On Saturday, January 28th, I was fortunate to be present at the first Illinois Eagle Day press conference held at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The event was sponsored by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, who has proven to be one of the stauncher advocates of conservation at the state level, and one of those who led the push for Eagle Day. State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) was also present, and can be considered another strong supporter for conservation. Laurene van Klan of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum was a speaker at the conference and was responsible for making the museum available for this event.

Of course, what better way to focus on Eagle Day than to have an eagle present? George and Bernie Richter of SOAR (Save Our American Raptors) were on hand and brought with them "Deshka," an eight-year-old Bald Eagle which they have had since she was brought to them for rehabilitation after suffering a broken wing as she attempted to fledge. As successful as SOAR is with most of the birds brought to them, it was not possible to return Deshka to the wild, and she has been a permanent resident with SOAR ever since.

During the press conference, Lt. Gov. Quinn exhibited a keen awareness of eagles and noted that Illinois is home to more wintering Bald Eagles than anywhere else in the continental United States, and that historically the fourth Saturday of January (the day chosen for Eagle Day) is among the most active weekends for eagle watching in Illinois.

Guest speaker Doug Stotz, an ornithologist from The Field Museum, discussed the comeback of many eagles in the state of Illinois. It was a good day for birders in Illinois, Stotz noted, alluding to the pair of Bald Eagles nesting in the Lake Calumet area for the first time since the late 1800's. Many of the birders in Chicago already knew this, but I'm sure it was news to many of those present.

Eagle Day was adopted by Illinois lawmakers in May, and will fall on the fourth Saturday in January from now on. During January and February, 3,700 wintering eagles fly to Illinois, making it home to the largest population of eagles in the continental United States. The nearest place for Chicagoans to see eagles is at Plum Island near Starved Rock National park in Utica, Illinois, where Bald Eagles can be seen throughout the winter. Plum Island was about to face the developer's bulldozer but was saved by the combined efforts of concerned citizens led by the Illinois Audubon Society and others, and with the assistance of Lt. Gov. Quinn. The island is no longer a candidate for future development and will be "for the birds" for many years to come.

To learn more about eagles and where they can be seen in Illinois, go to www.SaveOurEagles.org.