KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – It’s a chance to celebrate a comeback story about our nation’s symbol.
Eagle Days is coming to the 1,000 Islands Environmental Center in Kaukauna tomorrow.
Along a stretch of the nearby Fox River, it’s typical to see ducks and geese, even an occasional whitetail deer. But high atop one tree, another bird is making an appearance, the Bald Eagle.
“I think the fascination with eagle watching is the fact that they are very large birds. Not only does that make impressive viewing, but it also makes the viewing a little bit easier.” said Debbie Nowak, 1,000 Islands Environmental Center Director and Naturalist.
Nowak tells FOX 11 the big birds will take center stage on Saturday, at the ninth annual Eagle Days Event. There will be an educational presentation with a live bird, and for the very first time, a rehabilitated young eagle will be released outside the nature center.
“Hopefully it’s just going to be a magnificent addition on our day, and we’ll add one more eagle to our population here.”
Nowak says the release mirrors a success story for the Bald Eagle population. Scientists say the 1972 ban of the chemical D.D.T. is a big factor. The pesticide made eggs thin, causing many nests to fail.
And the Department of Natural Resources survey from 1974 indicates just 107 occupied Bald Eagle nests in the entire state. in 2019, that number soared to 1,684.
Nowak says nests are now found in all but one county in our state.
“This is just checking off those boxes that we are doing some things right out there in the environment. And we’re giving them the habitat and the security that they need to flourish. So, seeing those stats gives us all the more reason to celebrate this Saturday, at the comeback of the Bald Eagle.”
Eagle Days runs from 7 a.m., to 5 p.m., on Saturday. It’s free and open to the public.
