Eagle Watching

December 27, 28; January 25; February 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 15, 21, 22, 23; March 26

• Reservations Required (starting November 15)
• Informative Programs begin at the park visitor center at 8:30 a.m.
  
• Video Presentation
• Observational Driving Tour of Eagle Watching Locations near the Park
• For additional information, call 618-786-3323 

Januay 5-7

Quad City Conservation Alliance Expo Center - 2621 Fourth Ave, Rock Island, IL

Quad Cities Bald Eagle Days Admission and more information; call 309-788-2543. 

• Eagle Viewing/Live Programs, interpretive programs, live bird of prey shows - The World Bird Sanctuary
  
• Craft & Lore Demonstration
  
• Wildlife & Art Show & Sale
• Admission Charged
  
• For more information, contact the Mississippi River Visitor Center at 309-794-5338

January 6

• Eagle Meet & Greet 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  
• Eagle Viewing Walks
• Kids Activities
• Ice Sculpting
• Wildlife Art/Photography
• Free Admission and shuttle tours available for more information call 618-465-6676

January 13

• Four Rivers is a favorite hangout of bald eagles during the colder months. Celebrate these fascinating birds of prey with guided hikes, family activities, 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
  
• Dress for the weather and use caution while walking outdoors as snow and ice may be present on paths and parking areas.
  
• For more information call the Forest Preserve District of Will County at 815-722-9470

January 13 & 27, February 3

• Combination eagle watches and historical clock tower tours will be available from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m at the Visitor Center on the Rock Island Arsenal.
  
• Reservations required. Group size is limited.
• For more information or to make reservations call the Visitor Center: 309-794-5338

January postponed - rescheduled for February 17

• Outdoor viewing: Lock & Dam 13, 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
  
• Exhibits and educational programs 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Clinton Community College, 1000 Lincoln Blvd. Clinton, IA 52732
• For more information call the Thomson Ranger office: 815-259-3628.
• Naturalists will be on hand to answer any questions. Dress warmly and bring your binoculars, spotting scopes and cameras.

January 20 & 21

• Jan 20: First Christian Church, 3476 Main Street / 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Keokuk, Iowa 
• Jan 21: 
  Southside Boat Club, 625 Mississippi Dr.  Keokuk, Iowa
       Binoculars and Breakfast, 8:00 a.m. to noon
       Eagle Photo Contest Display and Winner Announcement
• Montrose Riverfront Landing, 203 N. First St.
       Eagle viewing on Landing Observation Deck with Trained Spotters
       Indoor Activities with Food and Vendors
       Hunold Heritage Center open with area historic displays
• For information, call (319) 524-5599 or email:  info@keokukiowatourism.org

January 20

• Outdoor viewing from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Pearl City Station in Riverside Park and Lock & Dam 16
• Live Raptors programs at 9:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m., at the Pearl City Station in Riverside Park
• Environmental exhibits inside the Pearl City Station
• For more information call the Muscatine Ranger office: 563-263-7913

January 28

• Festival will feature live music and entertainment by the World Bird Sanctuary as they showcase the Bald Eagle and several other raptor species in their Masters of the Sky Show at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m, & 3:00 p.m.
  
• $5 Tickets for the shows can be purchased on the web site in advance or at the Front Desk at 10:00 a.m. the morning of the Festival.
• Unique vendor booths, grab a bite to eat in the restaurant, taste locally made wines.
• The Bald Eagle Festival takes place indoors. Entry into the Festival is free.
  

January 27 & 28

• Outdoor viewing at Lock and Dam 21 from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
• Indoor exhibits & events 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., at the Oakley Lindsay Civic Center, admission into the event is $5 for ages twelve and older and $3 for adults over sixty. For more information call:​ 217-577-1930.
  
• The Omeyocan Dancers, a spectacular Aztec dance company hailing from Milwaukee, WI, performing both days at 2:00 p.m. 
• Bald eagles will be present all weekend for close-up viewing from the Raptor Rehabilitation Center.
• The traditional blessing of the eagle ceremony is to be held Sunday at 10:30 a.m.   
• Native American vendors and food booths will be on site both days, offering authentic "Fry Bread" and Indian tacos.

• https://seequincy.com/events/great-river-eagle-days-6/

• For more information on the Lock & Dam events call the Muscatine Ranger office: 563-263-7913

January 27

• Case-Halstead Library, 550 6th St. Carlyle, IL 62231 
  
• The World Bird Sanctuary will present a Bald Eagle demonstration at 9:30 am and 10:30 am.   
• Eagle viewing from Carlyle Lake Main Dam, bring binoculars & dress accordingly for the weather.
• For more information; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Carlyle Lake Project Office (618) 594-2484 option 3 or email carlylelake@usace.army.mil. 

January 27 & 28

• Lots of great family-friendly fun activities 9:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m.
• Guided Eagles Tours at 11: 00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m.
  
• Live Birds of Prey Show with Illinois Raptor Center.
• Free Admission

• Activities include The World Bird Sanctuary's Raptor Awareness programs at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. at Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds auditorium. Free tickets for the programs will be available on a first come first served basis, in the Museum's lobby beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 3.
  
• Bird watching at various locations in Lewsitown and Havana.
  
• Food will be available for purchase.
• Kids activities.
• Sponsored by Forbes and Illinois River Biological Stations, Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds, Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery, Therkilden Field Station at Emiquon, The Nature Conservancy, USFW Illinois River Refuges Complex.

February 3 & 4

• Bald Eagle and Waterfowl Viewing, tours at 8 am, 11 am & 2 pm
• Guided Tours of the Refuge
• Reservations Required, 618-997-3344 ext. 1
• For more information click here. 

February 10

The public is invited to come to join at the lower dam in Rock Falls from 9 am - 10 am to view the eagles. Then head over to the Rock Falls Community Building in Rock Falls, at 10:00 am. There will be nature-related vendors at this event and a speaker or two about birds. Presentation by the Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education. The event is FREE to the public. 

• 9:00 am meet at the lower dam (142 W. 1st Street) to view the eagles along the Rock River.
• 10:00 am Rock Falls Community Building (601 West 10th St), speakers and nature-related vendors. 
• All activities are free.

March 2

• Eagle watching with spotting scopes
  
• Presentations by the World Bird Sanctuary
  
• Animology presentations
• Children's craft
• Experience the confluence of the Mississippi and Kaskaskia River
• Tour the Jerry F. Colstello Lock and Dam
• Families & leash-trained dogs welcome
• Food trucks on site.
  
• For more information, contact the U.S., Army Corps of Engineers Kaskaskia River Project Office at 618-284-7160.

January - February 2024

The U.S. Army Corps of The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes visitors to see bald eagles at lock and dams along the Mississippi River each winter.

In addition to special events, bald eagles have been found wintering throughout Illinois at locations including the Illinois and Michigan Canal and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in northeast Illinois; at locations all along the Illinois River; along open waters on the Du Page River and Fox River in northeast Illinois, including Moraine Hills State Park, McHenry; at Volo Bog State Natural Area, Ingleside; along the Des Plaines River near Channahon State Park, Channahon; near the I-88 bridge in North Aurora on the Fox River; on the Fox River at the Pleasant Valley Forest Preserve in Woodstock; and, along the Rock River at locations including Lowden State Park, Oregon, Illinois.