Fulton-Mason Eagle Day Event Set for Feb. 1

ISM Location: Dickson Mounds

For Immediate Release:

LEWISTOWN, Ill. – The annual Fulton-Mason Eagle Day event will be held on Saturday, February 1.  Activities will include live raptor programs, hands-on activities and crafts for kids, and wildlife viewing in various locations along the Illinois River in Fulton and Mason counties in central Illinois. Admission to all event locations and activities is FREE and open to all ages. 

Dickson Mounds Museum will host a suite of activities from 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Visitors may enjoy interacting with scientists and wildlife experts and viewing native and invasive fish and wildlife displays.  Kids may have fun with different make-and-take arts and crafts, as well as learning about chemistry, wetlands, and waterfowl through hands-on science activities.

The World Bird Sanctuary will present ‘Raptor Awareness’ at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the Dickson Mounds Museum auditorium.  This one-hour program, featuring live hawks, owls, and an eagle, will highlight their important relationship to the environment and some of these creatures’ unique qualities through free-flight demonstrations.  Tickets cannot be reserved in advance, but will be available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the Museum’s lobby the day of the event.  Seating is limited.

Audubon: The Birds of America, Prints from The Collection of the Illinois State Museum will be open for public viewing in the Museum’s exhibit gallery.

Food will be available for purchase from The Lunchwagon during the event. Menu items will include bison burgers, hot dogs, and pork tenderloin sandwiches.  Eagle Day t-shirts will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting future Eagle Day events (cash or check only).

U.S Fish and Wildlife Rangers will be at the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge off of Dickson Mounds Road with spotting scope stations to view active bald eagle nests from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.  Visitors may also enjoy self-guided wildlife viewing and the walking trails at The Nature Conservancy's Emiquon Preserve off Highway 97/78.

Several activities are being held in Mason County. The Havana Park District's Chester Center, located at 200 S. McKinley Street in Havana, will feature Wildlife Prairie Park’s Birds of Prey live bird exhibit and a variety of educational and community exhibits and activities from 9:00 a.m.- 12:00 noon.

The Havana Park District’s Nature Center, located at 416 N. Schrader Street, will host wildlife viewing opportunities and kid’s activities throughout the day.  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service-Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge visitors are welcomed to explore and view wildlife on their own from the refuge’s network of nature trails.

Emi and Emmett the Eagle mascot will greet visitors at various locations throughout the event.

Admission to all event locations and activities is free and open to all ages.  Some activities are weather permitting. For up-to-date event details and schedules, please visit dicksonmounds.com or experienceemiquon.com.

Fulton-Mason Eagle Day is sponsored by Ameren, Forbes and Illinois River Biological Stations, Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds, Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, The Nature Conservancy, USFWS Illinois River Refuges Complex, Havana National Bank, Havana Park District, Havana Public Library, Lewistown Chamber of Commerce, and Plum Hill Vacation Rental Properties. Activities and displays contributed by the Astoria High School's Environmental Club, Emiquon Corps of Discovery, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Spoon River Library, and the University of Illinois Extension's Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists.

The Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds is located between Lewistown and Havana off Illinois Routes 78 and 97. The museum is open free to the public from 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. every day. Tours and special programs are available for groups with reservations. For more information call 309-547-3721 or TTY 217-782-9175. Also visit us on Facebook at Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds or online at the Dickson Mounds link on the Illinois State Museum website at www.illinoisstatemuseum.org

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Contact Person: Christa Christensen

Contact Email: christa.christensen@illinois.gov

Contact Phone: (309) 547-3721

Release File (pdf): dicksonmounds-eagleday2020final.pdf

Release File (doc): dicksonmounds-eagleday2020final.docx