News & Events > Events > Riverkeeper Events > Join Riverkeeper at the Eighth Annual Hudson River EagleFest

When:

February 4, 2012: 9:00AM to 4:00PM

Where:

Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY map

Event Website:

Teatown's EagleFest event page

Teatown Lake Reservation will host the Eighth Annual Hudson River EagleFest on Saturday, February 4, 2012 (snow date February 5, 2012) from 9:00am to 4:00pm. Eagle Headquarters and all theatres will be located in heated tents at Westchester County’s Croton Point Park (look for Riverkeeper’s table in the main pavilion), with additional eagle viewing sites all along the Hudson River. EagleFest coincides with the annual winter gathering of the bald eagle in the lower Hudson Valley and offers participants a chance to observe our national symbol up-close in their natural setting.

Attendees of EagleFest can enjoy an abundance of activities from guided and independent eagle viewing to raptor shows, bus tours, storytelling, engaging children’s programs and activities, bird walks and displays from 30 local organizations.

Entertaining and educational shows are taking place all day long in The Eagle Theatre and Eaglet Stage heated tents.

EAGLE THEATRE SCHEDULE
10:00am, 11:00am & Close Encounters with Wintering Eagles and Owls, Bill Streeter, 12:00pm Delaware Valley Raptor Center
1:00pm & 2:00pm Exclusively Eagles, Paul & Anne Schnell, Institute for Environmental Learning
3pm Flight of the Raptors, James Eyring, Pace Environmental Center

Advance sale tickets for Eagle Theatre shows are $5.00 per person. Tickets are $10.00 per person when purchased at the door. Children ages 3 and under are free.

EAGLET STAGE SCHEDULE
10:30am Jonathan Kruk, award-winning storyteller
12:00pm Teatown Birds of Prey Program
12:45pm Beyond Feathers: the Physics of Flight!, Travis Brady, Greenburgh Nature Center
1:30pm Birding Optics, Hank Weber, Wild Bird Center
2:15pm Jonathan Kruk

BUS TOURS
Travel by charter bus with a Teatown educator for an in-depth view of eagles in their natural habitat. Tours begin at Croton Point Park and stop at the Croton Boat Ramp at Croton-Harmon Train Station, George’s Island Park in Montrose, and Riverfront Green in Peekskill. Bus tours are intended for guests ages 12 and over. Tickets are $25 per person and include admission to Eagle Headquarters. Attendees can call 914-762-2912 x110 to make a reservation.
Tour times: 9:30am-11:30am & 2:00pm-4:00pm

EAGLE VIEWING SITES
Guests can enjoy additional eagle viewing locations along the Hudson River at no additional charge. Each is staffed by eagle experts with spotting scopes. When it’s time to warm up, attendees can take a break in the heated tents and enjoy a hot cocoa at the following sites:

• Croton Boat Ramp at Croton-Harmon Train Station
• George’s Island Park, Montrose
• Riverfront Green Park, Peekskill

Riverfront Green Park will also feature a storytelling presentation from Jonathan Kruk and ice sculptures. The City of Peekskill is providing a free round trip shuttle bus Riverfront Green to Croton Point Park.

BIRD WALKS
Spot eagles and other native birds around Croton Point Park with an expert guide. Walks are given every hour from 9am-3pm.

SUGGESTED DONATION
Teatown kindly requests that guests attending EagleFest consider giving a $5 per person donation to help offset the cost of the event.

TRANSPORTATION AND PARKING
Parking is free and shuttle buses will bring guests from the outlying lots and the Croton Harmon Train Station to Eagle Headquarters.

SNOW DATE
In the event of severe weather, the alternate date for EagleFest will be Sunday, February 5, 2012. Please check Teatown’s website, www.teatown.org, for program details and weather updates, or call Teatown at 914-762-2912 x110.

Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest 2011 is generously sponsored by Westchester County, Westchester County Parks Department, Friends of Westchester County Parks, Club Fit, WHUD and Kathryn W. Davis.

BALD EAGLES IN THE HUDSON VALLEY
Each winter, between December and March, bald eagles from Canada and northern New York and New England fly south to the lower Hudson Valley to feed on fish and waterfowl found in unfrozen waters. The bald eagle, which was considered an endangered species prior to 1995, shed its federal threatened status in 2007. Today, biologists estimate that about 150 bald eagles overwinter in the lower Hudson Valley. Every year the bald eagles’ return affirms the continued health of the Hudson River and nearby habitats for wildlife and people.

ABOUT TEATOWN
Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining, NY, is a private, non-profit 875-acre nature preserve and education center spanning the towns of Yorktown, Cortlandt and New Castle. Teatown’s mission is to conserve open space and to educate and involve the regional community in order to sustain the diversity of wildlife, plants and habitats for future generations. Teatown is devoted to conserving biodiversity, teaching ecology and promoting nature-friendly living throughout the Hudson Hills and Highlands. To learn more about Teatown, visit thier website at www.teatown.org.