Guides take watchers to eagles’ hangouts
Posted on Monday, January 21, 2008
Look, up in the sky ! It’s a bird ! You don’t necessarily have to brave the wilderness to see a majestic bald eagle. One of the large raptors was spotted last week lofting above residential western Little Rock.
But for expert guidance and education, it’s hard to beat the eagle hikes and lake tours offered by state parks and private businesses. Calendars at the Web sites www. Arkan sas. com and www. arkan sasstateparks. com list some of these. For more detailed schedules, call the state park in your area. Here is an incomplete list of opportunities:
Pinnacle Mountain State Park will conduct eagle-watching barge tours of Lake Maumelle at 1 and 3 p. m. today. Payment ($ 10 for adults, $ 5 for ages 6-12 and free for younger children ) is due in advance, and it’s possible the tours are full. But you can find out for sure by calling (501 ) 868-5806. DeGray Lake Resort State Park, near Arkadelphia, begins its 29 th annual Eagles Et Cetera at 3 p. m. Friday. Eagle awareness programs continue through noon Sunday. They include tours on DeGray Lake, birdwatching hikes by day and by night, talks and games, live bird demonstrations and releases. Presenters will come from the Little Rock Zoo, Arkansas Audubon Society, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Hawking Association, Arkansas Outdoor Photography Club, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and others.
All programs are free except tours of the lake, which cost $ 8. 50 per adult, $ 4. 50 per child ages 6-12 (free for children under 6 ). Reservations can be placed after 8 a. m. today by calling (800 ) 737-8355. More information is at www. degray. com. Lake Ouachita State Park in Mountain Pine will conduct Eagle Watch tours of the lake at 10 a. m. Thursdays and Saturdays and at 2 p. m. Sundays through the end of February. Reservations are required; they cost $ 8. 50 for adults, $ 4. 50 for children ages 6 to 12 (free for younger children ). More information is at (501 ) 767-9366 and lakeouachita@arkansas. com.
The Belle of the Ozarks cruise boat is running its 15 th annual Eagle Watch Weekend tours on Beaver Lake. Departures are at 10 a. m., 1 and 3 p. m. Friday-Sunday from Rocky Branch Marina, 12 miles east of Rogers on Arkansas 12. Reservations cost $ 18 for adults and $ 7. 50 for children younger than 12. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit Morning Star Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Lynn Sciumbato of the center will speak on birds of prey and wildlife rehabilitation at 7 p. m. Saturday at Prairie Creek Steak & Seafood Co. on Arkansas 12. At 6 p. m. before she speaks, a buffet is available at $ 12. 50 for adults and $ 4. 50 for children younger than 12. Reservations for all activities are required and can be made by phone at (800 ) 552-3803 or e-mail at viator@ipa. net. The Web site is www. estc. net / belle.
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