Reelfoot Eagle Festival starts today

David Haggard, the West Tennessee regional naturalist for Tennessee State Parks, will provide a program on birds of prey during the Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival this weekend. [Click to enlarge]

American bald eagles migrate to Northwest Tennessee each winter from their summer homes in the upper Great Lakes and Canada. The eagles, which have 6- to 8-foot wingspans and weigh up to 16 pounds, have been returning to the open water, marshes and cypress-laden sloughs of Reelfoot Lake for generations.

The Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival celebrates one of the largest wintering populations of bald eagles outside Alaska and offers a wide range of opportunities for Reelfoot Lake visitors to see these magnificent birds in the wild. Local park and wildlife experts will sponsor walking tours, bus tours, lectures, interpretive sessions and special photography displays throughout the weekend.

Bald eagle and waterfowl tours, along with educational lectures will continue through Feb. 28 at the park.

A highlight at this year's event is David Haggard's Reelfoot Birds of Prey program, which is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday. A 23-year veteran of Tennessee State Parks, David Haggard served 18 years as a naturalist at Reelfoot Lake State Park and the last five years as the West Tennessee regional naturalist. In addition to bald eagles, Haggard has worked with various birds of prey for environmental education programming and rehabilitation his entire career. Haggard uses birds that cannot be returned to the wild to educate park visitors about the natural world and the significance of these amazing birds.

"The return of these American bald eagles to Reelfoot Lake has become one of the most exciting winter events in Tennessee," Reelfoot Lake State Park Manager James Cox said. "The entire staff at Reelfoot Lake State Park looks forward to providing an opportunity for guests to see our national symbol in its natural habitat."

The annual Reelfoot Lake Eagle Festival is sponsored by the Reelfoot Lake Tourist Council, Reelfoot Lake State Park and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Designated a national natural landmark, Reelfoot Lake was created by a series of violent New Madrid fault zone earthquakes in northwest Tennessee during the winter of 1811-1812. Reelfoot Lake State Park offers outstanding recreational activities, such as wildlife viewing, fishing, boating, hunting and hiking. The park is located in Lake and Obion counties near Tiptonville. The park's 280 acres are divided into 10 segments along 22 miles of the Reelfoot Lake shoreline. The park's visitor and interpretive centers, auditorium and picnic and camping areas are located along State Highways 21 and 22.

For more information about activities and lodging during the Eagle Festival, call the Tourist Council at 1-888-313-8366. A complete schedule of events is attached. For more information about Reelfoot Lake State Park, please call the park office at (731) 253-8003 or visit www.tnstateparks .com/reelfootlake.

Eagle Festival schedule of events

Friday

4 p.m. - Registration (free tote),** scavenger hunt and Geo Caching (GPS required) begin.

4-9 p.m. - Vendors open in Ellington Hall Building.

4-9 p.m. - Entries for art and photography contest should be turned in at Tourism Booth (the deadline is 9 a.m. Saturday).

7 p.m. - Welcome and overview.

7:30 p.m. - Slide show on nature, wildlife and history.

Saturday

6 a.m. - Sunrise photography walk.

9 a.m. - Registration (free tote)**, scavenger hunt and Geo Cache*** continues, silent auction opens.

9 a.m. - Deadline for turning in art and photography contest entries to Tourism booth.

9 a.m.-9 p.m. - Art and craft vendors open at Ellington Hall.

10 a.m. - Eagle and waterfowl tours by bus.

10 a.m. - Art and photography contest entries must be turned in to Tourism Council booth.

Noon - Storytelling with eagle mascot.

1:30 p.m. - Eagle and waterfowl tours by bus.

3:30 p.m. - Scavenger hunt ends; bags can be checked at Tourism Booth.

5 p.m. - Silent auction closes.

6 p.m. - Announce winners for art and photography contest, silent auction, and scavenger hunt and Geo Cache.

7 p.m. - David Haggard's Reelfoot Lake Birds of Prey Program.

Sunday

6 a.m. - Sunrise photography walk.

9 a.m.-3 p.m. - Vendors open in Ellington Hall Building.

10 a.m. - Eagle and waterfowl tours by van or bus.

1:30 p.m. - Eagle and waterfowl tours by van or bus.

Reservations are required for all tours and may be made by calling 253-9652. Bus and van Tours are $5 a person. They depart from the state park visitor center on Highway 21 on the southern end of Reelfoot Lake.

Lodging information is available by calling 253-2007 or going to the Web site: www.reelfoottourism.com.

*Advance registration required; seating is limited.

Free tote bags to first 100 families who register on site.