Eagles Abound at the Fulton-Mason Eagle Day, February 1, 2025

It’s that time of year again—cold, dreary and you may be longing for warmer, sunny days. But a highlight of this time of the year is that there are eagles out there.

This is the perfect time of year to search for and learn about the American bald eagle. At one time, the American bald eagle was nearing extinction. Thanks to aggressive conservation efforts, the population of this bird of prey has remarkably recovered and stabilized, and the American bald eagle has been removed from the U.S. Endangered Species list (it remains protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act). At this time of year, several hundred eagles are in the Fulton and Mason county area. Bird counts have reported more than 300 at Emiquon on a single day.

For more than 20 years, the Fulton-Mason Eagle Day has been a popular winter event for all ages that celebrates the American bald eagle and wildlife in general. The aim is to educate the public about eagles, other raptors, such as hawks and owls, and their habitat. It also provides an opportunity to highlight local wildlife research. Held the first Saturday of each February, the event features hands-on activities and wildlife viewing opportunities at multiple locations in Fulton and Mason counties.

The Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds remains the hub of the event. In the museum’s auditorium at 1 and 3 p.m. will be presentations by the World Bird Sanctuary’s Raptor Awareness showcasing birds of prey free-flight demonstrations and an American bald eagle. The shows are free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Tickets are required for entry and cannot be reserved, but will only be available on a first come, first served basis, beginning at 9 a.m. at Dickson Mounds the day of the event. Visitors may also enjoy displays, arts & crafts, games and other activities presented by numerous partnership organizations, including Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ Invasive Species team, Jake Wolf Memorial Fish Hatchery and University of Illinois Extension Office’s Master Naturalists. Emi/Emmett the Eagle may also make an appearance to meet and greet event participants.

Wildlife viewing opportunities and a campfire will be available at The Nature Conservancy’s Emiquon Preserve’s Wetland Observatory from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Spotting scopes, courtesy of the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, will be set-up to help “spot” those eagles.

A guided hike of The Nature Conservancy’s Ridge Trail, overlooking the Emiquon Preserve, is a new activity for this year’s event. Meet at 10 a.m. at the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, 11316 N. Prairie Road, Lewistown, to begin the hike. Participants may enjoy learning about the archaeological past of the area as presented by Illinois State Museum’s Curator of Anthropology Dr. Brooke Morgan. This approximate 2-mile out-and-back hike will include walking uphill, over uneven terrain and last approximately 1 ½ hours. Dress appropriately for the weather.

Event activities in Mason County include self-guided wildlife viewing opportunities in Havana’s Riverfront Park. Take a photo with a simulated eagle’s nest. At Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) 19031 E. CR 2110N, Havana, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., participants may enjoy hiking the nature trails or driving the Auto Tour route (weather dependent and only open for this event) to look for eagles. Due to its popularity last year, visitors will be welcome to climb the 100-foot observation tower again. New for this year’s event will be the opportunity for families to build their own birdhouse.

Eagle watching and educational programming is rooted in the mission of several of the event’s sponsoring organizations. As far back as the early 1980s, eagle watch field trips were led by staff at Chautauqua NWR and Dickson Mounds Museum hosted eagle programming and activities. The annual event as we know it began around 2000 with The Nature Conservancy and other organizations partnering to host eagle-related activities in multiple locations in Fulton and Mason counties and has grown to become a regional attraction. The 2025 Fulton-Mason Eagle Day event is sponsored by Ducks Unlimited Illinois Chapter, Forbes and Illinois River Biological Stations, Illinois State Museum-Dickson Mounds, Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, The Nature Conservancy and USFWS Illinois River Refuges Complex. In celebration of their 20th anniversary, the Illinois River Road proudly sponsors the 2025 Fulton-Mason Eagle Day.

The Nature Conservancy is celebrating its 25th anniversary of the Emiquon Preserve restoration project. Along with partners, a variety of public events will occur throughout the year including guided birding hikes, guided ridge-top hikes, guided paddling, science days, fishing days and possibly more. Participants in events can earn collectible sticker badges; those collecting enough badges will be entered in a drawing for a grand prize opportunity with Conservancy staff. The sticker collection events kick off with Eagle Day and the ridge hike on Eagle Day. Additional details about the Emiquon 25th anniversary programs and events will be shared soon.

For more information about the February 1, 2025, Fulton-Mason Eagle Day, visit the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon’s Facebook page or the Dickson Mounds tab.

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As Education Coordinator and Facility Manager at the Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon for the last year, Christa Christensen has played an integral role in planning the annual Fulton-Mason Eagle Day, as a previous curator at Dickson Mounds, since 2011. Christensen appreciates the great collaborative energy while working with the Emiquon partners in planning this event, and views Eagle Day as an engaging, hands-on experience that creates lasting memories for youth and adults alike.