2/11/2012 @ 8:30

2/11/2012

Joppa Flats Education Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
1 Plum Island Tpke
Newburyport, MA 01950

Celebrate the seasonal return of bald eagles to the Merrimack Valley with the seventh annual Merrimack River Eagle Festival In the deep winter of February, when everything else is frozen and asleep, the Newburyport area along the river is alive with the spectacular sight of wintering bald eagles flying, fishing, and sitting in the sun. Staff and volunteers from Joppa Flats and the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge help visitors find eagles and other winter specialties and answer questions about behaviors and habitats. Visit eagle hot spots at your own speed or go on an eagle tour to see birds in the wild; come indoors for nature activities or to see an up-close view of rehabilitated hawks, owls, and eagles. This is a great opportunity for people of all ages to learn about the magnificence of nature by observing bald eagles and the habitats they need to survive. Come to the Joppa Flats Education Center or the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge headquarters for family events held throughout the day. Please call ahead to register for guided eagle tours starting at the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce or to sign up for an opportunity to be photographed with a raptor at City Hall. Eagle demonstrations at Newburyport City Hall are first come, first served. For a complete schedule of Merrimack River Eagle Festival events, call 978-462-9998 or go to