SOAR WITH THE EAGLES WEEKEND - Lisa Loucks Christenson Presenting her Photography Program at The National Eagle Center March 10, 2007
SOAR WITH THE EAGLES WEEKEND at The National Eagle Center is this weekend on March 10th and 11th. Lisa Loucks Christenson will be the first speaker of the day on March 10th, 2007, discussing her eagle journey, now in its third year, with the same pair of bald eagles raising their offspring.
Mother eagle teaching her eaglet to feed on a limb by dropping the fish in the water
below. Copyright © 2007 Lisa Loucks-Christenson
I’m offering the attendee’s first peek at my rare and never-before-seen shots of the sibling eagles lives I documented, both on and off the nest.
Copyright © 2005-2006 Lisa Loucks-Christenson
By Lisa Loucks-Christenson
Published March 09, 2007
(Lisa Loucks-Christenson Media Syndicate) –– Rochester, Minnesota
SOAR WITH THE EAGLES WEEKEND at The National Eagle Center is this weekend on March 10th and 11th. Lisa Loucks Christenson will be the first speaker of the day on March 10th, 2007, discussing her eagle journey, now in its third year, with the same pair of bald eagles raising their offspring.
Says Loucks-Christenson, “I’m offering the attendee’s first peek at my rare and never-before-seen shots of the sibling eagles lives I documented, both on and off the nest.” Loucks-Christenson was able to locate the eaglets for over ten weeks daily, after fledging and she continued their story for her second book on eagles, “Year Two Dancer & Daedee: Epiphany Season.” Loucks-Christenson began her third book on this eagle pair in January 2007, and visitors at The National Eagle Center will be the first to see the eagles survival in the wild while enduring -45 below with wind-chills, winter storms, blizzards, and the start of 2007’s nesting season.
“I wanted something that said ‘survival’ so I started a month earlier this year, and have been out there documenting the eagles and wildlife while temperatures hit -45 below with wind chill for almost three weeks we had that cold snap. Then we got hit with a blizzard that lasted two days, and following that, another winter storm. The snow is up to my waist in some spots as I hike to my posts. Almost forty days into the project—I have my shots that speak ‘survival’. I hope people will look at my work and see that it’s not easy for these animals and birds out there,” Loucks-Christenson added.
Lisa Loucks-Christenson will also autograph her Winter Bugs! book available for sale at a special show price of $25 plus tax, while supplies last. http://www.lisalouckschristenson.net
Programs
Saturday March 10 Only
· 9:00 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. Stories of a Professional Photographer
Lisa Loucks Christenson is a national-award-winning author & photographer based out of Rochester, Minnesota. Lisa recently completed her Walk the Burn documentary in the Whitewater Management Area. She’s eager to share her stories for stalking and blending in with her subject habitat, allowing her to capture their daily lives in the wetlands. As a bonus, Lisa will give you an intimate look at the private lives of a pair of bald eagles raising their offspring during her three-year journey.
10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Waterfowl Identification
Mary Stefanski from the USFWS will give insight to identifying species found in the Upper Mississippi National Fish and Wildlife Refuge.
· 11:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. “Conservation is about taking care of the places you love.”
“Using 3 stories from my childhood on a prairie farm, to my days banding wood ducks in the Nelson Bottoms, to my recent work with Audubon on the Mississippi River, I will talk about the importance of having a place to take care of and to care about.” Director, Audubon Upper Mississippi River Campaign - Dan McGuiness
He has worked on the Mississippi River for 38 years. Since coming to Audubon in 1998, Dan McGuiness has been directing a multi-faceted effort to build national awareness and advocacy for restoration of the ecological health of the 1,366-mile Upper Mississippi River and its 189,000 square mile basin.
· 12:00 p.m. Raptors of Minnesota
This exciting program will enable you to learn about the various raptors found in Minnesota and their role in the environment. You will learn the three key features of all raptors and how they are different from other birds.
· 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Hunters of the Sky
Meet the Eagles, Hawks, Owls and Falcons perched out on display with a representative from the U of M Raptor Center . Have the opportunity for one-on-one learning with the raptor specialist. Plenty of time to ask questions, take photos, or just relax and watch the raptors.
· 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
NEC Eagles
Meet NEC eagles Angel, Harriet or Columbia. You can have a photo taken with them for a small donation.
· 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Exhibit Booth
Bus Tours
Saturday March 10 Only
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Led by Whitewater State Park
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Naturalist - Dave Palmquist
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Led by National Eagle Center
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Program Specialist - Scott Mehus
Join either White Water State Park Naturalist Dave Palmquist or the National Eagle Center Program Special Scott Mehus on an exciting one and half hour narrated “expedition” of the Mississippi River valley area. Your guides enjoy sharing their knowledge of the region’s rich natural history and ecology.
Questions are encouraged as you learn what makes the Upper Mississippi River one of the most important ecosystems for the Bald Eagle.
Bring your camera for possible eagle (and other bird) sightings.
Boat Cruise
Saturday and Sunday March 10 & 11
9:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
3:00 p.m.
Step back in time when Paddlewheel Boats traveled the Mississippi River. The Pearl of the Lake is an authentic replica... her only means of propulsion are her paddle-wheels. Come aboard for an hour long cruise excursion allowing a unique point of view for eagle watching and viewing other migrating birds.
Misc.
National Eagle Center - located at 152 Main Street
· 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Eagle Feeding show
See how the National Eagle Center’s eagles are trained and fed and learn what eagles eat in the wild.
· 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
(Saturday only) Children’s Activities
A variety of fun children’s activities will be available for their enjoyment.
Cost per person: $2 Adults /$1 children under 13 /under 5 free
including admission to the Soar with the Eagle programs
NEC Eagle Observation Deck - located Lawrence Blvd & Pembroke
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Eagle Viewing
Volunteer eagle watchers will be on the deck with scopes and binoculars. Come see the eagles as they prepare to head north for the spring.
Eagle Nest Coffee House - located at 330 2nd Street
10:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Photo Contest
Last year’s photo contest was a grand success. It is now an annual part of Soar with the Eagles. Come see a whole new batch of photos, and pick up a calendar of last year’s photos. We are planning a people’s choice category this year, so your vote matters.
Sunday Brunch
Sunday March 11 Only
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Brunch with the Eagles
Enjoy a scrumptious brunch selection while viewing Bald Eagles on the Mississippi River. Our program features Al Batt of rural Hartland, Minnesota, who is a writer, speaker, storyteller and humorist. Al, who was born and raised on a farm near Hartland, writes three weekly humor and nature columns for many newspapers, and does a regular radio show about nature on a number of stations. He is a contributing writer to the book, Minnesota Bird Watching. Al appears each week on “Memories and Musings by Al Batt” on KSMQ-TV. He has written for the movies. He speaks at various festivals, conferences and conventions all over the United States. He has been named Birder of the Year by Wild Bird Magazine.
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