Bald Eagle Days

Here's what I love about my life. There is never a shortage of INTERESTING THINGS TO DO. And having grandchildren means you always HAVE SOMEBODY TO DO THEM WITH...

In January, we have a very unique event -- Bald Eagle Days. The story of the Bald Eagles in America is both inspiring. And frightening. How close we came to losing this majestic bird...

In 1963, there were fewer than 200 pairs of nesting Eagles in the United States. Last year, they counted 12,000 pairs. I've never attended Bald Eagle Days -- but on this day -- with Lillian in tow -- it seemed like the perfect thing to do.  Getting into the show cost $5 for me, children under 6 are free.  YIKES...

It is a HUGE event, attracting thousands of people from all over the Midwest. 

I was shocked by the crowd. I go to this venue for Antique shows, craft shows, the Home Show -- but I've NEVER had to park off-site before. A sign directed us to the Rock Island City parking lot (7 blocks away)..

Lilly was THRILLED that we'd be riding a bus!! We had to wait for about 15 minutes...

But, we enjoyed the scenery. Rock Island had an interesting mural across the street...

Of course, we always sit in the back of the bus...

We got to the show about 12:30 -- and went to the seminar room. But the speaker was boring...

So -- we got BACK ON A BUS -- for the "Eagle Watching" tours they were doing...

The mini-bus-Eagle-Watching tours left every hour, on the hour, and our guide was from the Audubon Society.

We only had to ride for 5 minutes before we arrived at the foot of Lock and Dam #15 in Davenport, Iowa. There is an official Eagle Watching Site there...

I've lived in this area all my life -- HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS WAS GOING ON??

We saw, up close and personal, 20 Bald Eagles fishing in the Mississippi River. We witnessed dive bombing, fishing, fights in the sky, fish-dropping.

Our first experience with Bald Eagle Days was off to a rocking good start...but, of course, you ain't heard nothing yet...