THE GORGE — Eagle Watch events on Jan. 17 will include indoor experiences at Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, and outdoor viewings in The Dalles and Lyle, some hosted by the Corps of Engineers.
Eagles are gathering in the Gorge for the winter, leaving northern feeding grounds as rivers freeze. They eat migratory, nonnative shad and other fish, especially enjoying the sheltered trees and turbulent waters full of dazed fish floating out of The Dalles Dam.
Photographer Gary Elkinton notes you don’t always need binoculars to see eagles at The Dalles Dam; sometimes they visit Seufert Park, perching on the Oregon side. “And if you have patience and luck you may even see them grab hold of a fish,” he said.
Events at the museum include a free open house hosted by local authors, Forest Service, Xerxes Society and Oregon State Parks from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be periodic visits with the museum’s ambassador eagles, Liberty and Ferguson, who can’t be released into the wild due to injured wingtips, a daylong eagle movie marathon.
Live raptors and their trainers will visit from PERCH, a rehabilitation and wildlife education organization, “offering visitors a rare opportunity to see birds of prey up close while learning about their ecology, conservation, and recovery,” according to a press release.
Homemade soups and hot beverages will be available in the Basalt Rock Cafe.
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