Teatown Kicks off 17th Annual EagleFest

OSSINING, N.Y. – (January 15, 2021) – Teatown’s Hudson River EagleFest, the annual festival celebrating the bald eagle’s winter migration to the Hudson Valley, will kick off its 17th season on January 30 with a week of exciting virtual programs and limited in-person programs for children, families, and birding enthusiasts.

From Saturday, January 30 to Sunday, February 7, 2021, Teatown will host a series of virtual programs featuring Connecticut falconer and wildlife rehabilitator Christine Peyreigne of Cristine’s Critters; Anne Swaim, executive director of Saw Mill River Audubon, and programs by Zeiss Sports Optics, as well as Teatown’s own animal ambassadors. New this year will be the highly anticipated presentation on the healing nature of bird watching by Holly Merker, a cancer survivor who credits ornitherapy as a tool in her recovery. To make the programming accessible to all, Teatown is charging a minimal registration fee per program ($5 for members and $7 for non-members).

Teatown also plans to host limited in-person family-fun activities including the “Golden Feather” treasure hunt, with Teatown swag bags as prizes. Adding some “virtual reality” to the virtual world will be a new map of viewing sites and virtual visits to select viewing locations developed in collaboration with virtual reality company A&R360.

“Last year’s EagleFest had the highest attendance ever so we know that there is great enthusiasm for the bald eagle and wildlife conservation programming that Teatown provides to families throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond,’’ said Kevin Carter, Teatown’s Executive Director of. “While COVID is preventing the in-person festival at Croton Point Park this year, we have extended EagleFest to include an entire week of really exciting hybrid programming we hope will inspire families and bird enthusiasts until we can return to Croton Point Park next year.’’

Bird photographers may be interested in entering a bird-of-prey photography contest, with the top prize sponsored by Zeiss Sports Optics. The contest is in memory of nature photographer and long-time Teatown supporter Ed Mertz, who died in 2020. Visit the website for contest rules, instructions, and prize information. Entry is free.

Teatown is also collaborating with Pleasantville-based brewing company Soul Brewing. A percentage of the sales of Blonde and Marzen beers at Soul Brewing’s Pleasantville location during EagleFest (January 30-February 7) will go to support Teatown. Also, Teatown will sell “Eagle Bundles” gift sets on its e-Store starting January 19, including a special Eaglet bundle with unique learning activities for children created by Teatown educators.

Please visit the website: www.teatown.org/.....

Please Visit the website for a complete schedule of programs.

About EagleFest

Each year, thousands flock to Croton Point Park to see live bird-of-prey shows and demonstrations, and especially to see wild bald eagles and other birds of prey thriving in their natural habitat along the Hudson River. Bald eagles, once on the brink of extirpation due to chemicals like DDT, have rebounded as a result of federal and state protections, and can now be seen nesting and hunting along the Hudson River.

About Teatown

Teatown is a nature preserve and environmental education center in the Lower Hudson Valley. Managing 1,000 acres, Teatown is the largest independent, community-supported nature preserve in Westchester County. Teatown reaches more than 20,000 adults and children every year through its full schedule of year-round programs and nature-focused summer camps, and is home to 15 miles of hiking trails. Teatown’s mission is to inspire our community to lifelong environmental stewardship. More information about Teatown can be found at www.teatown.org.