January 16 - 17, 2010

Because of high attendance and requests, the Keokuk Area Convention & Tourism Bureau in conjunction with the Lee County Conservation Board will host 4 new seminars at the River City Mall on Saturday and Sunday during Bald Eagle Appreciation Days.  At 11:00 a.m., Tom Basten and Michelle Wilson from the IDNR will highlight improvements made to Southeast Iowa State Parks and the Honey Creek Resort State Park in the "Iowa State Parks: Improving & Changing" seminar.  At 1:00 p.m., "Pool 19: Ground Zero For Ducks" seminar with a biologist from Ducks Unlimited will explain the importance of Pool 19 to continental waterfowl populations, current habitat programs and research.  Andy Joseph, State Apiarist at the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship will discuss the latest on Colony Collapse Disorder and the importance of honey bees in the 2:00 p.m. seminar, "The Buzz About Bees".  The last seminar on both days beginning at 3:00 p.m. will be about the Osprey reintroduction program in Iowa and what's next for this unique raptor.  Pat Schlarbaum from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will host the seminar, "Return of the Fish Hawk".

The Bald Eagle Appreciation Days activities at the River City Mall and Holiday Inn Express will be held from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  Conservation agency displays, Native American singing and dancing, live bird presentations along with these seminars will be presented at River City Mall.  The annual Woodcarvers Show, exhibitions and auction will be in the lower level at the Holiday Inn Express, 325 Main Street.  Personnel from the Lee County Conservation Board, Iowa DNR, Illinois DNR and the US Army Corps of Engineers will staff outdoor viewing points at Victory Park and Hubinger Landing from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday.