Cumberland County Improvement Authority

For Immediate Release
January 1, 2007

County Adds 'Can't Miss' Viewing Site
For February 3rd Annual Eagle Festival

A new and superb viewing site has been added to the list of areas for spotting South Jersey’s soaring Bald Eagle population when the seventh annual Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival takes place Saturday, February 3, 2007.

Lin and Paul Waterman, the new owners of Beaver Dam Boat Rentals on Rt. 553 in Downe Township, have offered their “can’t miss” location overlooking two active eagle nests in the tree lines along the marshes leading to the Delaware Bay.

Novice and experienced bird watchers will benefit from the expertise of New Jersey Audubon Society volunteers who will be at that location, and several other viewing sites in southern Cumberland County, with spotting scopes and a wealth of knowledge to share.

“ Beaver Dam is an exceptional viewing site as it’s just off a major County road, has parking, rest room facilities, and offers a spot where birders can warm up and obtain snacks and hot beverages,” commented Freeholder Jeffrey M. Trout, who founded the annual salute to birds of prey in 2001.

“ Cumberland County is proud of its ecological treasures and warmly invites visitors to this spectacular opportunity to observe the eagles, hawks, owls, and other birds of prey which abound in our backyard,” commented Freeholder Director Douglas M. Rainear.

In addition to viewing sites, the Cumberland County Winter Eagle Festival features guided walks in the field at dawn, midday, and dusk.

Educational talks and exhibits will take place all day long in the Festival headquarters at the Mauricetown Fire Hall on Noble Street in Commercial Township.

The fire hall provides another warm and cozy place to rest from the outdoors while enjoying delicious Down Jersey seafood treats such as crab cakes and oysters, as well as burgers, dogs, and warm beverages prepared by the firefighters.

The $10 registration for adults and $5 fee for children 12 and under includes admission to all the guided walks, observation sites, lectures, and exhibits.

Early birders can start the day with a 7 a.m. Sunrise Walk at Turkey Point led by Karen Johnson.

The fire hall is open at 8 a.m. for registration and exhibits, with lectures beginning at 10 a.m.

Scheduled speakers include:

10 a.m. - Kathy Clark, New Jersey Endangered & Nongame Species Program, “Eagle Recovery & Rehabilitation”.

11 a.m. - Jason Guerard, NJ Audubon Society, “How to Get Started Bird Watching”.

1 p.m. - Don Freiday, NJ Audubon Society, “Owls & How to Find Them”.

2 p.m. Pat & Clay Sutton, NJ Audubon, “Birds & Birding at Cape May”.

Featured Keynote speaker at 3 p.m. is renowned birding expert and author Pete Dunne, Director of New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory who will outline ’25 Things That Changed Birding”.

In between presentations, guests can enjoy displays from numerous conservation groups and vendors specializing in gifts and crafts which follow the birding theme.

Activities for children are also staged at the hall by the Cumberland County Cultural & Heritage Commission. Youngsters will be able to handcraft their own souvenir of the festival.

Additionally, live raptors which were injured, nursed back to health, but unable to be released to the wild, will be at a special display from the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge.

Steve Eisenhauer, Regional Director of Stewardship and Protection for The Natural Lands Trust will guide two separate Glades Refuge hikes - one on the Bald Eagle Trail at 10 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m. on the Maple Street Trail.

Official activities close at dusk with a 5 p.m. Owl Watch at Turkey Point. The event is sponsored by the Cumberland County Board of Chosen Freeholders in partnership with New Jersey Audubon, The Natural Lands Trust, the Cape May Bird Observatory, the Bayshore Discovery Project, Citizens United to Protect the Maurice River and Its Tributaries, and the Commercial Township Environmental Commission.
For more information, or directions, call (856) 453-2177 or (866) 866-MORE, or check out the www.moretooffer.com/ web page.