Independence Day Celebration Introduces the New Bald
Eagle Refuge Exhibit
The
Bald Eagle Refuge along the Valley Trail is now home
to two rescued eagles that were discovered injured in
the wild.
Sam, the female, was recovered in Alaska, and Tioga,
the male, was rescued in Pennsylvania.
Friday, July 4
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Adults and children of all
ages are welcome.
The eagles have landed...at
the National Zoo
The Zoo's two new bald eagles, who arrived from the
American Eagle Foundation rehabilitation center in Pigeon
Forge, Tennessee, are the centerpiece of Bald Eagle
Refuge Day!
Demonstrations
and activities near the new eagle refuge exhibit in
the Zoo’s Beaver Valley include:
- Raptor demonstrations
- Arts and crafts
- Costumed characters
- A feeding of the new eagles
- Young guests can have their picture taken in a giant bald eagle nest!
- Special patriotic holiday treats
The event is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
yearlong celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary
of the 
National
Wildlife Refuge System.
|
|
Beaver slide show
The event is free and will feature a variety of educational and entertaining family activities.
Pelicans, Beavers and
Wolves Share the Spotlight
In addition to the new bald eagles, the event activities
will focus on several Zoo animals whose wild counterparts
inhabit National Wildlife
Refuges (NWR) across the country.
Come see and learn about:
Beavers
Patuxent
NWR, Maryland
Endangered Mexican wolves
Sevilleta
NWR, New Mexico
Endangered brown pelicans
Pelican
Island NWR, Florida
Interpretive stations located at each exhibit will provide information about these species and the refuges they inhabit, and will include animal artifacts and demos. Participants will be given a map of the featured refuges.
Zoo
scientist JoGayle Howard will also be on hand to discuss
the groundbreaking artificial-insemination technique
she developed to save the black-footed ferret. Once
considered the most endangered mammal in North America,
the black-footed ferret has returned to its native habitat
on the plains of the American West and can be found
on refuges such as Bowdoin NWR and Charles M. Russell
NWR in Montana.
For more information about Bald Eagle Refuge Day,
(202)
673-4717.
Photos by Stephanie Garnett/FONZ
