The Eagle Awareness Weekends began in 1985 to coincide with a bald eagle restoration program in Alabama. A loss of habitat, pesticide use, and poaching had pushed eagle populations to the brink of extinction nationwide. Alabama’s restoration project began in 1984 by the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Nongame Wildlife Program.  From 1985-91, 91 bald eagles were released throughout the state. Today, bald eagles are a more common sight in Alabama than in decades past.

This year, three Eagle Awareness Weekends will be available in early 2022 – Jan. 20-22; Jan. 27-29 and Feb. 3-5.

Each weekend will start on Friday evening with a social and wine tasting event followed by an educational session on eagles in Alabama and a presentation by an Alabama State Park Naturalist. The Saturday agenda includes more sessions by noted conservation experts, guided field trips to look for eagles, raptors, and waterfowl in the wild and ends with a dinner buffet in the Pinecrest Dining Room. Sunday ends the weekend with more guided field trips, an educational program, and a photo opportunity with live birds. 

To attend one of the Eagle Awareness Weekends at Lake Guntersville State Park, packages are available that include overnight accommodations, breakfast buffet, group dinner on Saturday night, and more.  Attendance is limited to package holders and tickets will be sold for Saturday (programs only) as space allows.

For more information about the event schedules, Eagle Awareness packages, or to make reservations, visit www.alapark.com/lake-guntersville-state-park or call (256) 571-5440.