Teatown Lake Reservation welcomed crowds of enthusiasts to Croton Point Park on Feb. 14 for the 22nd Annual Hudson River EagleFest. The event celebrates the majesty of bald gagles during their annual winter migration along the Lower Hudson Valley with live bird-of-prey shows, educational exhibitions, crafts and games, food trucks and music.
“Year after year, visitors from around the region continue to make EagleFest a bright spot in the winter months, bringing us together over a shared wonder and appreciation for local wildlife,” said Kevin Carter, Teatown’s executive director. “We were thrilled to welcome thousands of visitors to experience the festival, helping to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards and highlighting the critical role our region plays as a winter habitat for these majestic birds of prey.”
The event was rescheduled from Feb. 7 due to extreme cold and winds.
EagleFest is supported through a Market New York grant awarded by Empire State Development and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism.
Originally founded in 1963 and previously funded by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden as an outreach station in Ossining, Teatown Lake Reservation is a nonprofit nature preserve and environmental education center.
Today, with 15 miles of hiking trails and more than 1,000 acres of protected land, a two-acre island refuge for more than 230 species of native wildflowers, wildlife exhibits, science and stewardship projects, nature classes and camps, and more, Teatown is the largest nonprofit community-supported nature preserve in Westchester County, with a mission to inspire the community to lifelong environmental stewardship.
Teatown’s name originally dates back to 1776, when tea was scarce due to British taxation and a group of women named Daughters of Eve demanded that a local merchant John Arthur sell tea at a fair price. Hence, the area became known as “Teatown.”
Visit teatown.org for more information.
