Join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Eagle Institute on any one of seven guided eagle-viewing bus trips, scheduled on multiple weekends throughout January and February.

Learn about eagles from a knowledgeable guide and experience the wonder of seeing our noble national symbol in its natural habitat. Unless otherwise noted, the trips commence at the Delaware Highlands Conservancy Winter Field Office in Lackawaxen, PA.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Eagle Institute winter field office in Lackawaxen, PA is generously provided by the National Park Service and serves as a center of information for visitors looking to learn more about viewing and protecting eagles.

Visitors can pick up information about the bald eagle in the Upper Delaware River region, get maps and directions to eagle viewing locations along the Upper Delaware and Lackawaxen, and watch an informative video.

Knowledgeable volunteers and staff are available to answer questions about the Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Eagle Institute. The Lackawaxen office is staffed on Saturdays and Sundays throughout January and February and open to visitors from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Seats on trips are limited, and reservations are required, so reserve your space today for the following 2013 winter trips:

-- January 19 - Climate Change Eagle Trip, Lackawaxen Field Office, PA, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Enjoy eagle viewing while becoming educated about the impacts of climate change on regional wildlife, including eagles, and their habitats. Reservations required: $12.50 per person. Call the Conservancy at 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010 or email info@delawarehighlands.org to register. Dress warmly in layers and wear waterproof boots. Bring binoculars, camera, snacks, and a bagged lunch. Snow date: January 20th.

-- January 26 - Eagle Tours with PPL, Environmental Learning Center, Hawley, PA, Two trips: 8:00 a.m.-11:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m.-4:00 p.m. Presenter Katie Lester of PPL will share information about how PPL's hydroelectric dam has supported the return of the bald eagle. Explore eagle biology, habitat needs and proper eagle-viewing etiquette. This free program will begin at the PPL Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center followed by a guided eagle viewing bus tour of the Lackawaxen River. Transportation provided. Dress warm. Space is very limited and registration is required; contact PPL at 570-253-7001 or pplpreserves@pplweb.com to register. Snow date: January 27th.

-- February 2 - Eagle Tour with the NEPA Audubon Society, Lackawaxen Field Office, PA, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: The guide on this bus tour will focus on eagle biology, our unique habitat, and how the eagles recovered from the brink of extinction. Reservations required; $13 per person. Call Bob at 570-676-9969 or email jeanbob@ptd.net for reservations and information. Dress warmly in layers and wear waterproof boots. Bring binoculars, camera, snacks, and a bagged lunch. Snow date: February 3rd.

-- February 9 - Eagle Tours - Sullivan County, Lackawaxen Field Office, PA. Two trips: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1 p.m.-4 p.m.:  Learn specifically about Sullivan County, NY eagle habitat, including a history of the region's largest and most critical area, the Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area. Reservations required: $12.50 per person. Call the Conservancy at 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010 or email info@delawarehighlands.org to register. Please specify whether you prefer the morning or afternoon trip. Dress warmly in layers and wear waterproof boots. Bring binoculars, camera, snacks, and a bagged lunch. Snow date: February 10th.

-- February 16 - Eagle Tour - Marion "Becky" Finch Memorial Excursion, Lackawaxen Field Office, PA, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.: Join us to pay tribute to long-time supporter and volunteer in the most fitting way we know: by sharing an awesome eagle watching experience. Due to generous donations by Becky's friends and family, the fee for this trip is only $10 per person. Reservations required. Call the Conservancy at 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010 or email info@delawarehighlands.org to register. Dress warmly in layers and wear waterproof boots. Bring binoculars, camera, snacks, and a bagged lunch. Snow date: February 17th.

The Upper Delaware River region is one of the largest wintering habitats for eagles in the northeast United States, because of abundant clean water and large, undisturbed stands of trees.  Twenty years ago there was just one eagle's nest in PA and one in NY-now, there are approximately 200 nests in each state.

This tremendous success story is a direct result of the hard work of the Eagle Institute and the community and organizations like the Conservancy that work for the protection of eagles and the healthy lands and clean waters of the Upper Delaware River region.

In February 2012, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, the region's foremost organization for land protection and the Eagle Institute, the region's premier organization for the protection of and public education about eagles merged in a "perfect partnership."

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Eagle Institute has also partnered with the NPS and the New York State Department of Conservation to maintain two well-marked viewing areas in the Mongaup Valley on the Rio and Mongaup Falls reservoirs.

These viewing blinds are also staffed by Conservancy-Eagle Institute volunteers on weekends through the winter season, and are great places to find information about eagles and to look through binoculars and spotting scopes to see magnificent bald eagles in the wild.

The Delaware Highlands Conservancy works with landowners and communities to protect the healthy lands, clean waters, eagles and other wildlife, and locally sustainable economies of the Upper Delaware River region. 

For more information, please call 570-226-3164, 845-583-1010, or send an email to info@delawarehighlands.org. Send an email to eagles@delawarehighlands.org with any questions about the Winter Field Office or the Eagle Institute in general, or call the Field Office directly at 570-685-5960 and someone will return your call as soon as possible.

Visit the Delaware Highlands Conservancy/Eagle Institute webpage for more information.

1/7/2013