Reserve your tickets for the Dale Hollow Lake Eagle Watch Saturday, as eagles return to the lake.
Natural Resource Specialist Desmaray Brown said eagles enjoy Dale Hollow’s landscape, as the lake offers plenty of fish and the forest grows free. Brown said little development around the area provides the ideal environment for eagles, as permanent and migratory birds stay at the lake.
“These tours give people of the public an opportunity to get out on Dale Hollow Lake and see these amazing creatures in their natural habitat.” Brown said. “We get a good look at them with binoculars and scope.”
Brown said tourists can see eagles perch, nest, fly and fishing. Brown said lucky observers might see a courtship ritual. Brown said this ritual takes place annually between two eagles, interlocking talons and spinning. Brown likened it to a marriage ceremony.
Brown said the tours began in 1980. Brown said the Hacking program was a partnership between many different companies to try and reintroduce eagles into many southern states, including the Dale Hollow area. Brown said many rangers worked through the program, reintroducing eagles into the environment.
Brown said the tours are important for Celina residents, as they allow local residents to connect with others that care about the lake and eagles.
“It allows the local residents to get out on our working barge and see some parts of the lake they might not see if they don’t have a boat,” Brown said. “And allow them to get out and learn more about our natural environment and see these, all the eagles.”
Brown said the lake sees an influx of migratory birds come in from the North during the winter months.
