PUBLIC WELCOME AT OTTAWA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE BALD EAGLE BANDING

* This event is being rescheduled to Thursday June 4th due to inclement weather predicted for Tuesday.

FINDLAY, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Wildlife will be conducting a bald eagle banding on Tuesday June 2, 2009 at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in Ottawa County.  This event is open to the public, and offers a great opportunity to see our national symbol up close.  This was originally scheduled for May 28, 2009.  That event was cancelled due to inclement weather.

The event will begin at 10:00 a.m., and last about an hour.  A biologist will climb the tree and retrieve the eaglets.  Once on the ground, each eaglet will be given a brief health examination and fitted with a metal leg band and then be returned safely to the nest.  Additionally an eaglet from a nest that blew down in Erie County will be fostered into this nest.  This event is weather-dependant; heavy rain, high winds or lightning would be cause for cancellation. 

By the later half of the 20th century, the bald eagle was classified as an endangered species. This, however, is a case with positive results. Through the diligent efforts of the Ohio Division of Wildlife and a concerned public, the bald eagle population is coming back and is no longer on the federal or State of Ohio endangered list. Its federal and state status has been upgraded to “threatened."

The entrance to Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge is located at 14000 West State Route 2, Oak Harbor, Ohio.  Personnel will be on hand to direct visitors to a parking area.  After a short introductory briefing, visitors will walk back to the nest site.  Visitors are encouraged to wear clothing suitable for the weather and for walking a short distance.