Eaglefest 2020 at Lehigh Valley museum

In celebration of nature and the American Bald Eagle, the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum will hold its indoor Eaglefest on March 7 from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Eaglefest is a large public program that celebrates the beauty and power of raptors — eagles, hawks, owls and falcons in the wild.

Live bird programs by Bill Streeter, master falconer and director of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center in Milford, begin at noon and 1:15 p.m., and offer a chance to see and learn about these majestic birds firsthand.

“A live adult American bald eagle, a great horned owl or hoot owl, and a peregrine falcon, the fastest creature in the world, capable of exceeding 200 miles an hour in an airborne dive, are some of the live birds that the public will interact with during the presentation,” said Joseph Garrera, executive director of the museum.

Museum officials contend the entire day of family fun and learning helps visitors gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world.

“In our hectic, urbanized lives, we forget the beauty of nature and the ways in which our lives depend on the health of the planet,” said Garrera. “Eaglefest 2020 celebrates the return of eagles and hawks while offering fun and engaging ways to understand nature.”

Admission to the program is free to members. There is a fee for nonmembers.

Eaglefest offers something for everyone all day. Children can explore the world of nature through simple science experiments, crafts and interactive activities for all ages.

Learn to identify a few backyard birds and their calls. Strap on fabric “eagle wings” or make a bird mask, then step into a life-size model of an eagle’s nest.

Measure yourself against a life-size eagle outline and help color it in. Discover how birds stay aloft. Cut and fold a paper bird that really flies.

This year features several fun activities about raptors and the food chain. Create a project showing the food chain for a bird of prey. Learn how pesticides in the food chain endangered raptors. Make an eagle puppet and race to see how quickly you can “catch fish” in its talons.

The Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum is located at 432 W. Walnut St. in Allentown.