GUNTERSVILLE-In 2015, Lake Guntersville State Park will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its popular Eagle Awareness Weekends. Each weekend from January 2 through February 21, the park will feature live bird demonstrations, programs delivered by notable speakers, and guided field trips for viewing eagles in their natural habitat. The park is located at 1155 Lodge Dr., Guntersville, Ala., 35976.
The Eagle Awareness events are free to the public. There is no registration needed to attend the programs or field trips. 
However, the sessions can fill up fast so participants are encouraged to arrive early for the events. For a complete list of scheduled Eagle Awareness events, visit the Lake Guntersville State Park page on alapark.com.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Eagle Awareness at Lake Guntersville, the park is offering several overnight accommodation packages and dining specials. From cabins to hotel rooms, each package includes passes to Cathedral Caverns. For more information about the Eagle Awareness packages or to make reservations, visit the Lake Guntersville State Park page on alapark.com or call 256-571-5440.
Photo: Billy Pope
Eagle Awareness attendees are also encouraged to share their photos on social media using the hashtag#EagleAwareness2015. To get updates and see photos of the events, follow Lake Guntersville State Park on Facebook (www.facebook.com/lakeguntersvilleSP) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/lakegvillesp).
The Eagle Awareness Weekends began in 1985 to coincide with a bald eagle restoration program in Alabama. A loss of habitat, pesticide use and poaching had pushed eagle populations to the brink of extinction nationwide. Alabama’s restoration project was started in 1984 by the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ Nongame Wildlife Program. Between the years 1985 and 1991, 91 bald eagles were released throughout the state. Today, bald eagles are a more common site in Alabama than in decades past.
MEDIA RELEASE/OUTDOOR ALABAMA/ KENNY JOHNSON
