By Susan Monteleone
NARROWSBURG — January 21, 2003 – The Second Annual Narrowsburg EagleFest turned out to be another huge success this year.
More than 1,000 people flocked to the little town known as Narrowsburg to take part in the day-long event.
Beginning at 10 a.m., there were attractions in the Sullivan West/ Narrowsburg gymnasium.
One of the more popular attractions featured Bill Streeter, the executive director of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center. During the presentation, Streeter introduced a 22-year-old golden eagle with a 7-foot wing span.
Also featured during the morning’s festivities were the Lenni Lenape Native Americans, who performed a ceremonial dance honoring the eagles. The Lenni Lenape Native Americans use the eagle to teach their children about many facets of their culture.The group explained that the eagle is one of the highest flying birds in today's world.
Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce President John Grund noted that EagleFest is still the only festival of its kind throughout the county, and he is very proud of the event.
Town of Tusten Supervisor Richard Crandall added, "Today is a truly great day. It is educational, and information is in abundance throughout the town. It is an economic boost for the town, and I thank all of those who put today's event together."
Also on hand was Judge Frank LaBuda who added, "Today is a great event for Sullivan County. We are supporting the National Conservation effort as far as the eagle is concerned, and it is great to see so many people travel here today.”
During the day's event, two eagles were spotted at the area known as the eddy near some pine trees and many visitors patiently waited their turn on the decks along the river in Narrowsburg hoping to spot some the many eagles in the area.
The EagleFest event is sponsored by the Narrowsburg Chamber of Commerce and Fleet Bank and a number of community volunteers in the area.
The event was started as a way to celebrate the return of the bald eagle to the area. Currently, the Upper Delaware area is host to 150 bald eagles and there are an estimated 60 eagle nests in New York and Pennsylvania.
During the day the many visitors who flocked to Narrowsburg took part in eagle viewing, a poster auction, numerous presentations and movies along with a forum on the discussion of eagles.
Grund noted that the day's events were greatly enhanced by John A. DiGiorgio who displayed many of his photographs of the bald eagle along with other art work at the Delaware Valley Arts Alliance.
DiGiorgio presented numerous works of bald eagle art to the representatives that were present at the Second Annual EagleFest.