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The annual Dale Hollow Lake Eagle Watch in January has been cancelled for space limitations on the barge that transports visitors.
Every winter, two barge trips tour the lake for spectators to view bald eagles. Army Corps of Engineers Resource Manager Stephen Beason said social distancing is not possible on the boat.
“We do have a barge also that has a cabin on the barge that is heated,” Beason said. “Eventually, most of the participants end up inside the cabin, which is kind of an enclosed area.”
Beason said the tours happen in the winter, because Dale Hollow Lake has the second largest overwintering eagle population. Beason said people can still independently navigate the water to see a handful of new nests.
“The bald eagles move from their northern tier states and Canada to the south,” Beason said. “They overwinter in this area due to open waters and unfrozen waters in the winter time, and it is a good feeding area.”
About 50 bird watchers participate each year. Beason said the Army Corp is still working to rebuild a new eagle cam.
“The eagles are still here. We hopefully can get a camera with our partnership with our partners reinstalled,” Beason said. “We do not have any firm plans at this point and time.”
The Dale Hollow Lake Eagle Cam is made possible by a partnership with the Dale Hallow Lake Marina Association, Twin Lakes and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Twin Lakes provides the camera and live streaming capabilities. The tree containing the nest was struck by lightening and fell.
