TRANSFER, Pa. – Brandi Baros has some advice for people planning to attend this weekend’s Shenango River Lake Eagle Fest: Dress for the weather.

But she is confident that the view of the majestic birds will make the expected cold temperatures worth it.

“The colder it is, the better the viewing is, because that forces the eagles to gather around the parts of the lake that aren’t frozen,” said Baros, president of the Shenango River Watchers.

Saturday will be the fifth anniversary of the Eagle Fest. The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Run Swim Beach, 5500 Saranac Drive, is hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District in partnership with the Shenango River Watchers.

The event started a few years ago, after staff at the time noticed growth in the number of eagles coming to the lake to feed on a particular fish that had died off, according to Hannah VanOrd, a park ranger with the Pittsburgh District, which manages the lake.  

“They had seen at least 90 eagles at one point, so they figured that it was a spectacle to see. They held an event to share the wealth of knowledge of the eagles and get people out to interact with them, take photos and just get to interact up close with them,” said VanOrd, who is coordinating the event for the second year. Last year the event drew about 200 attendees, but in previous years more than 500 have attended, she said.

The Army Corps of Engineers works with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission to monitor the eagle population and conducts an eagle census in early January, Baros said.

Because the kayak launches and hiking trails are all on Army Corps land, the group recognized “a really good opportunity” existed to educate people about eagles and their habitat, and “get people outside in what is usually a very indoors-focused part of the year,” she added. 

“It’s a great opportunity for families to get out and learn about eagles,” said Carmen Aiello, president and CEO of VisitMercerCountyPA. “The eagle is so beautiful and majestic, so the opportunity to see an eagle in the wild is probably the main reason why people would want to go.”

The event includes presentations by the game commission and Tamarack Wildlife Center, a wildlife refuge that rehabilitates injured, sick and orphaned wildlife to return them to the wild. The corps also has scopes stationed in the area for the public to better view the eagles, VanOrd said. Other local nonprofit partners are invited to participate to host information tables and offer activities for children attending the event.

“We also provide our own environmental education and help people learn how to find eagles,” Baros said.

New features this year include an art contest, VanOrd said. About 40 drawings and photographs depicting bald eagles were submitted in three divisions – kindergarten through grade six, grades seven through 12 and adult – with the winners to be announced Saturday.

“We’re also going to have a food truck this year, so that’ll be exciting,” she said.

VisitMercerCountyPA’s Aiello said local businesses in communities near the lake, including Sharon, Hermitage and Sharpsville, benefit from the event, though he did not have precise numbers.

“When people come in from out of town to an event like this, they’re going to stop. They’re going to eat in our restaurants,” he said. “They’re going to probably stop and get gas at one of our local gas stations. So the economic benefit is great.”

Tiffany Daley, owner of Breakfast at Tiffany’s Diner in Sharpsville, said she can’t say for certain what impact the Eagle Fest has on her business, but she thinks it’s likely she gets patrons who are attending the event.

“Anytime there’s an event in or near town, we definitely see a bigger draw,” she said.

 Pictured at top: Photo via U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District.