Eagles & Agriculture tours continue in Carson Valley

More than 200 people in four buses went off in search of eagles Wednesday morning and found more than a half-dozen.

Dan Kaffer of Western Nevada Resources Conservation and Development said the eagles were spread over several ranches included in the tour.

"There were a bunch down on Highway 88 at the Thunderbird Ranch," he said.

Kaffer said the first tour of Eagles & Agriculture went well.

"We saw dozens and dozens of red-tail hawks, marsh hawks, kestrels," he said.

Rancher Clarence Burr said he saw some eagles early, soaring at about 8,000 feet, but they turned and headed north.

Eagles & Agriculture, which is in its fifth year, brings nonprofit, private, ranching, business and environmental groups together to demonstrate how agriculture and wildlife can cohabitate.

In 2003, 35 bald eagles were spotted during a four-hour period on the tour.

Wednesday's tour was sold out, but as of Thursday a few spots were left on Saturday's tour, which includes a buffet lunch.

Seats are also still available for tonight's birds of prey lecture and reception featuring Gold Gate Raptor Observatory and UC Davis professor Dr. Allen Fish. Falconer Gene Landfather will bring a live European goshawk. Fish will discuss raptor migration, the biology of birds of prey and their habitat and identification.

Both the owl prowl tour and the photo workshop for Saturday are sold out. A raft and canoe trip down the Carson River still had two seats on Thursday, which are expected to go quickly.

In addition to the outdoor activities, exhibits and a drawing will raise money for Eagles and Agriculture are part of the event at the Carson Valley Inn. Prizes range from natural soil amendments to a barn tour. The winners need not be present to win when the tickets are drawn on Saturday afternoon. Tickets can be purchased today 5:30-8 p.m. and Saturday between 10:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. at Carson Valley Inn. For further information contact Mary Ellen Conaway, 265-7651.

Exhibits by area businesses and nonprofits will provide information on environmental conservation, preservation and restoration and the use of natural products to enhance agriculture in Carson Valley.

Exhibitors include Full Circle Compost, Paradise Bird Feed, Carson Valley Conservation District, Lahontan Audubon Society, Alpine Watershed Group, Douglas County Historical Society, Nevada Farm Bureau, Comstock Seed, Moments In Time Photography, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, Tahoe Wildlife Care Inc., Bently Biofuels, Nevada Rock Art Foundation, and Carson Valley Inn.

For tickets, contact the Carson Valley Visitors Authority at 782-8144 or info@carsonvalleynv.org.