Watch Eagles with Duke
Wednesday evening eagle watch at Keller Lake
Most Wednesday evenings, April through August, 2008
One hour before sunset to sunset

Watch the Keller Lake eagles that nest on the south side of Highway 36 and west of Highway 61 in Maplewood, Minn.

When bringing a group, contact Duke at 651-643-0622 beforehand to make sure that he expects you.

Eagle News
Keller Lake Eagle Nest Blown Away

The 70-mile winds accompanying the thunderstorm on Saturday, July 12, literally blew the Keller Lake eagle nest away right from under the two young eagles who hadn’t fledged yet.
They survived, are perched in the tree very close to where their nest once was, and their parents still bring them fish which they lay on the branches near them. The adults perch nearby. An interesting lesson in eagle survival. Worth a visit.

Directions to Keller Lake

From Highway 61 turn west at the first set of stoplights north of Highway 36, onto County Road C. Go west to the lake and turn south (left) at the T onto Keller Lake Parkway. Follow the Parkway to a stop sign and go left and park in the Spoon Lake fishing area parking lot. Walk east fifty yards along the lakeshore to the viewing station.

Duke's 2008 Summer Programs at the Stevens House
Free Programs

Sunday, June 22, 2 p.m. – Duke Addicks, storyteller, tells the story of Grey Cloud, Woman of Power (1765 to 1844), as told by her husband, Scottish-born fur trader James Aird.

Sunday, July 20, 2 p.m. - Duke Addicks tells of Necohundah, the Eagle Catcher, who was born in 1765 in his father’s planting village located almost exactly on the Stevens House original site. Facing challenges and dangers, and not accepted by the other boys, he gained their respect and become the most powerful Dakota Chief in the Upper Mississippi Region.

Sunday, August 17, 2 p.m.- The Love Flute: Mr. Addicks portrays fur trader James Aird and plays 250-year-old tunes on the Native American flute and tells stories of the important role of music in the lives of the Indians.

Program at Arcola Mills
Six miles north of Stillwater, Minn.

Arcola Mills, a retreat and education center, attracts local, national, and international participants with educational offerings melding history, the arts, preservation of the environment, and the life of the spirit.

Sunday, August 3, 2008
1 to 3 p.m.
STORYTELLER: DUKE ADDICKS
MUSIC: NITA GILBERT & MARY DUNCAN
Cost $15
Tickets may be purchased at the door

Visit the Arcola Mills website
for more programs and information.

Duke Addicks' powerful storytelling presentations have fascinated hundreds of audiences of adults and older children. Duke portrays Scottish-born fur trader James Aird who tells stories about his own Mississippi River adventures and those of his wife, Grey Cloud, and other historical personages of the fur-trading era.

Duke will also play a variety of Native American flutes as part of his presentation.

DIRECTIONS: If you're headed north from Stillwater on Hwy. 95, turn right (east) on Arcola Trail 5.5 beyond the intersection of Hwys. 95 & 96. (Disregard the first "Arcola Trail" roadsign at the 2-mile mark to avoid slower residential road).

If you're headed south on Hwy. 95 from Marine-On-St. Croix, turn left (east) on Arcola Trail roughly 4.5 miles south of Marine. Once on Arcola Trail, head straight toward the river just .2 miles to our gates. Arcola Mills sign is on the right side of gate.

Wear your sturdy shoes, bring bug repellent, and walk back in time to the various sites of the Ancient American Indian Villages at the mouth of Nine Mile Creek. Learn the human and natural history of this ancient place which has been inhabited for at least 8,000 years and was in historic times the summer planting village of the Mdewakantonwan Chiefs Penichon,The Dauntless, and Good Road. The Wabasha, Black Dog and Red Wing made their summer homes here for awhile as well. Find out how the Indians lived and listen to some of their stories. As the Full Moon rises, courting songs like those heard here many years ago will be played on an eagle-effigy cedar flute by Refuge Naturalist and Historian (and Chief Justice and Storyteller for the Three Rivers Indian Community) Duke Addicks.

At the Bloomington Ferry Unit
(take Bloomington Ferry Road south to the river)
For more information (952) 854-5900

Harvest Moon Bike Ride by the River
Thursday, September 16, 2008, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
(Moonrise will be at 7:38 p.m.; Sunset at 7:21 p.m.)

Meet at the Bloomington Ferry parking lot. From Old Shakopee Road, go south on Bloomington Ferry Road then right onto Bloomington Ferry Circle.

Bring your bike, helmet, and binoculars. Watch and listen for wildlife especially great horned owls, as we ride the paved trail through the prairie along the river on the edge of the floodplain forest and then take a short walk to Rice Lake where Chief Eagle Head had his summer village. Learn about the wildlife we will observe and listen to stories about the Indians, fur traders and early settlers in the area. Return under the almost-full moon. The ride will be about 4 miles round trip. A serenade to the full moon will be played on an American Indian cedar flute. Led by Refuge Historian and Naturalist Duke Addicks.

Great Horned Owl Moon Minnesota River Walk
Saturday, December 13, 2008, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
(Moonrise is at 5:36 p.m. and Sunset at 4:42 p.m.)

Explore under the full moon the human and natural history of the Minnesota River at a unique historic site where wildlife abounds. Listen and watch for great horned owls who are establishing their nesting territory. For eight thousand years, this location was a major river crossing for the American Indians. Later the Bloomington Ferry crossed the river here and eventually a bridge was built. View the wildlife along the shore and through prairie and floodplain forests. Learn who the American Indians were who lived here for 8,000 years and listen to some of their legends. Discover who the explorers, fur traders, steamboat operators, ferry operators and early pioneers were in this area.

At the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
3815 East 80th St., Bloomington, Minn. 55425
Go south from I-394 on 34th, then left on 80th.
Call (952) 858-0740 for reservations. No fee.

Eagle Watching in the Twin Cities Area
Visitor Center and Black Dog Lake Unit
Sunday, November 2, 2008, from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

The American Bald Eagle has made a comeback. Many pairs now nest in and near the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area and many hundreds more come here to spend the winter. Refuge Naturalist and eagle expert Duke Addicks will tell us all about eagles, including why they are here, how they survive and where the many locations are where they can best be observed (including the refuge itself.) Duke, a storyteller for the Three Rivers Indian Community, will also tell an American Indian eagle tale or two. Information about the upcoming Eagle Watching Van Tours will also be given. Then Duke will lead those interested who will take their own cars and drive to the Black Dog Unit of the Refuge to observe wild Bald Eagles along the Minnesota River.

Don't Forget Zeb Pike Cruises
Saturday, September 20, 2008
2 p.m.
Departs from the Port of Prairie du Chien, Wis., Lawler Park.

This special fall foliage cruise event is a must for river and history buffs. Storyteller Duke Addicks is a respected river historian and conveyor of river tales. With his stories, Duke has enthralled countless numbers of river enthusiasts of all ages!!!

Cruise the Mississippi on board the Mississippi Explorer beneath Iowa's Pike's Peak State Park while listening to Duke tell the true story of this extraordinary young hero of the Upper Mississippi. In 1805-1806, Pike was sent to search for the source of the Mississippi, to establish a site for a new fort in the Northwest frontier and to establish peace between the Native American tribes. By the time he was made a brigadier general in 1813 at age 34 (the youngest brigadier general in history), Pike had become a national hero and was so highly regarded as a military leader and explorer that, had he not met an untimely death, he likely would have become one of our nation's Presidents. Duke will play his highland bagpipes (used by Scottish fur traders) to pipe you onboard this very special cruise!!

Reservations are advised, contact the Mississippi Explorer at (563) 586-4444.