The weather cooperated, overall, with the Carbon County Environmental Education Center’s planned Eagles Rally on Saturday.

They moved the event up to 4 p.m. due to the winter storm forecast for Saturday night. Approximately 80 people filled the center’s meeting room, at the center in Summit Hill.

The center held the rally to celebrate the Philadelphia Eagles playing in Super Bowl LIX; but also, to raise awareness of the bald eagle.

“No matter how divided we are as a country; football unites us, the birds unite us, and eagles unite us,” CCEEC head naturalist Susan Gallagher said.

Franklin Klock held the event along with Rennie, one of the center’s two resident eagles. Because of wing injuries incurred when she was hit by a car in 2001, Rennie cannot fly and therefore is a permanent resident at the center.

Klock explained that he became an eagle handler for the center by default. Fred Wallace, a master falconer, had been handling the eagles for the center when he passed away during an eagle presentation.

Eagles tend to be a one-person bird, Klock said.

“I said to Rennie, there’s no one else here to handle you, so I’m going to have to be your guy from now on,” Klock related. After some training, Klock became the handler for the center’s two eagles: Rennie, a bald eagle, and Miss Charles, a golden eagle.

Men, women and children were thrilled to see Rennie. Natalie Revord and her son, Henry, were visiting relatives and decided to attend.

“We’re from Washington, D.C.,” Revord explained. “My grandmother lives in Nesquehoning.”

The Carbon County Environmental Education Center holds a variety of nature programs, art programs, and more to help people understand nature better. Visit www.carboneec.org for more information.