Bald Eagle's in the Midwest during Winter

OBSERVING BALD EAGLES IN THE MIDWEST DURING WINTER

**Check the LRC for reference on eagles. A good one is: Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey by Arthur Cleveland Bent**

1.    Eagles can be observed in the Midwest during the winter—usually mid-December through early-March. If the weather is mild this period is shorter, if severe then longer.

2.    Eagles receive the following during the winter:

     a.    Good food supply—fish. This mean that they are found along major rivers, just below dams where the water is not frozen and they can “fish.”

     b.    Protected night roasting area. This means that a short distance from their fishing ground an area must be present with large trees and often a geologically shaped bowl area. These 2 items five protection from the winter elements.

3.    Bald eagles are endangered. Figures vary but only several thousand eagles now exist in the continental U.S. A large portion, probably several hundred can be found near us, in the Midwest during the winter. During the winter, in the Midwest, we are very fortunate to be able to observe this majestic bird / endangered bird in our area.

4.    Equipment: warm clothing, binoculars / spotting scope, camera (film ASA 200o or 400, usually telephoto lens). It will be COLD—since you will be observing in open, windy areas near water.

5.    The following locations are a fairly complete list of spots where I have observed eagles during the winter over the past 5 seasons. (* = especially good areas) (eagles migrate +\ where they are; one year may be different than the next) (*best viewing times at the river are: 9-11 fish, 11-2 in trees, 2-4 fish, after 4 return to nest)

      a.    ** Eagle Valley—Glen Haven, Wisconsin (phone: 630-794-2373)

      b.    Prairie Du Chen, Wisconsin—from atop Effigy Mounds National Monument in

      c.    DuBugue, Iowa

      d.    * Belleville, Iowa—look to the Illinois side

      e.    ** Hampton, Illinois—Illini State Park (just south of nuclear power plant, Cordova)

      f.     ** Moline, Illinois—Rock Island, Illinois à our eagle island (observe from parking lot on Davenport, Iowa side)

      g.    *** Keakuk, Iowa—Warsaw, Illinois / Hamilton, Illinois (WIU field station)

      h.    Along Mississippi River south à south top of Illinois

      i.      Sometimes along Illinois River

      j.      Starved Rock

GOOGLE INTERACTIVE MAP