It's eagle watching time in Wisconsin. If you love eagles, then you love Wisconsin in winter. Eagles are not common in Milwaukee in winter, but have been spotted in the harbor and along the open rivers. If you want a pert' near guarntee of seeing masses of eagles, head to the noted sites listed below. Eagles descend from the wild north to find open water near dams where fishing is fruitful. Visitors along dammed rivers often see hundreds at a time. Enjoy small-town hospitality in Alma, Casseville, Prairie Du Chien and Ferryville. You can visit anytime this winter, but these planned events include festivities for the entire family.
Alma Eagles on Ice, January 21
Watch bald eagles sitting on the ice near Lock and Dam #4 on the Mississippi River from the 50-foot viewing deck of the Wings Over Alma Nature & Art Center. Enjoy eagle trivia and an eagle art exhibit and artists' reception.
Bald Eagle Days, Cassville, January 28 - 29
Knowledgeable volunteers assist birders in locating eagles at the Wildlife Observation Deck at Cassville’s Riverside Park. Education programs are set for Saturday, including a live raptor show and a live cougar show.
Bald Eagle Appreciation Day, Prairie du Chien, February 25
The event includes live bald eagle and raptor programs, various birding and nature exhibits and displays, birding experts on hand, outdoor viewing of bald eagles through spotting scopes, life-size bald eagle nest, and activities for children.
Bald Eagle Watching Day, Ferryville, March 3
Bald Eagle programs, falcon, raptor and owl programs featuring birds of the Univeristy of MN Raptor Center. Chloris Lowe, Ho-chunk Nation program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife education about eagles of the region, children's activities, refreshments, student eagle art exhibit.
According to the DNR:
Bald eagles' recovery nationwide has its roots in Wisconsin. Unlimited shooting and habitat destruction in the early days of Wisconsin statehood led to declining bald eagle numbers, and organochlorine pesticides like DDT accelerated the problem. DDT, which was extensively used on farms and forests during the 1950s and 1960s, caused eagle egg shells to thin and break, resulting in few eaglets hatching. Wisconsin's groundbreaking 1969 hearings on DDT resulted in DNR ruling that the chemical was an environmental pollutant. That put the pressure on nationally and help force a national ban starting in 1972 on DDT. Wisconsin also helped spark the national recovery by supplying eaglets to other states. Since 1975, we've sent 215 eaglets to 10 other states. Wisconsin eagles have been released near the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. and in a Hudson River valley park in New York City.
Learn more about the current distribution and status of the eagle on the Bureau of Endangered Resources Bald Eagle web page.
Comments