Living in the heart of Driftless Wisconsin, it’s easy to take majestic scenery for granted. The soaring bluffs dusted in snow and the icy Mississippi River become the sites of every day life. However, it’s good to be reminded of how extraordinary our area truly is. We recently had visitors from Milwaukee and they were glued to our windows overlooking the Mississippi River. The children were completely captivated by a pair of bald eagles fishing. The eagles were sitting on the ice at the edge of open water. Their patience was rewarded as one eagle scooped a fish and swiftly carried it off in its talons, still flopping.
In the winter, we see bald eagles literally every day while driving the Great River Road (HWY 35) between Stoddard and Prairie du Chien. You can find them perched in trees, soaring overhead, sitting on the ice, or in their nests. Two eagle nests can be easily viewed right from HWY 35. One nest is in the wetland area south of Stoddard (on the right if you are driving north) and the other is newly built this year (you can still watch the eagles working on it). Located across from Buck Creek road, this nest is on the river side just south of Ferryville. Eagles typically lay their eggs in February, so they are busy building and repairing the nests in January.
Of course, we have many more birds than eagles. The topography and vegetation of the Driftless Wisconsin area and the proximity to the Mississippi River Flyway combines for unparalleled year round bird watching. Local birding enthusiast Joanne White of Ferryville told me that in addition to eagles, at this time of year we can expect to see a variety of hawks, cardinals, blue jays, wood peckers and juncos (who winter here coming south from Canada). The Kickapoo Valley Reserve in La Farge has 8,600 acres of forest, wetland, and grassland and is open all year for birding watchers. Winter species sited at the KVR include the Golden Eagle, with occasional reports of Northern Goshawk and rare sightings of Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, and Bohemian Waxwing. A complete list of bird can be found on the KVR website.
A number of our local communities including De Soto, Prairie du Chien and Ferryville are designated Wisconsin Bird Cities. A Bird City is a community who educates its citizens about birds while implementing sound conservation practices. There is an emphasis on preserving bird habitat, and holding fun and educational events that are centered around birds.
If you want to get up close and personal with eagles and other birds without braving the winter weather we have a number of upcoming events:
Prairie du Chien Bald Eagle Appreciation Days February 26-27, 2016: Birding programs will be held at the AmericInn and Country Inn & Suites Friday evening. Saturday’s activities include: Live bald eagle and raptor programs (featuring six raptors from the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center), new birding and nature educational exhibits & displays, outdoor viewing of bald eagles through spotting scopes, life-sized bald eagle nest, and numerous activities for children. Saturday’s programs & activities will be held at Hoffman Hall, 1600 S Wacouta Ave, Prairie du Chien from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. All programs are free and open to the public Friday evening and Saturday.
Ferryville Eagle Day Saturday, March 5, 2016. 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Ferryville Village Hall/Community Center. This free event features a live raptor program with a bald eagle, falcon, owls and other raptors from the University of MN Raptor Center. Chloris Lowe has a Ho-chunk Nation program, and there is a U.S. Fish & Wildlife program about eagles in the region. There are children’s activities, including crafts, and a hooting contest with awards. Dr. Michael White leads kids in building a life-size eagle nest. There are refreshments, student eagle art, and awards.
Our family has attended eagle events (my son even won the hooting contest in his age group) and they are fun and educational for all ages. Seeing these birds up close helps remind us to not take nature for granted—even what is right outside the window.