If you enjoy watching Bald Eagles, visiting the Prairie du Chien area is a must! Prairie du Chien is along the migration route and, is a normal wintering area for these birds in the Mississippi River valley.
Bald
Eagle Appreciation Day - February 28, 2009
Held on the grounds of the Prairie du Chien Regional
Tourism Center/Prairie du Chien Chamber, 211 S Main, Prairie du
Chien, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Live Bald Eagle programs and exhibits, birding
experts on hand, outdoor viewing of Bald Eagles through spotting
scopes, life-size Bald Eagle nest, activities for children, mini
field trips to other viewing locations, sponsored by Effigy Mounds
National Monument, Audubon Society, Wisconsin and Iowa DNR, Fish
& Wildlife Service, and the Prairie du Chien Chamber of
Commerce/ Tourism Council, 800 732-1673.
Bald Eagle Report
 If you would
like to report Bald Eagle activities in the area, email your report
to this web site or contact the Chamber of Commerce office,
1-800-732-1673.
March
18, 2009: Returned from a great Florida birding
trip late last night. So out early this morning to
check on local birds, especially migrating eagles.
Along the riverfront in Prairie du Chien there were 20
Bald Eagles flying over and in trees along the river and
sloughs. However, at Gremore Lake there were just short of
200 eagles on the ice, flying over, and in the trees
around the lake and along Ambro Slough. To get to
the Gremore Lake area go north of Prairie du Chien from
the Regional Visitor Center on Main St/CTH K about 4
miles. Take Ambro Road to the left and go around to the
west side of the lake. Eagles can be seen all around
the lake and as you drive north. Watch for them
flying over and in tree lines. If you continue north on
CTH from Ambro Road you come out on STH 35. Turn
south and you can go back to town. In an old Gazateer
go to page 32, D, 1. I probably missed the peak of
the migration flight while in Florida but there are still
a lot of eagles around.
Dennis and Alice Kirschbaum
Prairie du Chien, Wi
608-326-2718
March
5, 2009: Nest building activity for Bald Eagles
has started on local nests. There also seems to be a lot of
territory protection type chasing going on near eagle
nests. I am sure local nesting birds are chasing away
migrating eagles that just happen to come into their
territory. The migration
seems to have started also. Today from noon on until
about 3:30 p.m. eagles seemed to be in the air at all times.
All were flying or soaring towards the north and generally
headed upriver. With the southeast wind most were
flying over Prairie du Chien. Early this morning a lot of
eagles were along the riverfront where there is open water.
Most probably roosted in nearby trees last night. Looking at the
10 day extended forcast there is little or no snow forcast
so the eagle migration may be in full force the next
two weeks. If there is a snow storm to the north of us
many of the eagles will stay in our area and will provide
good to excellent opportunity for viewing.
The main channel
of the Mississippi River is open in part but does have
some ice flows to the south. The Wisconsin River is
still ice covered from Bridgeport downstream to the
Mississippi River. Backwater lakes and sloughs are
still ice covered. Gremore Lake, north of Prairie du
Chien is ice covered and ice fishermen are still on the ice.
Garnet Lake, easily viewed from Pikes Peak State Park (Ia),
is partially open. Wed afternoon late, there were 27 eagles
on the edge of the ice near where two running water
sloughs enter the lake.
There are Common
Mergansers, scaup, Ruddy Ducks, and lots of Canada Geese in
the area also. One Trumpeter Swan is near the Villa
Louis Boat Landing. This landing and the Campion
Landing are also good places to watch for eagles.
Dennis and Alice
Kirschbaum
Prairie du Chien, Wi
608-326-2718
Eagle Habits
The Mississippi River valley is an ideal wintering habitat for the bald eagle. There is food, shelter, and a good source of lifting winds in this area. The bald eagle prefers fish and the river has an abundance of species for the eagle to catch or scavenge. Eagles will also go inland where food sources are available. Eagles need deep valleys to roost in at night for protection from wind and cold.
During the day they use perching trees near open water feeding areas for resting and searching for food. Large riverbank cottonwood and oak trees are ideal for this perch. Eagles spend much of their time  soaring over the river looking for food or moving from one area to another. As the cold air of the morning warms it lifts. The greatest lifting action occurs along the river bluffs. Eagles take advantage of this lifting action and can be seen soaring along the bluffs for hours utilizing this free wind. As long as there is open water on the river there will be eagles in the area.
Prairie du Chien Viewing Areas
A good spot for eagle viewing is between the Blackhawk Avenue and Washington Street bridges in Prairie du Chien. A large artesian well provides open water. Eagles will perch in trees along the slough. Check the trees along the Mississippi River shore near and across from Lawler Park on St. Feriole Island is another location of eagle activity. The park is west and north of the Blackhawk Avenue bridge. A mounted bird scope for viewing is available (located in back of building) at the Wisconsin Welcome Center/Prairie du Chien Area Chamber of Commerce building, 211 S. Main. Enroute to Prairie du Chien watch for eagles soaring or perching in trees in open field areas looking for food.
Tips For Viewing Eagles
You can spend the day or several days viewing eagles. You will need appropriate clothing and binoculars. A spotting scope is nice too. Eagle watching begins in the morning about an hour after sunrise. The birds are most active from then until about 3:00PM, feeding in open water areas. Birds can be seen soaring, perching in riverside trees, and sitting on the ice. By late afternoon the birds will be heading for the roost and will not be active unless you are on a flight path to the roost.
The best places to see eagles in the area include the Gordon's Bay boat landing and Lock and Dam #9, 10 miles north of Prairie du Chien. The boat landing is cleared of snow so eagle watchers can simply park near the ramp facing slightly upstream. Watch for eagles in the big cottonwoods along the Wisconsin shoreline, across the river in trees along the Iowa shoreline, and soaring overhead or over the open water caused by flowing water from the dam. Staying in your vehicle will provide you the best viewing as soaring eagles have been known to come very close to the boat landing with their feeding activity. Eagles will be seen flying and perched in trees along the river as you travel to and from this area from Prairie du Chien.
Other Eagle Viewing Sites
Effigy Mounds National Monument
Three miles north of Marquette, IA,
563-873-3491
Pikes Peak State Park
2.5 miles south of McGregor, IA on Hwy 340
563-873-2341
Wyalusing State Park
10 miles south of Prairie du Chien, WI
608-996-2261
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