Minnesota Eagles

Its white head and tail stand out against the blue sky, its dark wings outstretched in a seven-foot span, as the bald eagle glides gracefully far overhead. It's exciting to see a bald eagle in flight. And in much of Minnesota, the sight is not as rare as it once was.
This majestic bird faced extinction just a few decades ago. But with federal protection since 1972 and bald eagle management programs, eagle populations have taken flight in Minnesota. The state is now home to about 700 nesting pairs during the summer, the largest population in the country outside of Alaska.

Photo courtesy of Explore Minnesota Tourism.
Fun eagle facts: Bald eagles mate for life and often return to the same nest year after year. The nests are very large, 5-8 feet across, usually placed near the top of tall red or white pines or aspen. Eagles typically lay two eggs, usually in March, and parents take turns incubating the eggs. Young eagles begin to fly in late June or early July, and leave the nest about a month later. Since fish are their primary food, eagles nest near lakes and rivers. The bald eagle was chosen as our nation's symbol in 1782, narrowly beating out the wild turkey. It’s hard to imagine that instead of a “Gold Eagle” coin…we could have had a “Grey Gobbler”.
Where they are: The Chippewa National Forest is north central Minnesota is a prime nesting area, with about 180 nesting pairs. Some good viewing areas are Federal Dam at Leech Lake, Winnie Dam at the east end of Lake Winnibigoshish, the Knutson Dam near Cass Lake, and the Mississippi River along Highway 2 between Cass Lake and Deer River. The Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge near Detroit Lakes is also an excellent area for viewing eagles.
In northeastern Minnesota, there are bald eagles at Voyageurs National Park, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Bear Head Lake State Park near Ely, Lake Vermilion, and Trout Lake near Coleraine.
Eagles have increasingly moved into southern Minnesota, as well, along the St. Croix River between Taylors Falls and Stillwater; along the Mississippi River, even in the Twin Cities area; and along the Minnesota River, as far west as the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area. The Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Elk River also has nesting pairs.
For an up-close view, visit the storefront National Eagle Center in Wabasha, about 75 miles southeast of St. Paul along the Mississippi River. This small interpretive center is home to three resident bald eagles; due to previous injuries, they can no longer live in the wild.
Observing bald eagles: In the areas mentioned above, bald eagles may be observed from shore or even while driving in cars, but a good way of spotting one is from a boat, especially on some of the larger northern lakes. Watch for them flying overhead, dropping to the water to pluck out a fish, or perching in the branches of a tall tree along the bank of a river or lake. Early morning and evening are the best viewing times.
If you are fortunate enough to spot a nest, do not go near it! Human encroachment can cause eagles to abandon their nests. From a distance, watch the eagles through binoculars or a spotting scope or a telescopic lens on your camera.
 

Posted by: cjjohnso on July 01, 2009 at 9:12 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink