Left, Marge Gibson, REGI director, prepares to release a rehabilitated bald eagle at Prairie du Sac in January 2003. Notice how she's grasping the bird's feet. Those talons are the business end of an eagle and can do serious damage. Eagles use them to grab and kill their prey. The beak is used to tear meat from the bone.
Minutes later, Marge releases the bald eagle, above right. Sam won a Wisconsin PTA statewide photo award in 2005 for this shot.
Minutes later, Marge releases the bald eagle, above right. Sam won a Wisconsin PTA statewide photo award in 2005 for this shot.
Eagle Watch
Sam and Aaron zero in on eagles across a canal in Rock Island, Ill. in Jan. 2005. They're using spotting scopes supplied by our tour guide, Bob Motz. Reach him for tour info at eaglemotz@aol.com.
This youngster (above) had been injured. He was brought to the Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI), of Antigo, WI for care. It was released at Prairie du Sac in 2004. Below, Sam gives the eagle a goodbye pet and a Native American gives a blessing before the release.
Sam watches eagles above Wisconsin River bluffs, Prairie du Sac, January 2003.
This immature bald eagle doesn't want to hang around anymore. He was "baiting," or flapping his wings while held, and ended up like this. The handler, from REGI, later helped the bird right itself.
See a series of photos of this bird being released, below.
A REGI assistant releases an immature bald eagle along the banks of the Wisconsin River in Prairie du Sac in January 2004.
More about eagles....
You can view the website of the Raptor Education Group, Inc., in Antigo, WI by clicking here *
Bob Motz leads eagle tours in Rock Island, IL for a fee. Reach him by at 308-788-8389 or by email by clicking here *
Eagle websites are abundant. Try entering "eagle watching" or "eagle information" or "eagle research" in a search engine. Add the name of your state to narrow the choices.
You can view the website of the Raptor Education Group, Inc., in Antigo, WI by clicking here *
Bob Motz leads eagle tours in Rock Island, IL for a fee. Reach him by at 308-788-8389 or by email by clicking here *
Eagle websites are abundant. Try entering "eagle watching" or "eagle information" or "eagle research" in a search engine. Add the name of your state to narrow the choices.
An immature bald eagle (above) is caught in the light from sunset while perched near the Mississippi River in Rock Island, IL. Bald eagle living at the Mackenzie Environmental Center, Poynette, WI (below).
'You wonder what your life would have been like if you had never seen one. It certainly is something you'll never forget.'
Searching for, then spotting, a bald eagle for the first time involves your whole body: the eyes will widen, a finger will point and a feeling will spread in your chest to let you know you've just located something magnificent.
And these birds are magnificent to watch as they cruise on thermals -- warm, rising bursts of air -- and search for food. They also watch for prey while perching in trees, such as the ones to the left and the right. The one on the left is an immature bird. The other is a more-recognizable adult, whose white head and white tail feathers grow about age 4 or 5.
While eagles can be seen year-round now in parts of Wisconsin, the best chance of seeing them is during winter, when freezing temperatures cause rivers to ice over except in spots next to dams or other obstructions. Open water there allows eagles to perform their version of ice fishing. The eagles congregate around these few spots, increasing the chances that you'll see them.
During one of our eagle watch weekends, we decided to get up early one Sunday because eagles eat an early breakfast. We climbed
out of the warm motel beds at 6 am, hopped into our car and were at the nearby dam by 7 am. The temperature outdoors was 7 degrees.
Eagles are a success story, coming back from the brink of extinction. People have pushed them toward that edge, mainly because of the pesticide DDT. It softened eggshells of eagles, as well as other raptors, often causing the parents to crush their own unborn offspring. DDT is now banned in the U.S.
Bald eagles' numbers have grown and, at least in our state, Wisconsin, the birds are doing well. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported in late April 2006 that a pair of eagles built a nest three miles north of that city, in Mequon. This was the first time in 100 years that a pair attempted to nest in southeast Wisconsin.
Mequon residents seeing the birds for the first time probably were pleasantly taken aback, says Sam. After the shock comes gratitude.
"You wonder what your life would have been like if you had never seen one," he says. "It might not change the rest of your life, but it certainly is something you'll never forget."
Searching for, then spotting, a bald eagle for the first time involves your whole body: the eyes will widen, a finger will point and a feeling will spread in your chest to let you know you've just located something magnificent.
And these birds are magnificent to watch as they cruise on thermals -- warm, rising bursts of air -- and search for food. They also watch for prey while perching in trees, such as the ones to the left and the right. The one on the left is an immature bird. The other is a more-recognizable adult, whose white head and white tail feathers grow about age 4 or 5.
While eagles can be seen year-round now in parts of Wisconsin, the best chance of seeing them is during winter, when freezing temperatures cause rivers to ice over except in spots next to dams or other obstructions. Open water there allows eagles to perform their version of ice fishing. The eagles congregate around these few spots, increasing the chances that you'll see them.
During one of our eagle watch weekends, we decided to get up early one Sunday because eagles eat an early breakfast. We climbed
out of the warm motel beds at 6 am, hopped into our car and were at the nearby dam by 7 am. The temperature outdoors was 7 degrees.
Eagles are a success story, coming back from the brink of extinction. People have pushed them toward that edge, mainly because of the pesticide DDT. It softened eggshells of eagles, as well as other raptors, often causing the parents to crush their own unborn offspring. DDT is now banned in the U.S.
Bald eagles' numbers have grown and, at least in our state, Wisconsin, the birds are doing well. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported in late April 2006 that a pair of eagles built a nest three miles north of that city, in Mequon. This was the first time in 100 years that a pair attempted to nest in southeast Wisconsin.
Mequon residents seeing the birds for the first time probably were pleasantly taken aback, says Sam. After the shock comes gratitude.
"You wonder what your life would have been like if you had never seen one," he says. "It might not change the rest of your life, but it certainly is something you'll never forget."
Treat & Release
Nursing an injured eagle back to health so it can be returned to the wild
Nursing an injured eagle back to health so it can be returned to the wild
1. Try to seek out eagles after a few weeks of freezing weather to increase your chances of seeing many of them around open water.
2. Wear warm clothing, and use those hand-warmer packets for fingers as well as feet.
3. Use binoculars, spotting scopes or long camera lenses. If eagles are dotting trees across the river, you can see them if you look
2. Wear warm clothing, and use those hand-warmer packets for fingers as well as feet.
3. Use binoculars, spotting scopes or long camera lenses. If eagles are dotting trees across the river, you can see them if you look
TIPS FOR EAGLE WATCHING
hard -- they're the things that look like chunks of black licorice with a touch of white frosting. But some type of glass to bring you closer is more satisfying.
4. Don't get too close physically. Eagles and other birds have a difficult time as it is maintaining enough energy during the winter without burning more to get away from us. Heed signs requesting you stay in your car.
4. Don't get too close physically. Eagles and other birds have a difficult time as it is maintaining enough energy during the winter without burning more to get away from us. Heed signs requesting you stay in your car.
Want to see something completely different? Click here * to go to our ComedySportz photo pages.
Aaron takes a break from photographing eagles.
