A Wisconsin Eagle Tour!

The upper Mississippi River is rich in bald eagles. The tall trees that line the river offer places to nest and the river offers fish and attracts small mammals, both great food sources for these majestic birds. The spring migration brings a rush of bald eagles along the Wisconsin Great River Road and as the warmer weather breaks the ice, bald eagle viewing is at its peak. Many eagles decide to stay and build their nest along the Mississippi. Eaglets hatch at the end of March or early April and can take up to 4 years to gain their signature white head plumage. If you see a large, dark bird that looks kind of like an eagle, it’s very likely you’re seeing a juvenile bald eagle.

Photo Courtesy of Wisconsin Great River Road

Prairie du Chien

Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin has great eagle viewing year around and even has five eagles’ nests that are in easily viewable areas. Three of them are along the Ambro Slough, and in case you’re wondering, a slough (pronounced ‘sloo’) is a side channel of the river. You can get directions on where to drive for the best eagle nest viewing spots on the Chamber’s website. The birds are most active between about an hour after sunrise until around 3:00 pm. Be sure to stop at the Wisconsin Welcome Center, they have a mounted scope around back for eagle viewing.

Image by Frank Wittkowski

Onalaska

The Upper Mississippi US Fish and Wildlife Refuge has a visitor center in Onalaska, Wisconsin. There are many mated pairs of eagles throughout the refuge, and from March through October they can be seen teaching their young ones how to hunt and fish. The Onalaska visitor center is handicap accessible with paved, flat, trails that will take you from the center to a river overlook. The visitor center itself has nature displays and interactive exhibits about the wildlife in the region.

Image by Jan Temmel

Prescott

Prescott, Wisconsin is home to the Great River Road Visitor and Learning Center. If you want to see a life-sized eagle’s nest up close, this is the place to do it. The center is located on the confluence of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers and you are likely to see eagles soaring in the wind currents. The park sits atop a bluff overlooking the rivers and the view is breathtaking. Stop in the center to learn more about the area or just sit on a bench and watch the river, the boats, and the birds below.

Photo by Melanie Pongratz

Audio Tour

When traveling the Wisconsin Great River Road there’s a lot of great local stops and fun activities you don’t want to miss. Check out the audio tour archive and pick the town you’re visiting to learn about the area’s history and the top stops.