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birdfeeding

The week before last, I was on my way over to the lake, and I saw a bald eagle. They're around, here in SE Wisconsin, but I don't see them very often. Not even once a year. Then last week, on my way out of Milwaukee, I saw one over the freeway. That was a surprise.

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From:

ysabetwordsmith

That's so exciting! :D

Milwaukee is on the lake. Bald eagles are not obligate waterfowl, but they do strongly prefer waterfront territory if they can get it because they love fishing. If you want to watch for more, check your local map for parks or wilderness areas with lakefront or river access and try there.

Bald eagles have been returning to the Midwest over the last 5-10 years. When I was younger, I only ever saw them at the Mississippi and even that was rare. Now I see them a few times a year. Most of those sightings are somewhat near large wildlife refuges and/or water. A couple times I've flushed them out of my own yard -- which has big old trees overlooking fields, an excellent hunting area for any large bird, and we have both a reservoir and some big parks in the county. Another place I've seen them is near a big marsh park farther north.

From:

low_delta

The first time I ever saw one in my county was right over the shore of L.Mich. The time two weeks ago was less than a mile away, and the one over the freeway was only a mile and a half from the Lake, but I just realized it was right near the Milwaukee River. A few years ago, it make our local small-town newspaper that the eagles were nesting on the River in our country.

When I was younger, I only ever saw them at the Mississippi and even that was rare.
Same

Edited Date: 2025-11-09 06:28 am (UTC)

From:

signoftea

How cool! I'm sure bald eagles are an impressive sight.
I saw an eagle (not a bald eagle) for the first time in my life this year. It was sitting on a tree near a lake.

From:

ysabetwordsmith

>>How cool! I'm sure bald eagles are an impressive sight.<<

Very much so. You have to be fairly close or at just the right angle to see the white. So it's fairly common to see a big, dark-looking bird that you're not sure yet what it is -- then as it turns, the angle of light changes enough to flash the head and tail lights, which can be dramatic and exciting.

>>I saw an eagle (not a bald eagle) for the first time in my life this year. It was sitting on a tree near a lake.<<

Yay! Golden eagles look much like bald eagles, minus the white. But young bald eagles look almost identical to goldens because it takes several years for the head and tail to bleach out.