Megan's Nature Nook
Nature Notes, Phenology, Photography, Fun Facts, Trips, Maybe Even a Bad Joke or Two... and More!
Bald Eagles are one of our hearty birds who stay around for the winter despite Minnesota’s freezing temperatures. Although they are not making a long migratory trek down south to warmer weather, some do make a short migration once lakes and rivers in their breeding grounds freeze over. Some migrate to South East Minnesota along the Mississippi River, while others may migrate to southeastern states. The eagles often don’t have to migrate very far, and end up spending their winter wherever they can find open water. Fish make up a large portion of the eagles’ diet so an open water source is on their “must have” list when looking for a winter residence. Because we are in Minnesota, in the winter there aren’t very many options for the eagles to choose from, resulting in a large congregation of eagles at these open water locations. Colvill Park in Red Wing, Minnesota is one of these places where eagles tend to congregate in the winter. The steam plant releases warm water into the river, causing the river not to fully freeze. Often times the protected bay doesn’t freeze, making it the perfect spot for eagles to hang out. Lots of trees for perching/roosting + open water for catching their meals = great wintering spot. On New Year’s Day, we went to see if any eagles were at the park. I have gone down to Colvill Park previous years and would see a dozen or more, and at the most 20-30 eagles at a time. This year however was a little different; we saw over 200 eagles! It was an amazing sight to see! If you’re in the area, or want to make a trip out of it, this is a great time to check out the eagles! I had never seen this many together in my life! We stayed and watched for quite a while. It was fun to see them soaring around, and we even got to see one catch a fish! There were also some ducks and swans hanging around that were fun to watch, too. If you visit, be sure to bring binoculars or a spotting scope, and a camera. The mature adults are fairly easy to spot because of their white heads, but the immature birds, which are mostly dark brown, tend to blend in more and binoculars will help you spot them. Bundle up if you decide to observe from outside of your car, and if you do stay in the car, make sure you open the window or step out for a little bit to hear the birds calling. On our way home, we stopped at Bay Point Park to see if there were any eagles there. We saw about a dozen, perched in trees and floating down the river on large ice sheets. The National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota is also a great place to visit to see eagles, especially in the winter. They have exhibits, educational programs with live eagles, and a viewing area to watch the wild eagles near the river. If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, come on down to Red Wing and see how many eagles you can spot! Then stop at Hanisch Bakery for a tasty treat! Covill Park is located East of Red Wing along highway 61 Bay Point Park is located along the Mississippi near downtown Red Wing Really, if you're in Red Wing, you should stop at Hanisch Bakery! They have delicious donuts, cookies, cakes, breads, coffees, sandwiches, paninis, and more! Find them at 410 W 3rd St in Red Wing. You won't regret it.
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