Science & Nature
Eagle Watching Events Kick Off This Weekend as the Nation’s Bird Makes Itself at Home in Illinois for the Winter
Bald eagles flock to Illinois in the winter to take advantage of open-water fishing. (Wirestock / iStock)
Here’s at least one reason to cheer on winter: The bald eagles are back.
More than 3,000 bald eagles — now officially the national bird — make their home in Illinois during the coldest months of the year, the largest population of wintering bald eagles in the continental U.S., according to state wildlife officials.
While the birds can be spotted hanging out to fish near major waterways across the state, Will County has become a hot spot of eagle activity.
The county is not only a popular draw for visiting eagles, it’s also home to a number of year-round residents, including multiple breeding pairs.
On Saturday, the Forest Preserve District of Will County will celebrate the birds during its annual Eagle Watch event at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Four Rivers is ideally located at the convergence of the DuPage, Kankakee and Des Plaines rivers, where they join to form the Illinois River.
“The Des Plaines River is so large, deep and active with barge traffic, the water is always flowing, even when other rivers are freezing over,” Jess McQuown, a program coordinator at Four Rivers, said in a statement. “Bald eagles have a diet of primarily fish, so they travel to where the water is open. Locally, that’s Four Rivers.”
Eagle Watch activities include guided hikes, indoor presentations, a scavenger hunt and family crafts. Admission is free and no registration is required. Click here for the complete schedule.
Starved Rock State Park is holding its annual Eagle Watch Weekend Jan. 25-26, and additional special events are scheduled across the state throughout January and February, the majority of them at points along the Mississippi River.
For those who prefer to explore on their own, there are plenty of places to go looking for eagles. The open waters of the Illinois, Des Plaines, Fox and DuPage rivers are all great bets, and the raptors have even been spotted along the Chicago River. Locks and dams also tend to draw crowds of the birds because of the easy fishing.
Contact Patty Wetli: @pattywetli | (773) 509-5623 | [email protected]
