Summer Eagles 2021
My wife and I took two short trips in June-July 2021 to the Trempealeau, Wisconsin area along the Mississippi in search of nesting eagles to photograph. The first place we stopped was at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. (where Grumpy Old Men was filmed). A friendly worker there was kind enough to give us a list of places where eagle nests had been spotted in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
One of the locations was on Badland Road, Alma, Wisconsin and our first attempt at spotting a nest was unsuccessful. But my wife soon alerted me that she saw an eagle in a tree some distance from us. (I should tell you that my wife can spot a gravy stain on my polo shirt from a distance of 50 yards, so I trusted that she saw an eagle.)
Not a good photo because of the distance.
In short order, we heard the distinct screeching cry of an eagle and saw it landing in a tree within a few yards of us.
It was obvious that this great bird was warning us that we were in its territory, probably near its nest, although we never did see it. Luckily, I speak Eagle, having taken an elective course at the John Denver School of Bird Conversation. In no time, we agreed to leave the area without disturbing the nest (which we never did locate).
So the eagle happily went on its way without removing one of my eyes.
We then traveled on to the Village of Trempealeau, Wisconsin with no specific location in mind, but little did I know we would find the best eagle sighting ever. Some local residents told us of a nearby house where a pair of eagles returned to their nest almost every year. The nest was in a tree in a resident's back yard, and these are the photos I took.
The adult and its eaglet presented me with the best photo op I ever had of a Bald Eagle and its young, albeit a very unattractive youngster.
We waited for some time in case the second adult returned with a fish, but to no avail and we left that day to return home.
A little over three weeks later, we returned to Trempealeau to see how our eagles were doing. As we approached the nest we were surprised by an adult eagle leaving the nest with a fish in its talons, apparently surprised by our presence.
That eagle did not return with the fish, and I assume that he ate it without sharing. (Like I am with a gift of dark chocolate.)
As I looked into the nest I was surprised to see two eaglets, considerably larger that the one I saw in June. I was able to get these photos of the two.
Just before we were preparing to leave, I took this photo of the adult eagle returning to the nest.
It circled around a few times and then landed in a nearby tree where it could keep an eye on its two eaglets.
