RoadTripping With JT: Bald Eagle Watching Along The Great River Road
Hello My Road Tripping Friend!
Happy 2017!
Sometimes the best road trip is the one that is actually a day trip close to home. Living in the Gateway City, we have the awesome privilege of having Bald Eagles migrate into our region from the north during the winter months. Bald Eagles have been spotted in the area from November to March and lay their eggs in late February. With the land near the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois Rivers being their residence of choice, there are many opportunities to see these majestic birds, whether sitting in a nest, high in a tree or flying high above looking for something for dinner.
The Bald Eagle sitting in a tree along the Illinois River
Last week, my wife an I had an opportunity to be paparazzi with these local celebrities, trying to get that exclusive photo for our blog. We drove about an hour north of Saint Louis to Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois. The State Park has offered eagle watching tours for many years and is popular with locals and tourists. The tour includes informational videos about the life of the Bald Eagle and how they were brought back from near extinction. We did the same tour last year, so we didn’t need to watch the videos a second time, so we arrived in time for the actual tour. The group left from the visitor center in a convey, under the direction of the Park staff who have been tracking the Eagles where-abouts. Our convoy started with about fifteen cars, but by the end of the day, we were one of only three vehicles remaining. The tour begins at 8:30am and lasts until about 3:30pm, and includes a stop for lunch. The tour may have been too much for some people to do all day.
Depending on where the Bald Eagles have been spotted, the tour can include a ferry ride across the Illinois River (we took the Brussels Ferry), a stop off at the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge and through the towns of Brussels, Hardin and Kampsville before returning back to the visitor center. Last year, we saw several Bald Eagles but only from a far distance, so the binoculars didn’t do any good. We didn’t get any photos worth sharing. This year, we had a completely different experience. We saw fewer Bald Eagles, but they were sitting in trees near the river’s edge. We were able to drive right up to them in our vehicles and then under them, without flying off. I could get out of the Jeep and walk up to the tree and grab a photo of them, while JT would drive a little closer and then catch a view of there with the binoculars. The photo above is one my favorites from the day. Below are more.
A Bald Eagle from across the river bank
Sometimes you will see a Bald Eagle from across the river bank. Here we see one from the opposite side of the Illinois River. Even with a pair of binoculars and zoom on your camera, it is hard to get a good view of it.
Such a majestic bird
WOW!!
Our hope was to get at least one good photo of an Bald Eagle up close. Needless to say, these paparazzi were able to get several (hundred) good shots. Too many to share here. We went home happy.
ROAD TRIPPING TIPS FOR BALD EAGLE WATCHING
- Go with a group!
Unless you are an experienced bird watcher and are familiar with the area, I recommend that you look for an organized group or an event to enhance your experience. From the Chain of Rocks Bridge up to Pere Marquette State Park and beyond, you can find groups and towns that offer bus tours, educational programs and informational videos. While you will see many Bald Eagles flying along the Great River Road, your best bet to see one up close is to get off the main highway and take the back roads between the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. This area is very isolated and it is easy to get lost if you do not know how to get around. Plus, a guide can enhance the experience with eagle-watching stories and take you to out-of-the-way places that you would have overlooked if you were on your own. - Don’t forget the binoculars and the camera!
The Bald Eagle is a majestic bird and is an amazing sight to see. A good pair of binoculars are a must because they are difficult to see up close. They tend to fly off when humans are in close range or if dinner is close at hand. A pair of binoculars will help you see them even then them are far away. If you are fortunate enough to get close enough to see, you will want to photograph them. A good quality DSLR camera with a high zoom feature is essential because you will want a clear image and not just a black and white blob that you have imagine as an eagle. And a clear image of a Bald Eagle will impress your friends. - Be prepared for nothing!
Bald Eagle watching is a fun experience, but there is the unfortunate possibility that you will not see many (or any) eagles on your outing. One key factor is the weather. The warmer the winter is in general, the less you will see. When we went on the tour last year, the temperatures for the season had been above average. Our guide called it the worst season he had seen in over twenty years for seeing eagles. We only seen a handful, but none were close enough to capture a good photo. Also, if the day is windy, the eagles tend to stay in the trees and not move around much. Bald Eagles move around a lot. If you (or the guide) saw an eagle in a location on one day, it does not mean that they will be there the next day or the next hour.
If you get a chance to venture out and see the bald eagles, leave us a comment about your experience. Tell us about where you went and how many you saw. And if you capture a good image, please share it with us.
Happy Eagle Watching!!
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