BROWNTOWN - Teresa Schlappi had plans to chop down the dead honey locust that branches outside the living room window on her and her husband Jim's dairy farm on County B southwest of Browntown. Since spotting a bald eagle perched in the tree on several occasions in November, she said she'd like to leave the tree up for the winter.
It was her first glimpse of our national bird, and since her farm is one and a half miles from the Pecatonica River, it seemed like an unusual sight so far inland for a species that feeds mainly on fish.
"I had never seen one in my life. I didn't even realize at first that it was one," she said. "It was the most beautiful bird I've ever seen."
Sightings in southern Wisconsin are increasingly more common as bald eagle populations rebound from the devastation of overhunting, deforestation and toxicity from the insecticide DDT. Bald eagles were removed in 2007 from the federal list of threatened and endangered species, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls the bird's recovery "an American success story."
"All birds of prey -their populations are bouncing back," said Steve Johnston, Work Unit Manager with the Department of Natural Resources in Green County, based in New Glarus.
Wisconsin has the third largest bald eagle population in the country, behind Florida and Minnesota, according to 5-year-old federal data. As bird numbers increase, the population is spreading south from the northern two-thirds of the state.
"It's still uncommon enough that it's a treat to see them," Johnston said.
Quentin Yoerger, a birdwatcher from Evansville, says he knows of several active nests in the area, including one a half-mile south of Albany along the Sugar River, near the sewer treatment plant, and viewable from County F.
Adult bald eagles grow as large as human toddlers and build huge nests that can weigh thousands of pounds and typically span 7 or 8 feet across. Yoerger says he's noticed the birds are expanding their nests in the area, especially along the Sugar River and in Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area.
Bring binoculars if you go out looking, he advises, since bald eagles are wary of humans and like to keep their distance.
"You can see them pretty much anywhere if you just have your eyes open and pay attention to what's flying around," he said. "As an active bird watcher, I see quite a few of them, but it's always cool to see."
Yoerger also suggests going to the annual Bald Eagle Watching Days along the Wisconsin River in Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 13, and Saturday, Jan. 14.
The birdwatching weekend includes guided bus tours, a wildlife photography seminar, kids activities and a wine tasting. Visit ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org/eagledays for details.
It was her first glimpse of our national bird, and since her farm is one and a half miles from the Pecatonica River, it seemed like an unusual sight so far inland for a species that feeds mainly on fish.
"I had never seen one in my life. I didn't even realize at first that it was one," she said. "It was the most beautiful bird I've ever seen."
Sightings in southern Wisconsin are increasingly more common as bald eagle populations rebound from the devastation of overhunting, deforestation and toxicity from the insecticide DDT. Bald eagles were removed in 2007 from the federal list of threatened and endangered species, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls the bird's recovery "an American success story."
"All birds of prey -their populations are bouncing back," said Steve Johnston, Work Unit Manager with the Department of Natural Resources in Green County, based in New Glarus.
Wisconsin has the third largest bald eagle population in the country, behind Florida and Minnesota, according to 5-year-old federal data. As bird numbers increase, the population is spreading south from the northern two-thirds of the state.
"It's still uncommon enough that it's a treat to see them," Johnston said.
Quentin Yoerger, a birdwatcher from Evansville, says he knows of several active nests in the area, including one a half-mile south of Albany along the Sugar River, near the sewer treatment plant, and viewable from County F.
Adult bald eagles grow as large as human toddlers and build huge nests that can weigh thousands of pounds and typically span 7 or 8 feet across. Yoerger says he's noticed the birds are expanding their nests in the area, especially along the Sugar River and in Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area.
Bring binoculars if you go out looking, he advises, since bald eagles are wary of humans and like to keep their distance.
"You can see them pretty much anywhere if you just have your eyes open and pay attention to what's flying around," he said. "As an active bird watcher, I see quite a few of them, but it's always cool to see."
Yoerger also suggests going to the annual Bald Eagle Watching Days along the Wisconsin River in Sauk City and Prairie du Sac, scheduled for Friday, Jan. 13, and Saturday, Jan. 14.
The birdwatching weekend includes guided bus tours, a wildlife photography seminar, kids activities and a wine tasting. Visit ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org/eagledays for details.