william_h._wiley Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 <p>Any advice on good locations to photograph bald eagles in Iowa? I've been to the Squaw Creek <br />Wildlife Refuge and want to try somewhere else. I've have heard that there are places along the Mississippi River that are great. Anything around Clinton or Davenport? I've heard Prairie du Chien mentioned, but don't know anything about it.<br> Thanks, Bill</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdpufallphotography Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 <p>I haven't been there at the right time of year, but Desoto is supposed to have a decent population. It's north of Council Bluffs. There is also a decent pond with an amazing amount of lillies that should be most excellent this spring.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timesharevon Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 <p>I've taken photos at the 151 crossover from Dubuque to Wisconsin at Eagles Point Park right on the Mississippi River. The photos I took were late in the winter as the waters were beginning to thaw and creating open water for the eagles to fish.<br /><br />Happy (photo) Shooting!</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phule Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 <p>The water just below lock and dam in Dubuque (and I would assume this is true for all other dams along the river) never freezes so bald eagles are quite active there. Last year (?) public access was restricted near the dam itself due to construction, I'm not sure if that's still the case.</p> <p>Some googling should turn up a number of winter events in IA and IL along the Mississippi for eagle watching.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Ingold Posted December 10, 2008 Share Posted December 10, 2008 <p>There are bald eagles many places along the Mississippi between Prairie-du-chein and Keokuk (and south), but swamps block access to the river. Look especially near the roller dams, particularly #14 (LeClair, IA) and #15 (Rock Island, IL). The river is always ice-free below the dams where the eagles can find fish. The best viewing is on the Illinois side at #14 and the Iowa side at #15. There is a small museum at the boat locks on Arsenal Island (Dam #15) where you can get up-to-date eagle viewing information.</p> <p>Prairie-du-chein sounds interesting, however it is very hilly on the Iowa side and swampy on the Illinois/Wisconsin side. I haven't been there in winter. Access is sometimes limited in parks in order to protect the eagles. (Food is in short supply, and causing them to take wing is exhausting for them).</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbuck19 Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 <p>I work on the Miss. river and I second the info. that around the locks and dams eagles are usually present, also I see them all along the banks, if possible a boat ride in any of the pools would be great. Once the river starts icing up areas around barge fleets can be good where the tugs keep things stirred up, and where factories discharge, my guess is the discharge attracts or kills baitfish which can draw in eagles.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william_h._wiley Posted December 11, 2008 Author Share Posted December 11, 2008 <p>Thanks for the info. I have something to go from now and I'll do some Googles about the areas mentioned. Nice to not start from stratch. <br> I should have mentioned that I've been to Desoto several times and was always disappointed - never saw many eagles and they were always far away. The bird watchers got excited to see an eagles across the wide river, which was far too distant for pictures. The place also had a lot of restricted areas, which limited looking for other critters (deer, etc.). <br> Anyway, I'll be heading to one of the places mentioned after checking them out. <br> Thanks again, Bill Wiley</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stemked Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 <p>I can add just North In Minnesota and just a mile south of Red Wing is a power plant that keeps the water open all winter. I've seen well over 30 eagles there at times.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff_bartelt Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 <p>I can second Doug's Red Wing, MN sitings. I live in the Lake City, MN area and they are very abundant here. Wabash, MN (just south of us on the Mississippi) has the National Eagle Center. Unlimited photo ops for eagles.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin_railsback2 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 <p>There are quite a few around the roller dam in SW Cedar Rapids. The river's not as wide as the Mississippi so you can get better flight pictures etc.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william_h._wiley Posted December 16, 2008 Author Share Posted December 16, 2008 <p>That's more places for me to consider. I live in Lincoln NE so I have to consider how long it takes to get to locations, but at the same time, I don't want to go somewhere where there aren't good photo ops. Catch-22. <br> Thanks for the info. I'm pulling out my map again tonight and checking things out. <br> Bill<br> www.WmWiley.com</p> <p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markp Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 <p>William,</p> <p>I recommend this site for info on Iowa eagle counts: <a href="http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/">http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/</a></p> <p>There's a lot of info to help you plan your visit. In particular, if you click "2009 Bald Eagle Watching" at the above page, and then "Lock & Dam Eagle Counts 2009," you will see weekly-updated info on eagle concentrations at the various locks an dams along the Iowa Mississippi.</p> <p> <p>Good luck with your trip!</p> </p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric merrill Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 <p>William:</p> <p>Since you're in Lincoln, you're not terribly far away from Yankton, SD. Many times there are eagles there during the winter on the Missouri. Yankton is challenging in that it's hard to get a clean background for your shot. Fort Randall Dam, outside Pickstown, SD is another good location. I was there last February, and saw about two dozen eagles. Heard that the weekend before I went there were hundreds.</p> <p>I'm going back to make a couple trips back there again in January. The colder it is, the better chances of seeing lots and lots of eagles is what I've been told. :)</p> <p>Eric</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william_h._wiley Posted December 18, 2008 Author Share Posted December 18, 2008 <p>Thanks for the website info and the tips about SD. Sounds like it might lead to some good opportunities. It certainly helps a lot to share this kind of info and head in the right direction to start with. My pack is packed and I'm ready to go!<br> Bill</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark_knollenberg Posted December 21, 2008 Share Posted December 21, 2008 <p><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Owner/LOCALS~1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /></p> <blockquote> <p>I recommend this site for info on Iowa eagle counts: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/" target="_blank">http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/</a><br> There's a lot of info to help you plan your visit. In particular, if you click "2009 Bald Eagle Watching" at the above page, and then "Lock & Dam Eagle Counts 2009," you will see weekly-updated info on eagle concentrations at the various locks an dams along the Iowa Mississippi.</p> <p>Good luck with your trip!</p> <p> </p> </blockquote> <p>That Corps site is very useful. I live in the area (Quad Cities) and situations like these are almost everyday events. In fact, on my way home, I see a biologist/naturalist/conservationist with a spotting scope out counting the eagles as they head to their roosting areas in the evening.</p> <p><img src="http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/missriver/bedweb/EaglebyWN3.jpg" alt="Eagles on the Miss" width="493" height="346" /></p> <p>The populations are a little more plentiful a little further south, however. L&D 14 & 15 isn't great, but they're always there. 15 is in the middle of town with very few nearby spots to roost, so if you want trees in the background, avoid this one. 16 and 17 are your best bets IMO.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patti_ireland Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 <p>I have photographed a number of eagles in the last 2 days below the dam at the Coralville Reservoir- this morning there were about 18 bald eagles, including several juveniles. Lock and Dam 14 just outside Davenport is also an excellent viewing area.</p><div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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