From ferry rides to live cams, eagle watching has become a statewide pastime.
As we pause this July to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we take a closer look at a recognizable symbol of our country—the bald eagle. As the nation reaches this historic milestone, the bald eagle serves as a reminder of both our country’s resilience and the natural heritage we share.
Shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams to create an official seal for our new country. Six years and three committees later, they finally settled on a design. In 1782, the design featuring a bald eagle at the center, gripping a bundle of arrows and an olive branch in its talons, was adopted. The founders chose the eagle not only for its strength and longevity, but also for its commanding presence, which they felt reflected the character of the new nation. (As the story also goes, Ben Franklin famously disagreed with featuring the eagle as he said it was “of bad moral character” and “too lazy to fish for himself” and would steal food from other birds. He joked that the turkey, also native to America, would be a more respectable alternative. Regardless, the eagle was ultimately chosen.)
The seal of the United States as it appears on a one-dollar bill. Getty Images
Ironically, although the bald eagle was chosen by our founding fathers to represent our country, it wasn’t officially adopted until 2024. No American president or Congress had officially codified it as the national bird until two years ago.
Despite being a symbol of our country, the bald eagle has faced declining numbers due to habitat loss and hunting. In 1940, Congress passed the Bald Eagle Protection Act, making it illegal to possess, kill, or sell them. After World War II, the eagles’ numbers decreased further due to eating prey contaminated with DDT. In the 1960s, only approximately 400 breeding pairs remained in the continental U.S. (100 of those were in Wisconsin), and by 1978, the bald eagle was listed as endangered.
Federal protections were put in place, and in 1995, the bald eagle was moved from the endangered list to the threatened species list. The eagle population recovered enough that, by 2007, it was removed completely from the list.
Abundant Eagles in Wisconsin
Today, all Wisconsin counties have documented active eagle nests, monitored by Bald Eagle Nest Watch, a program of the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance. The program relies heavily on citizen scientists, whose observations help researchers understand nesting success, habitat needs, and emerging threats. According to a 2024 count, the state was home to more than 220 bald eagle nests.
When observing eagles, it’s important to keep a respectful distance and avoid disturbing active nests, as human interference can disrupt feeding and nesting activity.
There are many places across the state known for prime bald eagle viewing. Here are a few of our favorites:
Images courtesy of WI DNR.
Cassville Car Ferry
Ashley Eng, operations assistant at Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative, suggests watching for bald eagle nests along the Mississippi River while on the Cassville Car Ferry. Crossing the river to Iowa since 1833, the scenic ferry ride also offers a memorable journey. Dairyland Power Cooperative is a corporate sponsor of the ferry.
Cassville Car Ferry Image courtesy of explorecassville.com.
The Cassville Car Ferry is located at 100 Prime St, Cassville, WI 53806, situated in Riverside Park right along the Mississippi River. For up-to-date schedule information, seasonal hours, or current rates, you can call them at 608-725-5180.
Trempealeau Web Cam
Mrs. T and Mr. T are the stars of the Trempealeau Eagles web cam. Photos courtesy of the Raptor Resource Project.
Brandi Shramek, member relations supervisor at Jackson Electric Cooperative, suggests checking out the live webcam footage of the Trempealeau Eagles. A pair of bald eagles, known as Mr. T and Mrs. T, have 24/7 live coverage of their nest in a white pine tree overlooking the Mississippi River, on private property, in the city of Trempealeau. True to reality TV drama, Mr. T has a second “wife” in a nest four-tenths of a mile away on MN Island and splits his time between the two nests.
The Trempealeau Eagles live stream can be viewed at https://www.raptorresource.org/trempealeau-eagles/
La Crosse Eagle Watch Wayside
Photo courtesy of Corey Pettis.
Located just south of Exit 3 on Interstate 90 near La Crosse, this stop is more than just a chance for weary travelers to stretch their legs. People are invited to pull off on the wayside and use one of the viewing scopes to get a close-up look at all types of river wildlife, including bald eagles.
As America marks its 250th birthday, let’s also honor the remarkable return of the bird chosen to represent our national spirit. From river bluffs to ferry decks to quiet nest cams, bald eagles are once again part of Wisconsin’s everyday landscape. Grab your binoculars and look up—our national symbol is soaring.—Dana Kelroy
Do you know of a prime location to spot bald eagles? Share your favorites by sending an email to dana@weca.coop.