THE BALD EAGLE IS NOW America’s official national bird as of a bill signed into law on Christmas Eve. And that’s exciting, especially for Minnesota, home to the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and home to the second largest population of eagles in the US, behind Alaska.
I expect this designation will draw more visitors to Wabasha. I last visited the Eagle Center in 2014 and need to return as it was recently expanded and updated, building on an already impressive place to learn about eagles.
Wabasha’s National Eagle Center not only houses rehabilitated resident eagles (used in programming), but also features eagles in art, history and more. I’m all about learning more about a bird which I never tire of seeing. There’s something about an eagle soaring that imprints upon me a sense of awe.
On Christmas Day, as Randy and I sat home alone eating French toast (instead of a ham dinner due to illness in the family), I looked out the dining room window to see a large bird flying directly toward our house. Even as high as the bird flew, I recognized it as an eagle. Soon I spotted a second trailing eagle.
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen bald eagles simply by looking out windows in my south Faribault home. I’ve watched an eagle glide low past our picture window. I’ve seen one a block away flying at treetop level. Several blocks up the hill, an eagle flew above Fourth Avenue Southwest. I’ve observed an eagle following the course of the Straight River while dining at The Depot Bar & Grill. On Faribault’s north side, I’ve spotted eagles flying near the Cannon and Straight Rivers. On the way to Dundas, eagles perch in a nest visible from Minnesota State Highway 3.
I’ve seen eagles in other areas of Rice County and in Waseca County. They are seemingly everywhere throughout Minnesota.
To the north in the Brainerd lakes area of Central Minnesota, eagles once nested in a tree at a family member’s lake cabin. The nest fell in a storm, but the eagles relocated along Horseshoe Lake. So there’s still plenty of eagle watching at the cabin.
We once nearly hit a bald eagle south of Hackensack as it lifted off the shoulder just as our van passed. Let me tell you that seeing the massive wing span (from 5 to 8 feet) of an adult eagle passing across your windshield is not only startling, but scary. Fortunately, the eagle cleared the windshield. Near Kenyon another grazing-on-roadkill eagle took flight within seconds of our van striking it. Aside from those close encounters, eagle watching has proven pleasant.
I also appreciate how bald eagles are incorporated into many veterans memorials as symbols of America and of freedom. I’ve photographed many of those memorial eagle sculptures, including one right here in Faribault. Today that photo from the Rice County Veterans Memorial graces a wall at the new Minnesota Veterans Home in Bemidji. along with five other veterans memorial photos I took. What an honor to have my work displayed there for veterans and others to appreciate.
The bald eagle symbolizes freedom and strength. Now to have this majestic bird as our national bird seems fitting. And long overdue. The bald eagle is a powerful symbol connected to democracy. To see an eagle soar is to see freedom soaring.
© Copyright 2024 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Have you listened to this from MPR? https://www.mprnews.org/story/2024/11/18/in-wabasha-a-collector-puts-his-passion-for-all-things-eagles-on-full-display . I work in Wabasha & live in Lake City.
I read about this collector, but have not listened to the story. Thank you for leaving the link. I love Wabasha.
I agree, it’s not uncommon.
Years ago I never saw a bald eagle. So nice to see so many now.
Very timely post. I did not realize Minnesota is second in bald eagle population. I learned a lot from your post.
Always happy to pass along info. The second in the US info comes from MPR, which I considerable a reliable source.
I just read about this happening very recently, I had always thought that it already was our national bird. how lucky to live in Minnesota with so many eagles
We have a lot of lakes and rivers, which is likely why so many eagles call Minnesota home.
It’s about damn time the eagle was named the national bird! I grew up in the Twin Cities and have lived in MN most of my life. Never saw an eagle that I remembered until maybe the 1980s when we lived up north. Now I see them flying around my hometown of Owatonna on a regular basis. And they’re back living and thriving in the Arrowhead too. I usually see a few on a BWCAW trip or along US 61 on the North Shore.
I’ve had several eagle flyovers while golfing in Owatonna. The Straight River runs through the course and we usually have one or two nesting pairs that regularly cruise the river at low altitude as they look for food. Can be scary if they come up from behind you, but impressive if they’re only 10-15 feet above you.
If you go to the NEC in Wabasha in late winter/early spring, you may see dozens or even hundreds congregating along the Mississippi. Too bad they aren’t flocking birds. To see a hundred or so eagles flying together would be spectacular.
Chris, thanks for your reports of eagle sightings. They are a wondrous bird. And you’re right about not seeing them years ago. Thankfully things have changed and eagles are seemingly everywhere.
Love birds, especially birds of prey. We have an eagle pair near my work campus and when I was out for my lunch walk I saw a baby eagle (a fledgling) – the crows were trying to steal its fish lunch. So COOL to see them in action as well as just sitting and watching the world around them too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I have noticed that crows like to harass eagles, even grown ones. What fun to see that fledgling.
We have so much bird life here and then we get the migration of birds too. Watching the white pelicans (water dancing) vs. the brown pelicans (head plant). I have not seen a flamingo in the wild as of yet.
What fun to watch all those birds.
Beautiful pictures. These birds are pretty amazing to watch in flight. Something everyone should witness at least once.
I never tire of seeing bald eagles. They are really quite prevalent in Minnesota now.