A soaring comeback

• Eagles

Several eagles were seen flying over Lake Agnes Monday morning near Big Ole Central Park. In the past few years, bald eagles have made a comeback and are no longer on the federal endangered species list. Echo Press photo by Arlan Anderson.

Talk about it

In the last few years, eagles in this area – and around the state – have made quite a comeback.

In fact, it’s no longer a rare occurrence to see this once endangered species, which was chosen in 1782 as the nation’s symbol, narrowly beating out the wild turkey.

On Monday morning, those fortunate enough to drive by Lake Agnes near Big Ole Central Park had the opportunity to see several eagles – between four and six were flying around the area, some landing on the ice.

According to Mike Shelden, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) conservation officer, it’s becoming more common to see eagles, whose nests can be 10 feet across and 20 feet deep, in and around Douglas County.

“They [the eagles] are here and the food is still plentiful,” he said.

This time of year, eagles will fly over areas where ducks or other waterfowl are gathered in open water. This will often scare the ducks, making them fly away, leaving behind the sick or injured ones, explained Shelden.

“This is nature’s way of taking care of the sick and injured waterfowl,” he said, noting that eagles often make a meal out of waterfowl left behind.

Shelden said there are several areas in and near Douglas County where eagles have been spotted, including Lake Christina, Lake Rachel and northeast of Krueger’s Creek access on Lake L’Homme Dieu.

According to a bald eagle survey conducted by the DNR in 2005, there were 872 active nests in Minnesota. That is up 28 percent from the 681 nests reported in 2000, when the survey was last conducted.

Last year, it was estimated that the eagle population in Minnesota was more than 2,300 pairs.

Here are some other interesting eagle facts from the Minnesota DNR’s Web site:

• The bald eagle is one of the most powerful birds of prey. It usually hunts prey from the air, sometimes flying as fast as 50 miles per hour.

• The bald eagle was placed on the federal endangered species list in 1972. The bald eagle was subsequently delisted on August 9, 2007. However, bald eagles and their nests are still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protect Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

• The typical length of an eagle is 3.5 feet and they usually weigh between seven and 10 pounds.

• Bald eagles nest from March to July, and mated pairs usually return to the same nest each year. They hatch in 35 days, weigh about 4 ounces, and are covered in gray down. By 12 weeks of age, young bald eagles grow brown feathers flecked with white.

• Their typical diet consists of fish, ducks and other waterbirds, and dead animals (carrion) such as deer that die from car collisions or during cold winters.

• The fine for killing a bald eagle can be up to $10,000.

Tags: eagles, nesting, alexandria, douglas, county