In a striking reversal from 50 years ago when there were barely 400 pairs of bald eagles left in the lower 48 states, the majestic species has rebounded to the point where as many as 3,000 spend the winter in Illinois alone.

That makes the state —especially the Fox, Illinois and Mississippi rivers systems — an ideal place to view the nation’s symbol.

Excluding Alaska, Illinois is the largest wintering site for bald eagles, a species that can only be found in North America. Traveling from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Canada, bald eagles take up temporary residency along state waterways especially those that have locks

Some bald eagles just visit the area, but at least two others have made a permanent home at Mooseheart Home for the past decade . (Photos by Darryl Mellema / Mooseheart Home)

and dams, where food is abundant.

Others, like a pair of eagles that can be found on the 1,000-acre campus of Mooseheart, never leave.

First spotted at Mooseheart about 10 years ago, a pair of bald eagles has made two nests in trees on the campus and eaglets have been born every year with the exception of the first, according to Darryl Mellema, a Mooseheart spokesman.

“There is something kind of cool about looking up to the sky and seeing a bald eagle,” he said.  “It is a majestic bird.”

Mooseheart is not typically accessible for eagle watchers, but just across the river is an ideal spot.

Located between the North Aurora Dam and Batavia Dam on the Fox River along Illinois Route 25, the Fox Valley Park District’s Red Oak Nature Center’s observation deck is a great vantage point to eagle watch, Margaret Gazdacka, with Red Oak Nature Center said.

If the river freezes over, the bald eagles from the north will migrate south where the river will remain unfrozen to search for fish, she added.

Viewing is also popular to the north. Elgin’s Gail Borden Public Library posts eagle sightings on their Facebook page and lends binoculars to library cardholders.

Today, eagles can be found in many places around the state.

“During the wintertime, I can look up in the sky and see them most days,” said Jo Fessett of the Illinois Audubon Society. “The comeback of the bald eagle has been remarkable.”

When the bald eagle was adopted as our national symbol in 1782, more than 100,000 soared through the skies. But the common use of the pesticide, DDT, and other environmental factors led to the drastic reduction of bald eagles across the country.

Due to the use of DDT, the eagle’s eggshells became fragile and broke, Gazdacka said.

Eagle habitat began to improve after the U.S. government banned the pesticide and introduced other measures such as the Clean Water Act of 1972.

As a result, in 2007 the bald eagle was removed from the federal endangered species list.

However, the bald eagle will continue to be protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.

To pay homage to the symbol of the United States, the fourth Saturday in January is Illinois Eagle Day and on Jan. 28 and 29, the Illinois Audubon Society is hosting its 19th annual Bald Eagle Watch.

Held at Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Fessett said the event draws thousands of people each year.

Ironically, as the better the weather conditions, the more people come out to see the eagles. However those conditions are less likely to result in eagle sightings.

Cold weather with lots of frozen ice is more ideal, she said.

“When we want to be outside looking at them, they have no interest in being in that spot.  They are going to fish where it is easiest and the fish are most abundant,” Fessett said.

February still is a good time to catch a bald eagle flying through the Illinois sky. By mid-March many of the bald eagles will migrate back to their breeding grounds—only to return next October or November.

Bald Eagle Watch – Starved Rock State Park Lodge & Illinois Waterway Visitor Center – Utica, IL 

Jan. 28-29 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.)[Text Wrapping Break]

• Activities at the Starved Rock State Park Visitor Center, Starved Rock Lodge and Illinois Waterway Visitor Center (Lock and Dam) with interpretive programs, spotting scopes, and family and children’s activities. Hosted by the Illinois Audubon Society, IDNR, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Starved Rock Lodge, Starved Rock Audubon and Starved Rock Foundation.
• Children’s Activities
• Live Illinois Birds of Prey 10 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.
• Update: Osprey Recovery Project presentation; Sunday 1-2 p.m.
• Youth Owl Calling Contest; Saturday 4:30, p.m.
• Park & ride the trolley between Starved Rock Lodge, Starved Rock Visitor Center and the Illinois Waterway Visitor Center – $1[Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break]For Event Information, call Illinois Audubon Society 217-544-2473. For more information www.illinoisaudubon.org/PROGRAMSEVENTS/BaldEagleWatchWeekend.html