Eagles plentiful in the Fox Valley

KAUKAUNA - As for football the Eagles are out of the playoffs, but in our area the eagles are alive and well.

Hundreds of bald eagles are returning to areas along the Fox River and there are nearly a dozen good viewing sites from Neenah to Kaukauna.

The sounds of rushing water along the Fox River in January are a sure sign bald eagles are in the air.

"We are nearing our peak of our population and sometimes you can see 100 or more eagles here along the Fox River by Thousand Islands," said naturalist Debbie Nowak at Thousand Islands Nature Center.

Our national symbol has been making a comeback since the 1980s.

"This is a species that was on the brink of extinction, mostly due to human causes, so it's one of those great things that is amazing to see how well they are doing and it's amazing to see how we are doing at bringing them back," Nowak said.

Nowak says the open water and easy access to food for the eagles is just one of a number of reasons they continue to thrive and return to the Fox Valley.

"They have food, they have water, they have nesting, they can build in trees and do whatever," said Tiffany Tischer of Kaukauna.

Tischer came to Thousand Islands Monday morning and didn't leave disappointed.

"I personally love them, they are majestic, they can come and go and they stay together forever," Tischer said.

And Nowak says having them in our own backyard is a special treat.

"Not many people can sit in their office and look out and see an eagle sitting or go hike the trails a little bit and go and see a hundred of them."

And the best times to see the eagles is now through February.

Thousand Islands is hosting an eagle watching day on January 26. Naturalists and DNR staff will be on hand to answer questions.