
Photo courtesy of Canva
It’s the most majestic time of the year: Bald eagle season!
The impressive raptors are in town and can be seen soaring all around our waterways, including in the Des Moines area.
Read on for some tips on how to spot them and to learn more about our nation’s most revered bird.

Bald eagles in Iowa: some background
Bald eagles, a national symbol of patriotism, are still considered a threatened species even though there has been some improvement in their population numbers over the last several years.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) keeps close tabs on the bald eagle population to help support their survival not just in Iowa but in our world.
The population of bald eagles was at a devastating low before special laws were enacted in the late 1970s to help protect the species. The last 25 years have been very promising, with population numbers moving in an upward and stable trajectory.
In fact, the DNR has a program that uses volunteers to monitor bald eagle nests around the state to help keep tabs on the population by keeping an eye on reproductive success and building a database of information about these cool raptors and their nesting locations across the state. According to the Iowa DNR, “Iowa’s rivers hold some of the largest congregations of wintering eagles in the lower 48 states. Since 1977, approximately 1,332 bald eagle territories have been recorded by the Iowa DNR.”
Bald eagle nests are massive, spanning anywhere from four to seven feet across and three to ten feet deep. The nest size typically increases each year as they add sticks to it.
Some eagle nests in Iowa have been used regularly for ten years. The Iowa DNR reports that one prime eagle territory in extreme northeast Iowa has been active for almost 30 years. Because the nests are so large, they are relatively easy to spot in the bare treelines in Iowa winters. They can typically be spotted in very large cottonwood trees, for example.
Bald eagles mate for life, often coming back to the nest they’ve previously made to lay their eggs, hatch, and rear their young. Females lay one to three eggs when they nest. Conservation education efforts like the Decorah Eagle Cam have captivated people everywhere as they watch the process of bringing a new eaglet into the world.
Where to spot them around Des Moines
The timing is ideal now to spot eagles along the streams and rivers of the Des Moines area. With the ice melted on waterways, eagles enjoy spending their days swooping over and catching fish to snack on. Some eagles seen in the area are just passing through as they fly south, while others will nest in the area. If they do not stay to nest, most eagles will have flown out of the Des Moines area by the end of February.
You are likely to see them perched in trees (some trees can have dozens of eagles sitting in them at one time) or you may see them soaring high and swooping down to fish. Sometimes they sit right in the water if it is not too deep. If you are lucky, you could catch a sky dance, the mating ritual where two eagles seem to freefall in a tangled tailspin from high in the sky.
While many people consider the Mississippi River the prime eagle-viewing location in the state, residents of and visitors to Des Moines can get in on the fun as well. The banks of the Des Moines River in the heart of downtown are the perfect place to observe bald eagles. Between the Scott Street bridge and the SE 6th Street bridge is ideal as there is plenty of room to park and watch for a while. Eagles are often sitting in the trees on the south side of the river there.
Other locations in the Des Moines area where you might spot eagles include Gray’s Lake, Easter Lake, Big Creek Lake, Saylorville Lake, along the Raccoon River (the Redfield Dam and Big Bend Wildlife Area are good spots to try), in Summerset State Park, the Sycamore Access Boat Ramp, and Yellow Banks Park.
Please keep in mind this important bald eagle-watching etiquette provided by the Iowa DNR:
“To avoid disturbing eagles, do not get any closer than 400 yards from a perched eagle. If vegetation obscures the eagle’s view of you, still avoid getting closer than 100 yards. When possible, stay in your vehicle, use a blind, or stand behind stationary objects when viewing eagles. Stay on the opposite side of the river or lake to allow them a peaceful refuge.”
A mid-winter survey of the population is done each year in the first two weeks of January to see how the local population of these incredible wildlife species is fairing. Now that February has rolled around, eagles will begin laying their eggs. Eggs are incubated for 35 days and then when the eaglets hatch, their parents take the next 11 weeks to care for and feed them before they take their first flights. By September, the eaglets will be ready to head off from the nest and the area into which they were born.
People know to look for bald eagles by pinpointing their signature white head and tail. But remember, bald eagles don’t actually have those features until they are past their youth, when they are four to five years old. So you may see some large birds flying around that are fully dark brown. Those are juvenile eagles soaring about.

Fascinating bald eagle facts
While you check out the eagle scene this season, also take note of these interesting bald eagle facts so your appreciation for their species grows:
- Bald eagles live on average about 28 years.
- The largest bald eagle nest on record was found in St. Petersburg, Florida, and measured 9.5 ft wide and 20 ft high, weighing more than two tons.
- Their massive wingspan—anywhere from six to seven and a half feet—allows them to fly more than 10,000 feet into the air.
- An eagle’s eyesight is eight times stronger than a human’s and their grip strength is ten times stronger than a human’s, allowing them to hold tight to fish weighing up to five pounds.
- In 2015, Iowa had at least one eagle nest reported in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. Allamakee County had the highest number of reported nests, at 211. Clayton County had the second most, with 76.
- Unfortunately, one of the biggest threats to bald eagles is humanity. Learn more and do your part to protect this national symbol.
This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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