07/07/2025
With the Fourth of July having just passed, and American Eagle Day at the end of June, we wanted to celebrate Wisconsin’s two native eagle species–the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle.
Our beloved national bird, the Bald Eagle, has made a remarkable comeback in Wisconsin in the last 50 years thanks to federal protections alongside the work of scientists and advocates. From only 108 nests in the state recorded by the Wisconsin DNR in 1973, the charismatic raptors had an incredible 1,684 observed nests in 2019. In 2022, the species was finally observed nesting in Milwaukee County—officially marking the re-population of Bald Eagles in every county in Wisconsin.
We recently released the first Bald Eagle to be rehabilitated in the new 100’ Solar Flight Pen. This flight pen allows large birds to spread their wings and gain strength after being unable to fly due to various injuries, in this case abrasions and bruising on the left and right carpus (the equivalent of wrists on humans) sustained during a car collision. Upon release, this bird immediately flew into a nearby tree, a rare move as Bald Eagles typically are not strong enough to quickly rise high, instead needing a longer “runway” to take off. The exercise in the new flight pen must have really paid off!
Did you know? Wisconsin also serves as a wintering home to another eagle species—the Golden Eagle. Although more rare in our state, they can winter in the Driftless region of Wisconsin. Often confused with immature bald eagles, due to similar coloring, you can spot them by their smaller head and beak and fully brown inner wings.
