I grew up in a house about 100 feet from the South Fork of the Sangamon River and have had the honor of seeing eagles fly up and down the river for the past 30 years. My mother reports more adults this year than juveniles, when it is usually the other way around. They are a thrill to watch. I have never seen an eagle sitting on a piece of ice, floating down the river though.
Also, the South Fork is at the lowest level I have ever seen it in the past 30 years. Not a huge fan of winter, but we could use some more snow.
what a great sight. thanks for posting. how majestic. there are many bald eagles in the Chicago suburbs now, and even a few sightings I’ve read about in the NW side of the City. great that these creatures are coming back.
As a child growing up. The bus stopped when a whitetail deer was spotted. Rare news in the day. In the eighties, I saw my first wild turkey. Now, we plan day trips to see a bald eagle.
These are testaments of the great things government can do. Thank you.
Cool video. It looks like the eagle is having a good float trip.
Now we have an entire political party saying we have too many un-damaged habitats, too many species, our air is too clean, and our water protections excessive.
Alton - Elsah - Grafton is bald eagle central in the winter. Alton has a great tourism campaign centered around eagle watching on the Mississippi, and they bring eagles in from the Audubon Society for kids to see up close on the weekends.
I’ve clearly spent too much time watching When Animals Attack; I kept waiting for the killer whale to lurch up from below. Or maybe I’ve spent too much time watching campaign ads, lol.
–Can this be interpreted as a Super Bowl prediction?–
The rookie kicker for the Eagles, Jake Elliott, went to Lyons Township.
When he was a junior, he hit a 54-yarder on the last play of the game to beat OPRF. It was a no-doubter, too, plenty of height and distance, on a cold, windy, rainy day, and a muddy, wet field.
Those of us in the stands couldn’t believe it. A bunch of us said at once, “you’re going to see that kid play on Sundays some day.”
- Leave a Light on George - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:04 pm:
It’s dangerous to drive down the Great River Road in the winter when the eagles are around.The tourists slam on the brakes and come to a stop in traffic any time they see a big black bird - eagle or not!
- NorthsideNoMore - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:29 pm:
The river is muddy but the light was right. Great picture hope the bird found a fish or two to eat
- Anon - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:19 am:
Beautiful but they really needed to zoom out to give some perspective.
- L.A. - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:20 am:
I grew up in a house about 100 feet from the South Fork of the Sangamon River and have had the honor of seeing eagles fly up and down the river for the past 30 years. My mother reports more adults this year than juveniles, when it is usually the other way around. They are a thrill to watch. I have never seen an eagle sitting on a piece of ice, floating down the river though.
Also, the South Fork is at the lowest level I have ever seen it in the past 30 years. Not a huge fan of winter, but we could use some more snow.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:21 am:
I used to live across from the Rock Island arsenal. The bald eagles used to hunt fish in the winter by the Lock and Dam. Always exciting to watch.
- Scott Cross for President - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:22 am:
Hell. Yeah.
And THAT should be your Opening Ceremony for the Winter Olympics.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:26 am:
Did you see the tiny little sign it was wearing that said “Debate Ives?”
- Amalia - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:29 am:
what a great sight. thanks for posting. how majestic. there are many bald eagles in the Chicago suburbs now, and even a few sightings I’ve read about in the NW side of the City. great that these creatures are coming back.
- Boat captain - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:41 am:
I have seen that dozens of times when working on the river. Beautiful sight to see in person.
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:43 am:
As a child growing up. The bus stopped when a whitetail deer was spotted. Rare news in the day. In the eighties, I saw my first wild turkey. Now, we plan day trips to see a bald eagle.
These are testaments of the great things government can do. Thank you.
Now….about those pesky bobcats….
- Dome Gnome - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:43 am:
This made my day.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:44 am:
Those bald eagles….always looking for a free ride…..
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:47 am:
For those interested, Netflix has a great collection of the BBC natural history docks (Blue Planet, Planet Earth and much more).
It’s an amazing application of the most advanced production technology. The best stuff ever presented on TV.
- Springfieldish - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 10:53 am:
All that is missing is Morgan Freeman’s narration.
- Flapdoodle - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:04 am:
There’s one thing wrong with this video — I didn’t make it.
Beautiful.
- Anon221 - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:06 am:
Great site, too.
https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagles/decorah-eagles-north-nest
- Concerned Observer - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:16 am:
Great video, and very gif-able, for those who might be inclined.
I was looking out my kitchen window here in Will County last week and an Eagle went soaring overhead. Ran to watch it…never gets old.
- SP&S - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:24 am:
Cool video. It looks like the eagle is having a good float trip.
Now we have an entire political party saying we have too many un-damaged habitats, too many species, our air is too clean, and our water protections excessive.
- WhoKnew - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:45 am:
I once saw 7 Golden Eagles in 2 trees down by creek in Wyoming.
Thanks for the reminder!
- Stooges - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:48 am:
Alton - Elsah - Grafton is bald eagle central in the winter. Alton has a great tourism campaign centered around eagle watching on the Mississippi, and they bring eagles in from the Audubon Society for kids to see up close on the weekends.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 11:54 am:
I’ve clearly spent too much time watching When Animals Attack; I kept waiting for the killer whale to lurch up from below. Or maybe I’ve spent too much time watching campaign ads, lol.
- SAP - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 12:04 pm:
Can this be interpreted as a Super Bowl prediction?
- Osborne Smith III - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 12:25 pm:
This has to be the first time that I’ve ever heard the words “crystal clear” and “Mississippi River” mentioned in the same sentence.
Great video, though.
SAP, from your keyboard to the Spots Gods’ ears. Fly, Eagles, fly!
- Chicago Cynic - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 1:41 pm:
Totally awesome and nonpolitical, though I do appreciate the 47 twist above.
- wordslinger - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
–Can this be interpreted as a Super Bowl prediction?–
The rookie kicker for the Eagles, Jake Elliott, went to Lyons Township.
When he was a junior, he hit a 54-yarder on the last play of the game to beat OPRF. It was a no-doubter, too, plenty of height and distance, on a cold, windy, rainy day, and a muddy, wet field.
Those of us in the stands couldn’t believe it. A bunch of us said at once, “you’re going to see that kid play on Sundays some day.”
- Leave a Light on George - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:04 pm:
It’s dangerous to drive down the Great River Road in the winter when the eagles are around.The tourists slam on the brakes and come to a stop in traffic any time they see a big black bird - eagle or not!
- NorthsideNoMore - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 4:29 pm:
The river is muddy but the light was right. Great picture hope the bird found a fish or two to eat
- striketoo - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 5:00 pm:
Illinois is second only to Alaska in the number of eagles. We are good at something.
- Contract disputin’ - Thursday, Feb 1, 18 @ 9:37 pm:
Coming soon to a Pat Quinn ad near you.