Home » Featured » Great Plains Connections: Bald Eagles are Winter Wonders

Great Plains Connections: Bald Eagles are Winter Wonders

eagle 1

Bald eagles are one of my favorite birds to view during the winter months – when ice covers the rivers and reservoirs eagles will search out any open areas of water to fish or they find places where an easy meal is available.

Living near reservoirs that have inlets or spillways is an advantage for eagle viewers as those areas will attract these gorgeous big birds of prey.

Finding areas to fish from is a must in the winter for eagles and they are proficient at catching their next meal when there is open water.

An immature and adult bald eagle fish for shad among mergansers at Sutherland Reservoir.
An immature and adult bald eagle fish for shad among mergansers at Sutherland Reservoir.

Eagles are opportunists – they follow waterfowl knowing an easy meal usually occurs among large numbers of ducks and geese.

This adult bald eagle knows an easy meal may be found near populations of Canada geese.
This adult bald eagle knows an easy meal may be found near populations of Canada geese.

Once a meal is caught keeping it away from other eagles is the tricky part.

This immature bald eagle tries to keep its catch of a shad away from the adult eagle in pursuit.
This immature bald eagle tries to keep its catch of a shad away from the adult eagle in pursuit.

These majestic birds are worth spending some time in the field viewing.

The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District provides free facilities for the public to view eagles and other wildlife in southwest Nebraska.

Ogallala’s eagle-viewing facility is just below the south end of Kingsley Dam at Lake Ogallala. The facility is open on Saturdays & Sundays, through early March, 8 am to 2 pm MST. There are several eagles and waterfowl for great bird viewing. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars when visiting.

Eagle viewing can be done during the week by watching the birds from Lake Ogallala’s internal park roadways; a 2014 park permit is required to enter the SRA.

The Johnson No. 2 Hydro or (J-2), has bleachers situated in front of large windows which look over the Supply Canal. Spotting scopes are provided, but you may want to bring you own binoculars – there are attendants available to answer questions. J-2 is located about seven miles south of Lexington. Signs along area roads will help guide visitors to the plant. The J2 viewing area is open on Saturdays & Sundays through the first weekend of March, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m CST.

Both facilities offer a great vantage point to watch eagles as they soar in the sky, catch fish, and sit on the ice and in nearby trees.

You can find more information and maps of the facilities by going online at The Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District web site.

About julie geiser

Julie Geiser is a Public Information Officer and NEBRASKAland Regional Editor based out of North Platte, where she was born and still happily resides. Geiser worked for the commission previously for over 10 years as an outdoor education instructor – teaching people of all ages about Nebraska’s outdoor offerings. She also coordinates the Becoming an Outdoors Woman program for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC). Geiser went on to work in marketing and writing an outdoor column for the North Platte Telegraph before returning to NGPC in her current position. She loves spending time outdoors with her family and getting others involved in her passions of hunting, fishing, camping, boating, hiking and enjoying Nebraska’s great outdoors.

Check Also

Tips for Early Open-Water Fishing

Green grass shoots are sprouting in my Elkhorn, NE yard. The days are getting longer. …