Prime Habitat

It is not uncommon to see nesting pairs of bald eagles in and near Wabasha, Minnesota. A prime habitat on the Mississippi River, in addition to the numerous neighboring lakes, makes this area of Minnesota a favorite residence for perhaps the most majestic and awe-inspiring of all birds.

Eagle Watch, Inc., a small grassroots organization that formed in 1989, has been attempting to educate and organize around bald eagles since its inception. Spearheaded by Wabasha resident Mary Rivers, the organization snowballed into a group comprised of 74 volunteers. From the original goal of an observation deck staffed by volunteers to provide information, which was completed in 1990, a new project has emerged.

A Sustainable Model

The National Eagle Center, to be finished next year, is being carried forward by a collaboration of the members of Eagle Watch, Inc., the Wabasha Economic Development Authority, and the National Audubon Society. Audubon’s Dan McGuiness, a veteran of Upper Mississippi watershed projects describes the Center as a “model of using sustainable products, a showcase of how we can live gently on earth”. An important piece of this “showcase” is the design of a building and site that not only keeps with the architecture of the area, but also keeps in scale with the river and its surroundings and uses sustainable design concepts, construction techniques and building materials.

The National Eagle Center, in its ideas and mission, is much more than just a place to view wild bald eagles. “It is the mission of the National Eagle Center to foster environmental stewardship and community prosperity through education about the bald eagle and the Mississippi River”. The focus of the educational project at the National Eagle Center will be crafted around the major themes of rivers, eagles, flyways, and humans.

An Interactive Setting

The Mississippi River defines the region, provides wildlife habitat, and sustains many varieties of plants, animals and also humans. Through:

• backwater tours
• a traveling classroom and lab on a barge
• native plant interpretation on site
• orienteering
• canoe trails

the National Eagle Center hopes to reach people of all ages and inform them in an interactive setting about the region and the importance of the Mississippi River.

Bald Eagles, placed on the national list of endangered species in 1973, are the central focus and reason that the National Eagle Center will be located in Wabasha, Minnesota. The Center will provide opportunities for observation and education about the bald eagle. Through an onsite aviary, a flying eagle program, and a traveling eagle educator and handler, information about the eagle will be accessible to large numbers of people. As Mary Rivers said “I think the more you know about bald eagles and the more you understand them, the less likely you are to harm them”.

An Idea in Flight

Bald eagles, like many other migratory birds, follow rivers and waterways and wetlands as they move. The Mississippi River is one such flyway for millions of migrating birds and waterfowl in the central portion of North America. This provides an excellent opportunity to tell the story of the environmental importance of this resource. By creating programs focusing on fall and spring migrations and programs for the identification of waterfowl, birds and birds of prey, the National Eagle Center aims to educate local residents and visitors about the necessary conservation of flyways both regionally and around the world.

The last element to be highlighted through educational programs at the National Eagle Center will be humans. As humans are major architects of change and impact within the Mississippi River watershed area, programs such as:

• green building and design and interpretation
• multi-cultural history and settlement
• habitat restoration

will seek to address these issues. The bald eagle has played an important part in North American cultural history and there are many social and historical lessons to be learned through the relationship between bald eagles and humans.

A Rare Opportunity

What began as an idea of a Wabasha resident and eagle lover, is now blossoming into potentially one of the premier bird observatories and educational centers in the nation. The opportunity to watch wild bald eagles fish, nest, migrate and carry out their daily lives is rare. The National Eagle Center hopes to use this unique location and resource to educate people about their natural habitats, about environmental consciousness and conservation, and about sustainable living skills.