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The National Audubon Society has been conducting a survey of the 
Bald Eagle populations to try to determine the total of the birds each year 
for the past 5 or 6 years. They have found that the best time to get a 
count of the birds is in the middle of winter, when the eagles seem to 
stay in certain areas for a few weeks without migrating. 
Irom this survey, the National Audubon Society has found that most 
of the Bald Eagle population in the Midwest may be counted near the 
Mississippi River in Illinois during the winter. 
There are four major wintering areas bordering Illinois. These are: 
north of Savanna; near Moline-Davenport; near Keokuk, Iowa, and scat- 
tered around St. Louis. Because these wintering areas are scattered across 
the state, many persons in Illinois have an opportunity to see and observe 
our National Emblem each winter. Many clubs and individuals plan field 
trips during the winter just to visit one of these areas to observe the eagles. 
What is needed is a field guide to each of these areas so that a person 
or club would be able to see a maximum number of birds in one day. This 
would be an excellent project for a club that is located near each of these 
major wintering areas. The more persons that are able to see and enjoy 
these birds, the more help we will have in trying to save them. During 
these days of population expansion and its associated problems, eagles need 
all the help they can receive. 
During the winter the Bald Eagle is easily distinguished from all other 
birds because of its size. The Red-tailed Hawk is probably the largest 
raptor next in size to the eagle. Yet the red-tail is not more than one- 
half the size of an eagle. Also, the adult Bald Eagle has a white head 
and tail, the only raptor with this color combination. On the other hand, 
the immature eagle has a dark head and tail, and thus is easily confused 
with large hawks. 
Bald Eagles start migrating into Illinois in early November, reaching 
a maximum in northern Illinois by early January. Maximum numbers in 
central and southern Illinois are usually seen during late January. Generally 
by mid-February the birds start their annual journey back to their nesting 
territories. Occasionally, throughout the summer, an eagle may be seen 
in northwestern Illinois in the “driftless area’. Forty to fifty years ago 
Bald Eagles nested in Jo Daviess County, near the Apple River Canyon 
State Park, but they moved out as man gradually moved in. 
Before we can hope to save our National Emblem, much more research 
must be completed on the eagle’s habits and movements. In Illinois, Elton 
Fawks of East Moline has been conducting a one-man research effort 
towards this goal. For many years he has been the center of information 
on Bald Eagle populations and movements in the Midwest during the winter. 
You can help by sending him all sightings and records of eagle movements 
which you may accumulate. 
We especially need information on movements of Bald Eagles away 
from the Mississippi River. Also, we need information on migration routes; 
time and number of eagles seen, and the direction in which they were 
flying over a particular location. All dead birds which are found should 
