More places for watching eagles

Last update: January 18, 2008 - 3:55 PM

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IF YOU GO

WHEN

The best eagle-watching in the Wabasha area happens in December and then again in March, though you'll almost certainly see some eagles all year long.

WHERE

The National Eagle Center, 50 Pembroke Av. in downtown Wabasha, lies on the Mississippi River. The center's river deck is open anytime. The center itself is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eagle feeding and education presentations usually happen at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. daily. Admission: adults, $5; kids 6 through 17, $3; kids under 6 free. For information: www.nationaleaglecenter.org; 1-651-565-4989 or 1-877-332-4537.

FOOD AND LODGING

Try Slippery's Bar and Grill at 10 Church Av. on the waterfront for casual dining, while you look through the windows for eagles (1-651-565-4748). For something fancier, go to the Historic Anderson House Bed and Breakfast, which opened in 1856. The dining room serves brunch every Sunday. Overnight visitors who happen to be cat lovers can take one of the inn's resident cats to their room for the night (333 Main St. W.; 1-651-565-2500; www.historicanderson house.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE

Coffee Mill Ski and Snowboard Resort advertises the longest vertical drop south of Duluth (99 Coulee Way, Wabasha; 1-651-565-2777; www.coffeemillski.com.)

MINNESOTA VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Bloomington

Most years, a few eagles hang around this urban refuge, where currents of the Minnesota River and warm water from a power plant keep water open (952-854-5900).

COLVILL PARK

Red Wing

Bald eagles gather at this park, where the warm-water discharge from a coal-fired plant keeps water open all winter. Contact the Red Wing Visitors and Convention Bureau (1-800-498-3444; www.redwing.org) for information about Eagle Watch Weekends from mid-February to mid-March.

CAMP LACUPOLIS

Lake City, Minn.

At Camp Lacupolis, on the south end of Lake Pepin, the river narrows and the current picks up, causing water to remain open all winter.

READS LANDING

Wabasha, Minn.

One of the biggest congregations of eagles occurs at Reads Landing, about 3 miles upstream from Wabasha. Look for two Highway 61 pullouts.

LOCK AND DAM 4

Alma, Wis.

Operation of Lock and Dam 4 at Alma, Wis., keeps the river channel open--and inviting for eagles. Watch from the observation platform alongside the lock on the Wisconsin side of the river.

GREG BREINING