Photo Courtesy of Local Photographer Criss Chaidez.
Where to Spot American Bald Eagles in Downtown Elgin
Updated January 17, 2024 (Originally posted January 30, 2022)
Bald Eagles as spotted in the tree tops in Downtown Elgin. Photo by Criss Chaidez.
This winter, look to the skies in Downtown Elgin over the Fox River and you’re likely to spot a magnificent American Bald Eagle. For decades, Bald Eagles have been spotted in Elgin, specifically near Walton Island and the Gail Borden Public Library. This year they are out in full force!
Among locals who have been lucky enough to spot and photograph them this season is photographer Criss Chaidez. She braved the cold in late January to capture the Bald Eagles in Downtown Elgin and her amazing photos are featured throughout this blog. “We are so fortunate to have Bald Eagles in our city. It was awesome for me to have the chance to photograph them. They are amazing creatures that symbolize the strength of this country.”
If you want to see the Bald Eagles just bundle up and take a stroll along the Fox River. If you are patient, it is easy to spot them perched at the top of the trees on Walton Island and sometimes standing out on frozen parts of the river. Seeing them soar through the sky is breathtaking. If you happen to have a camera with a zoom lens, be sure to bring it along. And warm gloves, don’t forget gloves!
The City of Elgin’s Park Department will be clearing the sections of the Riverside Promenade under the white umbrellas during the winter months for patrons to use to view Eagles on the Fox River. Bring a camera, binoculars, and your family for a fun and unique experience. Make sure you keep your eye out for the designated signage for the Eagle Viewings. After you are done make sure to stop at one of many Downtown businesses for a coffee or food.
What makes Elgin so appealing to Bald Eagles? The span of the Fox River beginning north near Carpentersville through Elgin near the Grand Victoria Casino has been attracting Bald Eagles for years. Eagles follow the Fox River as they head south and are attracted to areas where they can find easy prey. The area near Walton Island and the Gail Borden Public Library is where most bird enthusiasts go to catch a glimpse of the Bald Eagles in all their glory.
According to the state’s “Save Our Eagles” website, the first Bald Eagles of the season are spotted in Illinois in December and remain in residence until they migrate back north in March, with January and February noted as the optimal time for visitors to see eagles. Illinois enjoys the largest population of wintering Bald Eagles in the continental United States, which is more than in any other state outside Alaska.
While the American Bald Eagle is no longer an endangered species, it is a species protected by multiple federal laws. The fourth Saturday in January each year is Illinois Eagle Day. Eagle Day celebrates the American Bald Eagle, the official national emblem of the United States and the living symbol of our nation’s freedom, spirit and strength.
Bald Eagle Fun Facts
The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the USA since 1782. Photo by Criss Chaidez.
• Bald Eagles have white hair on their head and thus are not actually bald. The word “bald” comes from the old English “balde,” meaning white.
• Bald Eagles live 15 to 30 years in the wild. The oldest known Bald Eagle in the wild was at least 38 years old. Unfortunately, it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015.
• Bald Eagles usually mate for life, choosing the tops of large trees to build nests, which they typically use and enlarge each year.
• The Bald Eagle is on the seal of the President of the United States.
• Bald Eagles can fly as high as 10,000 feet.
If you want to see the Bald Eagles now is the time! Bundle up and head to Downtown Elgin. Grab a coffee from one of our local coffee shops and make your way to the Fox River, especially the area near Walton Island. Yes, you will be cold, but seeing a magnificent bald eagle will really warm your heart!
Learn more about American Bald Eagles from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. To read fun Bald Eagle facts for kids visit the Animal Fact Guide.
Where to Spot American Bald Eagles in Downtown Elgin
Updated 1/17/2024 (Originally written on January 30, 2022)
This winter, look to the skies in Downtown Elgin over the Fox River and you’re likely to spot a magnificent American Bald Eagle. For decades, Bald Eagles have been spotted in Elgin, specifically near Walton Island and the Gail Borden Public Library. This year they are out in full force!
Among locals who have been lucky enough to spot and photograph them this season is photographer Criss Chaidez. She braved the cold in late January to capture the Bald Eagles in Downtown Elgin and her amazing photos are featured throughout this blog. “We are so fortunate to have Bald Eagles in our city. It was awesome for me to have the chance to photograph them. They are amazing creatures that symbolize the strength of this country.”
Bald Eagles as spotted in the tree tops in Downtown Elgin. Photo by Criss Chaidez.
If you want to see the Bald Eagles just bundle up and take a stroll along the Fox River. If you are patient, it is easy to spot them perched at the top of the trees on Walton Island and sometimes standing out on frozen parts of the river. Seeing them soar through the sky is breathtaking. If you happen to have a camera with a zoom lens, be sure to bring it along. And warm gloves, don’t forget gloves!
The City of Elgin’s Park Department will be clearing the sections of the Riverside Promenade under the white umbrellas during the winter months for patrons to use to view Eagles on the Fox River. Bring a camera, binoculars, and your family for a fun and unique experience. Make sure you keep your eye out for the designated signage for the Eagle Viewings. After you are done make sure to stop at one of many Downtown businesses for a coffee or food.
What makes Elgin so appealing to Bald Eagles? The span of the Fox River beginning north near Carpentersville through Elgin near the Grand Victoria Casino has been attracting Bald Eagles for years. Eagles follow the Fox River as they head south and are attracted to areas where they can find easy prey. The area near Walton Island and the Gail Borden Public Library is where most bird enthusiasts go to catch a glimpse of the Bald Eagles in all their glory.
According to the state’s “Save Our Eagles” website, the first Bald Eagles of the season are spotted in Illinois in December and remain in residence until they migrate back north in March, with January and February noted as the optimal time for visitors to see eagles. Illinois enjoys the largest population of wintering Bald Eagles in the continental United States, which is more than in any other state outside Alaska.
While the American Bald Eagle is no longer an endangered species, it is a species protected by multiple federal laws. The fourth Saturday in January each year is Illinois Eagle Day. Eagle Day celebrates the American Bald Eagle, the official national emblem of the United States and the living symbol of our nation’s freedom, spirit and strength.
Bald Eagle Fun Facts
The Bald Eagle has been the national emblem of the USA since 1782. Photo by Criss Chaidez.
• Bald Eagles have white hair on their head and thus are not actually bald. The word “bald” comes from the old English “balde,” meaning white.
• Bald Eagles live 15 to 30 years in the wild. The oldest known Bald Eagle in the wild was at least 38 years old. Unfortunately, it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015.
• Bald Eagles usually mate for life, choosing the tops of large trees to build nests, which they typically use and enlarge each year.
• The Bald Eagle is on the seal of the President of the United States.
• Bald Eagles can fly as high as 10,000 feet.
If you want to see the Bald Eagles now is the time! Bundle up and head to Downtown Elgin. Grab a coffee from one of our local coffee shops and make your way to the Fox River, especially the area near Walton Island. Yes, you will be cold, but seeing a magnificent bald eagle will really warm your heart!
Learn more about American Bald Eagles from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. To read fun Bald Eagle facts for kids visit the Animal Fact Guide.
a great documentary work, with excellent reference photos