Local Column River Currents 1-19-09

       The cold and snow of the winter of the 2008/2009 relaxed this past weekend and allowed a large influx of visitors the chance to attend the area’s 22nd Sauk Prairie Bald Eagle Days. Though the eagle numbers have been down or below the average for this time of year, there were numerous eagles up and down the river giving the many visitors a chance to see a bald eagle in the wild and up-close.
The best thing about Saturday was the many people who ventured to the Sauk Prairie area for the event. I had talked to some local residents last week before Bald Eagle Days and many people told me that they thought that this event had run its course and its existence in the future was doubtful. I could understand this because any happening is hard to keep going after running successfully for years. It seems that people lose interest, are looking for “new” places to visit, or lose out to new events. Bald Eagle Days has gone from humble beginnings to a major happening that brings hundreds and maybe even thousands to our area for this highly successful evening and day. This event definitely helps the local economy with gas, food, and lodging helping the local economy.
But, the turn-out this past Saturday was fantastic with all the events at the River Arts Center close to being full with eagle enthusiasts from all over Wisconsin plus Illinois and Iowa. I worked a shift at the Overlook which had spotting scopes from Vortex and Eagle set up for close-up viewing. The Overlook site was full most of the day with eager visitors and many who got to see bald eagles live and in their natural environment. The wintering eagles cooperated with some bald eagles regularly roosting on Eagle Island and the surrounding area for easy viewing. As a volunteer, it is always great to hear the comments from people many who are seeing a bald eagle for the first time. The positive comments and the shear joy and excitement from the visiting people, make the day well worth while. Personally, I enjoy the young children or the senior citizen who see their first eagle up-close through a spotting scope and are overcome with joy and excitement of their “new found” experience. To me, this what Bald Eagle Days is all about, sharing the beauty of the outdoors and its inhabitants with those who don’t live in scenic or rural locations that have the beauty, wildlife, and outdoor opportunities like we do in Sauk, Dane, Iowa, and Columbia Counties.
Often, it is possible to take for granted much of what we see and have at our fingertips. But, when you see others who live in cities and urban areas smile, ask questions, and take photos after photos one realizes the beauty and the wonderful natural resources that we have in our backyards that should always be protected for future generations. This is why I wonder and worry about what our new development will bring in the not so distant future. There has been considerable new development very close to eagle areas and roosts which worries me, but I’ll save those comments for some time down the road.
The Friday night program, “Fun with Animals” by David Stokes was well attended with almost a full house. The children’s activities on Saturday presented by the DNR and Kelly Kearns, was a “hit’ with the children as always with many youngsters having eagles painted on their smiling faces. The hourly bus tours to view eagles were packed with people and children excited to see eagles with their binoculars and spotting scopes. The bus tours will continue this winter on Saturdays leaving the Cedarberry Inn on Highway 12 at 10:00 a.m. The dates are January 24, January 31, February 7, February 14, and February 21 with a cost of $5.00 per person and kids 5 and under free. Call 800-683-2453 for reservations or to schedule a tour. Private tours for the disabled and groups are also available for a reasonable donation.
The other programs including Wildlife Photography by Bill Pielsticker, the Eagles in Wisconsin program with Pat Manthey of the DNR, the local eagle conservation efforts by the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, the Live Birds of Prey Show (Raptors in Wisconsin) by the Raptor Center, and Sue Foote Martin’s discussion on the “Great Wisconsin Birding Trail” all were informative, interesting, and given to large numbers of attendees. All in all, it was a great day for all those who attended and helped put on this “special” day for the local eagle population. Thanks go to the Wisconsin DNR, the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, and the Sauk Prairie Chamber of Commerce.
The large crowds indicated that Bald Eagle Days is a worthwhile event that should be continued in future years. The eagles will continue to winter in our “area” as long as eagles are given their space in our developing community. We have the habitat that eagles want and need. Personally, I hope that there is always space for these magnificent creatures in the future. This is up to all of us!
Ice Fishing
These past few weeks, there have not been that many ice anglers out fishing in the brutal cold. Personally, I didn’t fish anywhere and was always close to home making sure that my pipes on my river residence didn’t freeze. I don’t have a basement in my circa 1950’s cabin with only a crawl space. I have my pipes wrapped with a heat tape, but you never know when it could stop.
But, this weekend the weather finally broke and anglers got out fishing. I was at the Yahara Fishing Club Kid’s Fishing Day at Lake Monona and there were almost 200 children and parents fishing the “Triangle” area with very good success in the shallow water for bluegills. The fish are medium to small and have to be sorted through for a meal, but for children and patient adults there’s plenty of active fish. Local fishing guide, Wally Banfi (644-9823), was out fishing the same area on Sunday and gave me the same report. Wally and Lodi’s Gary N-Ski had a good time catching over 40 bluegills and keeping 20 for a couple of meals while fishing a few hours in the afternoon.
Crystal and Fish Lakes are also worth fishing with numerous bluegills, a few crappies, perch, and some legal northern pike out of Fish Lake. I don’t have a report from Devils Lake, Gallus Slough, or the Wisconsin River backwaters. But, I’ll be fishing and checking waters out this week as we experience more normal weather. The perch have been biting on Madison’s Lake Mendota in the deep water from 60 to 80 feet deep. The perch are anywhere from 8 to 11 inches and you can see where the “perch fleet” is fishing by looking for the large groups of anglers out in the center of the lake. Remember, that to fish Dane County lakes you need to have regulation floatation devices for your ATV or snowmobile. Then, have a color electronic unit (Lowrance or Vexilar), a power auger for drilling many holes, and rods set-up to fish deep. Keep jumping from hole to hole and you should get a few fish here and there as you go from hole to hole.
Always check www.garyengbergoutdoors.com for more information and so much more. Please continue and keep feeding the birds in this cold weather. They need our help to fight through this winter!