SAUK-PRAIRE, WISCONSIN: WHERE EAGLES SOAR

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Binoculars are another eagle-watching must, and for those who might not have yet invested in a good pair, here are some tips: "Power" is the amount of magnification and is expressed in the first part of a numerical formula engraved on the body of the glasses: 7x 35, for example. 7x means that the binoculars magnify the image your eye sees by seven times. The second numeric designation in the formula describes the diameter in millimeters of the objective lens (big end). 7x 35 binoculars have an objective lens measuring 35 mm across.

Birders seldom use binoculars with a magnification of less than 7x or greater than lox-any less and birds are not enlarged sufficiently; any greater and the field of view tends to become restricted and outweighs the benefit of higher magnification. For ease of viewing Sauk-Prairie eagles, a pair of 7x 35 or IN 40 glasses suffices nicely.

Among the best spots to watch for eagles are the dam (just off Route 78 and one mile north of Prairie du Sac) and Veteran's Park (located below the dam just north of the Route 60 bridge). Veteran's has plenty of parking as well as a boat launch for anglers. The parking lot adjacent to the Fire House Restaurant is also a prime watch-point. Eagles frequently perch in the trees on the island in that section of the river. A trail in the August Derleth Park in Sauk City parallels the river. The river-edge walk can be exhilarating, and eagles pass there en route to the dam.

On the days in late February and March when slightly heavier fishing pressure occurs below the dam, the Fire House Restaurant parking lot and the August Derleth Park trail can be better watch-points than the dam or Veteran's Park. Although the eagles seem to know that anglers are friends, their nature causes them to keep a safe distance.

For ease of viewing Sauk-Prairie eagles, a pair of 7x 35 orlox 4 glasses suffices nicely.

The Future of the Sauk-Prairie Eagles

There are days when the skies of Sauk-Prairie are so alive with "baldies" that it's hard to believe they were ever threatened by extinction. Aerial acrobatics performed by the eagles and their close cousins, the peregrine falcons and ospreys, are a sight to behold for newcomers.

To the casual spectator, members of the Falconiformes order are simply things of grace-free spirits that ride the wind. But to a dedicated bird-watcher, these birds are the thread that belongs in the magnificent tapestry of life. It is these hard-core naturalists who have spoken out against injustice to the eagle and who continually prompt governmental bodies to act on behalf of the bird's well-being. A good example of this occurred on the lower Wisconsin.

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