Bald eagles soar back into town ahead of schedule, thanks to the weather

Bald eagles are migrating back to Minnesota ahead of schedule, the Department of Natural Resources says. Blame it on Thank Minnesota's warm winter.

The spring eagle migration usually coincides with the ice-out of Minnesota's lakes and rivers. But mild weather in February meant the ice broke up earlier than usual and also melted much of the snow dotting the ground.

All of this means "folks in southern Minnesota will be seeing eagles soon, even with the last remnants of winter," said DNR regional nongame wildlife specialist Lisa Gelvin-Innvaer. "We're already seeing small groups of eagles along the Minnesota River."

Hoping to catch a glimpse? In Minnesota, the biggest migrations tend to be along the Minnesota River corridor, the north shore of Lake Superior and around Lake Pepin in southeastern Minnesota.

Note: Not all bald eagles migrate south in the fall, as lakes and rivers — a food source — begin to freeze over. In many areas of the state, some eagle pairs stay for the winter, especially during milder winters and wherever there is open water.

In related eagle news, eaglets could be making their appearances soon on the DNR's eagle cam — three eggs in the nest are expected to hatch in the coming days (maybe hours). Keep an eye on the progress here.