SAUK CITY, WI (SPECTRUM NEWS) — The Lower Wisconsin River is a popular gathering place for eagles in the winter. For 35 years, local groups organize an event called Eagle Watching Days, where people gather from around the state to watch the birds. 

“These are birds that inspire us all and so by sharing that inspiration you just get more people interested in conservation,” said Jeb Barzen, president of the Ferry Bluff Eagle Council, which organizes Eagle Watching Days. 

The event usually draws a crowd, but this year it's going virtual because of the pandemic. It has virtual events like a rehabilitated eagle release followed by a live Q&A session.

The virtual events happened on two weekends in January, and are planned again for February 6 and 20. Barzen said so far the virtual events have been well attended.

“Of not the same number of people that we typically do in a eagle days celebration, perhaps more,” Barzen said.

For those that still want to come and see the eagles for themselves, the council has a self guided tour available online for the best spots to watch and updated data on where eagles have been recently. 

“We take our data and we make them available to people in trying to engage them in a COVID-ly safe way to explore our area and then most of our businesses follow COVID protocols so if they want to visit our businesses they can, but on a spread out basis,” Barzen said.

Eagle watching days is a celebration of the birds and highlights conservation efforts for them. It also typically brings in about a million dollars to communities in the area.

Even virtual, the ferry bluff eagle council hopes people can still enjoy it this year.

“People can come to our community and with the self guided tours they can be safe,” Barzen said. “But they can still be outside and explore a gorgeous part of the state.”