How big is the refuge?
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge was established by congress as a refuge and breeding place for migratory birds, fish, other wildlife, and plants. The Refuge encompasses approximately 240,000 acres of Mississippi River floodplain in a more-or-less continuous stretch of 261 river-miles from Wabasha, Minnesota to Rock Island, Illinois.
The Refuge is a part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, which includes more than 540 refuges and more than 3,000 waterfowl production areas, a total of 95 million acres of lands set aside for wildlife habitat. The Refuge System is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
What birds can we see on this cam?
Look for Bald Eagles, American White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, Caspian Terns, Cormorants, and many species of ducks, gulls, and other waterfowl.
When can we see bald eagles?
Bald eagles can be seen year-round on the refuge. From November to March, pairs renew their bond with aerial displays and nest maintenance, from March to October, eagle pairs care for their fledglings as the young birds learn to fly and hunt.
Immature eagles, those under 5 years old, have mottled brown and white feathers; mature eagles have a brown body with white head and tail feathers.
What are some other bald eagle facts?
Bald eagles are one of the largest birds in North America, with a 6 to 8 foot wingspan; and weighing in at 8 to 14 pounds.
They hunt for fish and waterfowl, but will eat small mammals and scavenge on dead animals.
Paired eagles build large nests of sticks in tall trees and will re-use a nest year after year.
1-3 eggs are laid in February and March, with incubation lasting 35 days. The chicks will fledge when they are around 12 weeks old.
When can we see tundra swans?
Each fall, 20-45% of the eastern population of tundra swans use the refuge as a stopover point to refuel and rest en-route to their wintering areas on the Atlantic Coast. The swans begin arriving in late October. The largest numbers of birds gather in mid-November and will remain until freeze-up. In spring, small flocks may be seen in late March as they migrate to their breeding grounds on the tundra in Canada and Alaska.
The melancholy "woo-hoo, woo-hoo" sound of flocks of tundra swans flying overhead is a true sign and sound of fall on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
How do we identify tundra swans?
Adults are white with black bills; the young, called cygnets, are gray with pink bills.
What do tundra swans eat?
In the fall, the swans fuel up on starchy bulbs, or tubers, of plants like arrowhead (duck potato), wild celery, and sago pondweed. The swans use their large webbed feet to dislodge the tubers, which are buried in the river bottom. They reach down into the water with their long necks to retrieve the tasty morsels.
