National Eagle Center

National Eagle Center Your eagle experience awaits in the "Eagle Capital of America", Wabasha, MN! We are home to four permanently injured Bald Eagles and one Red-Tailed Hawk.
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The National Eagle Center is the world's premier resource for impactful eagle education and experiences. Our facility offers daily programs and two floors of interactive exhibits covering eagle biololgy and behavior, the environment, and eagles in art, history, and cultures. Our Winter Eagle Viewing Field Trips and Habitat Tours are available during the winter season. For details, please visit nationaleaglecenter.org/experiences.

🦅⛴️😃 ENJOY A NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER KIDS CRUISE JULY 24 & 25! 😃⛴️🦅Why should the adults have all the fun? The National Ea...
06/23/2026

🦅⛴️😃 ENJOY A NATIONAL EAGLE CENTER KIDS CRUISE JULY 24 & 25! 😃⛴️🦅

Why should the adults have all the fun? The National Eagle Center invites kids and their guardians to join us for two KIDS CRUISES on July 24 & 25 during Wabasha Riverboat Days! These one hour cruises will board WSU's Cal Fremling boat at the pier just outside the National Eagle Center in Wabasha and explore the Mississippi River from 12-1pm. We'll view wild Bald Eagles and other river wildlife and enjoy some river bingo as well!

Tickets are $20 for members and $30 for non-members, and all kids must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. This is a great way to enjoy a summer afternoon and learn about the amazing nature we enjoy right here on the Mississippi River. DON'T DELAY - BOOK YOUR SPOTS TODAY: bit.ly/44wm8Zn 🦅☀️⛴️😃😎👍👍

TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE - HAVE A VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!Today we honor our fathers and say, "Thank You!" Just like mo...
06/21/2026

TO ALL THE DADS OUT THERE - HAVE A VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Today we honor our fathers and say, "Thank You!" Just like mothers, fathers (and father figures) play an important role in our lives, whether they are providers, protectors, our biggest fans, role-models or all of the above. None of us - eagle and human alike - could get to where we are today entirely on our own. So to all fathers out there - we wish you a Happy Father's Day!

Give your father or the father figure in your life the gift of membership (bit.ly/2SUgqvs), make a donation in his honor (bit.ly/3zYiPMG), or give him a gift adoption! (bit.ly/3yqdUTv) Photo by Margaret Maire. 🦅🥰👨‍👧‍👦👍

🐦😎 A TINY CATCH 😎🐦On this page we give a lot of attention to Bald Eagles catching fish. It makes sense since Bald Eagles...
06/19/2026

🐦😎 A TINY CATCH 😎🐦

On this page we give a lot of attention to Bald Eagles catching fish. It makes sense since Bald Eagles are water birds and the Center is located on the Mississippi River. And while Bald Eagles catching fish are a majestic spectacle to behold, today we share a photo and highlight another, much smaller catch that is also happening every day during the spring and summer out over the water.

If you spend time out on or by the waters of the Mississippi River, you will no doubt observer dozens, if not hundreds, of much smaller birds deftly skimming just above the water. These are (mostly) Swallows, and there are a few species that we observe here in Minnesota and Wisconsin, including Barn, Tree and Cliff Swallows. They are "insectivores", feasting on insects, a much smaller prey item than the fish that Bald Eagles are watching for. They are migratory, and their return each spring is a signal that warmer temperatures are mostly here to stay.

Swallows are usually darting around and can be difficult to get a good look at, but their colors are truly marvelous, and this photo shared with us by Narin Tipsrisukond does a wonderful job of not only catching a Tree Swallow in flight, but also with a freshly caught insect in its mouth! Note that telltale blue-green feathering on the head. Fantastic capture, Narin! Thanks for sharing. 😯😃😍😎👍👍

🦅😯 EAGLE 101: BALD EAGLE EXTINCTION – HOW CLOSE DID WE COME? 😯🦅Tomorrow, June 20, is Bald Eagle Day, a day that the Nati...
06/19/2026

🦅😯 EAGLE 101: BALD EAGLE EXTINCTION – HOW CLOSE DID WE COME? 😯🦅

Tomorrow, June 20, is Bald Eagle Day, a day that the National Eagle Center celebrates each year to commemorate the Bald Eagle coming off the Endangered Species List in 2007. Thankfully, the world in 2026 is a much different place than it was 50 years ago when it comes to Bald Eagles. Today’s youth only know a world where Bald Eagles are everywhere, a common sight. But it wasn’t that long ago that seeing a Bald Eagle was a major event and America’s living National Symbol was in a fight for its very existence. How close did we come to losing the Bald Eagle forever? Let’s look back.

As a quick recap, the driving force behind Bald Eagle population decline was the widespread use of the pesticide DDT. It didn’t kill eagles outright, but rather acted as a calcium inhibitor, preventing female eagles from laying strong-shelled eggs during nesting season. Eggs were crushing during incubation and, essentially, Bald Eagles were not replenishing their population for nearly 20 years before people noticed a major problem and acted.

The peak of Bald Eagle endangerment was somewhere around 1963 when survey estimates put the population in the lower 48 United States at just 417 breeding pairs! Along the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife & Fish Refuge which runs from Wabasha, MN 261 miles south to Rock Island, IL, there was ONE active nest in 1970! Today, that same stretch of river has over 400 active Bald Eagle nests! Bald Eagles are back in a big way, and that is what Bald Eagle Day celebrates each year.

The biggest lesson to keep in mind is that we avoided catastrophe and saved Bald Eagles because there was broad buy-in and action across our society. Federal laws, conservation programs, public action… all of these worked in concert to bring the Bald Eagle back from the brink. Those lessons are applicable today to the species of animal, plants and pollinators that are threatened and endangered. Where there is a will there IS a way! The Bald Eagle’s story of recovery is the shining example of conservation success in the United States. Photo by Chitradeep Das. 🦅😃😍😎👍👍🇺🇸

😃👍 CAN'T JOIN US FOR BALD EAGLE DAY ON SATURDAY? TREAT DAD ON SUNDAY! 👍😃The National Eagle Center is hosting our big Bal...
06/18/2026

😃👍 CAN'T JOIN US FOR BALD EAGLE DAY ON SATURDAY? TREAT DAD ON SUNDAY! 👍😃

The National Eagle Center is hosting our big Bald Eagle Day celebration this Saturday, June 20 (DETAILS: bit.ly/4kKE8Wx), but if you can't join us on Saturday, treat Dad to a visit with the eagles on Sunday! Father's Day is our June Community Connection Day and all dads will receive complimentary admission all day! (program reservations still apply) See you (and Dad) in Wabasha! 🦅👨👴😃👍👍

🦅😯 EAGLE101: SOMETHING IN COMMON BETWEEN EAGLES AND HUMANS 😯🦅At first glance, humans and eagles are obviously very diffe...
06/17/2026

🦅😯 EAGLE101: SOMETHING IN COMMON BETWEEN EAGLES AND HUMANS 😯🦅

At first glance, humans and eagles are obviously very different creatures. From our size, to our physiology, to our physical abilities. After all, one of the reasons eagles and birds have captured the human imagination since the dawn of civilization is their ability to fly.

Scientifically, from a taxonomical perspective, there are definitely some shared classifications: we're both vertebrates and warm blooded. But there is one other, less obvious attribute that we humans share with eagles and birds: keratin.

Eagles are covered in feathers. Humans (being mammals) are covered in hair. Both of these are made of keratin, a strong, fibrous protein. And it doesn't stop with with feather and hair, either! Eagle beaks and talons are also made of keratin, as are human finger and toenails, and all of these grow continuously.

For eagles, keratin serves some obvious functions: it makes their beaks rigid and tough, perfect for ripping and tearing food, and it ensures that their talons (their weapons and hunting tools) are strong and sharp. As for their feathers... the are surprisingly tough, providing a natural body armor as well as acting as an effective insulator and water-barrier.

For mammals, hair primarily acts as an insulator. For humans, our fingernails aid in our fine motor skills, grip, and our ability to precisely manipulate objects with our fingers. Similarly, our toenails offer protection for our toes and aid in balance.

Here we see Jarod Lueck and Ambassador Latch working together during one of our summer outdoor live eagle programs. You can learn more exciting facts and enjoy a beautiful venue when you visit! LEARN MORE: bit.ly/3tfxPBB 🦅☀️😎😃👍👍

🦅😯 COLLECTION WEDNESDAY: CHICKEN-CORN SOUP 😯🦅One area of American culture that is particularly interesting to see the in...
06/17/2026

🦅😯 COLLECTION WEDNESDAY: CHICKEN-CORN SOUP 😯🦅

One area of American culture that is particularly interesting to see the influence of eagle imagery is food and kitchen culture. The American Eagle Collection has many examples of eagle-branded products, both food and tool.

This week’s Collection item is a cup of Chicken-Corn Soup. Made by Spread-Eagle Farm in Klingerstown, Pennsylvania, it is reminiscent of a modern Cup O’ Noodles, with the broth and meat already added. Perhaps the most interesting part of this artifact is what it is missing–an expiration date! Since expiration dates were not federally mandated until the 70s, one wouldn’t want to wait too long before indulging in this meal. 😉

Spread-Eagle Farm was ahead of its time, producing this product sometime between 1964-1972. Their iconic logo features a Golden eagle, which can be found in Pennsylvania during the winter, the perfect time for some warm soup! The farm likely named their company after the nickname of their town, “Spread Eagle,” which shows their continued appreciation for the majestic birds. Spread Eagle, also known as the “heraldic pose” is a pose eagles do when drying or thermoregulating themselves, and is the very same pose featured on the Great Seal of the United States. 🦅🇺🇸😃👍👍

🦅Wall of Wingspans!🦅One of the most memorable, fun, and interactive parts of the National Eagle Center live eagle progra...
06/15/2026

🦅Wall of Wingspans!🦅

One of the most memorable, fun, and interactive parts of the National Eagle Center live eagle program is our "wingspan stick". Volunteers from the audience stand with their arms outstretched while our presenters hold up the wingspan stick to see how they measure up to wingspans of native birds found in Minnesota and Wisconsin, from the Ruby-throated Hummingbird up to the Bald Eagle. Now, we have taken that beloved element of our program and incorporated it into our classroom.

This past winter, the Center worked with our friend, partner, and regular collaborator, Wabasha artist Sue Mundy, to create a brand-new mural that shows the life-sized wingspans of different birds found around the world. Thanks to a grant from the Ruth Gale & George W. Doffing Foundation, Sue was able to transform a blank wall into a beautiful bird-filled scene! Guests and class attendees can now appreciate different wingspans, from the tiny Bee Hummingbird to the giant Wandering Albatross, up-close and in vivid detail. Alongside comparing wingspans, you can also stand next to an American Robin, Mallard duck, Sandhill Crane, King Penguin, or even an Ostrich to compare your height to. As always, Sue did an incredible job with details of each bird as they appear to pop right out of the wall! Great work, Sue! THANK YOU! 😍

Which species of bird do you recognize from the photos?

🦅🤔 EAGLE101: CAN I HAVE AN EAGLE? 🤔🦅There is no doubt about it - raptors are very cool animals! Birds, and particularly...
06/15/2026

🦅🤔 EAGLE101: CAN I HAVE AN EAGLE? 🤔🦅

There is no doubt about it - raptors are very cool animals! Birds, and particularly raptors, have captured the human imagination since the dawn of civilization. They can fly, are powerful, and are majestic looking! They can even be useful, which is how the art and sport of falconry came about - hunting with a bird. So it should come as no surprise that the National Eagle Center occasionally gets asked the question or receives the inquiry, "can I have an eagle?" or " how do I get an eagle?"

Around the world, falconry is a time-honored tradition. People raise and train raptors to hunt with. Owning a raptor or a collection of birds can be a major status symbol is some places and cultures! But in the United States, possessing a raptor, particularly an eagle, is not something you can achieve quickly or easily.

In order to be a falconer, a person must go through extensive training and obtain the required federal permits to possess and care for raptors. Bald and Golden Eagles are protected by two separate US laws - the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a law which serves to protect all bird species native to North America. The US Fish & Wildlife Department is the governing body and they oversee and issue all permits. The National Eagle Center holds several federal permits - one for each on our Ambassadors, in fact!

The bottom line is that, in the United States, raptors and native birds are not treated like other common "pet" species, and it is not easy for a person to obtain and keep an eagle privately. It is closely and heavily regulated by the federal government and requires a lot of training and education. It can be done, but it is a long journey and process to get to be a falconer.

Here we see National Eagle Center Director of Education, Scott Mehus, and Ambassador Was'aka enjoying some time in our outdoor weathering yard. 🦅😀😍👍👍

Address

50 Pembroke Avenue S
Wabasha, MN
55981

Opening Hours

Monday 12am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+16515654989

Website

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