Bald Eagle D-1 travels to Wisconsin, Minnesota
By Laura Goetzinger
Arguably the most famous animal to come from Decorah has made its way to Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Bald Eagle D-1 hatched at the Decorah Fish Hatchery earlier this year, under the watchful eyes of millions of Internet viewers.
She was fitted with a satellite transmitter on July 12 and remained a Decorah resident about another month.
Then, Aug. 14, she flew away.
Thanks to the transmitter researchers have been able to track many of her moves. Researchers download data from the satellite each morning from the previous day.
Her first day away from Decorah, D-1 was logged near the Minnesota/Iowa border and near Wykoff, Minn. Over the next week, she was logged near Pepin, Wisconsin near the Mississippi River and Luck in Central.
Since then, D-1 has largely been in the Yellow Lake vicinity.
A photograph was taken of her Wednesday, Sept. 28, about three miles from Yellow Lake, Wis.
The photographer, who has asked to remain anonymous, said she looked healthy, relaxed and interacted with other local eagles.
Researchers are certain D-1 was the eagle in the picture because her satellite transmitter was visible, and she was tracked down using telemetry, Anderson said.
"Most everyone was completely surprised by her northern travels," said Bob Anderson, director of the Raptor Research Project. "Some of us thought she may go to a nearby livestock farm, but for her to head to Northern Minnesota and Wisconsin was most interesting."
During her travels, D-1 made friends with other eagles, having been seen with both immature and adult eagles.
The biggest risks to her safety are probably having a reduced fear of humans and vehicles, Anderson said.
It will be at least three more years before she breeds, he said.
Like her early life, D-1's travels can be viewed online at
www.raptorresource.org. The project is also on Facebook, search "Decorah Eagles."
