Large, fertile lakes, towering red and white pine and remote areas provide ideal nesting and feeding habitat. Nesting birds return in late February and early March, although a few birds spend the winter in the forest. Eagles occupy their breeding areas until the lakes freeze over in November and December. The best opportunities for viewing bald eagles are from a boat. Search the lakeshore with binoculars for eagles on beaches, eating fish.
Eagles tend to be associated with larger lakes.
One of the better opportunities to view eagles is to canoe down the Mississippi River between Cass Lake and Lake Winnie. Without a boat, find an area along the beach with a good panoramic view of the lake. Campgrounds, picnic areas and boat landings are good places to visit.