Bald Eagles can be seen year-round across the state of Nebraska. However, winter and early spring is the best time of year to see numbers of Bald Eagles. An excellent strategy is to visit any large reservoirs in early spring once there is some open water and once migrating waterfowl have arrived. Reservoirs that possess some ice are ideal. This usually occurs in late February or early March. In the winter, November through January, concentrations of Bald Eagles often occur at reservoirs that maintain some open water. Favored sites include Sutherland Reservoir near North Platte, Harlan County Reservoir near Alma, and below Gavin’s Point Dam near Yankton, South Dakota. Lake Ogallala and Lake McConaughy are also a favored site and Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District (CNPPID) maintains a viewing building near the dam spillway. CNPPID also facilitates viewing at their J-2 power plant near Lexington.
Click on map below for a larger version of this map
Resident Bald Eagles begin nesting in January or February. Throughout February and March is when observers may see Bald Eagles building new nests or repairing old ones. During that time of the year eagles are active and the trees do not have leaves so the eagles and nests are often quite visible. If you do discover an active Bald Eagle nest please do two things:
1) View the birds from at least 0.25 miles away using a spotting scope or binoculars. Do not disturb the birds; doing so is a violation of federal law.
2) Contact Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to report the nest:
Joel Jorgensen
402-471-5440 Joel.jorgensen@nebraska.gov
Management and Outlook
OFFICIAL STATE OF NEBRASKA WEBSITE - 
