Where to go
Lock and Dam 18 is on the Mississippi River near Gladstone, Illinois, north of Burlington. The Illinois visitor listing gives the address as 1675N, Gladstone, IL 61437. Use the location map below to plan your drive.
Places to Explore • Illinois
Winter Bald Eagles along the Mississippi River.
My visits here have been winter trips to see the Bald Eagles. Bare riverside trees can hold a remarkable gathering, while open water draws ducks and other birds. These photographs follow the river from sunny, icy shorelines to eagles sitting quietly in falling snow.
Why winter?
When surrounding waters freeze, moving water near the dam can remain open, giving Bald Eagles a place to find fish. Greater Burlington’s tourism office highlights December through February for eagle watching here. Numbers vary with ice, weather and food availability; the photographs capture particular visits, not a guaranteed daily scene.
Scan the bare trees as well as the river. Some eagles may be resting above the shoreline while others watch the water or feed.
A Bald Eagle does not start life with a white head. Young birds are mostly brown, with changing patterns of pale mottling, and generally acquire adult plumage at about five years old. The gallery makes a useful comparison between the dark-headed immature birds and white-headed adults.
The dam has an engineering story, too: its movable section spans 1,350 feet and uses three roller gates and fourteen Tainter gates.
Plan your visit
Lock and Dam 18 is on the Mississippi River near Gladstone, Illinois, north of Burlington. The Illinois visitor listing gives the address as 1675N, Gladstone, IL 61437. Use the location map below to plan your drive.
December–February is the main winter viewing period highlighted by local tourism. Check the Corps of Engineers’ seasonal eagle counts and the date of each report. Conditions and sightings can change quickly.
Binoculars or a spotting scope help you watch from a comfortable distance. Dress for wind beside the river, bring warm layers and use footwear suited to icy ground. Stay off river ice.
Give resting and feeding birds plenty of space; never bait them or approach nests for a photograph. Use permitted public areas and follow posted closures. This is a working facility, so check access before a long drive. The visitor listing provides 309-873-2246.
Seasonal eagle counts & viewing information Location map & directions
Photographs by Brian Woolman
Open a photograph for the slideshow, or use “Load more” to expand a gallery. Along with Bald Eagles, look for Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, American White Pelicans, a Great Blue Heron, a Red-tailed Hawk and a Pileated Woodpecker.
Great River Road Illinois: Lock and Dam 18 · Greater Burlington: winter eagle watching · U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: seasonal eagle counts · Cornell Lab: identifying Bald Eagles
Check current access and conditions before visiting. Photographs show Brian’s winter visits; wildlife sightings vary.