Where in the park is Neil? The week 16 answer is Eagle Island

As part of the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, we’re going on a virtual tour with Neil Howk, a man who has spent decades exploring the islands and teaching people about what makes them special. He knows the islands like the back of his hand.

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is considered an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society because of the outstanding habitat it provides for migratory and resident bird species. You can check out the different speciesfound on the islands here.

At the sixteenth stop on our digital tour, Neil is on Eagle Island.   Eagle Island is the westernmost and second-smallest island in the chain, at 46.9424° N, 91.0365° W.

Eagle Island offers important habitat for colonial nesting species like double crested cormorants and herring gulls.  

Great blue herons and (appropriately) bald eagles will also occasionally nest there.  

To protect these birds, Eagle Island is closed to camping and visitors are asked to stay at least 500 feet from the island during the nesting season, which runs from May 15 to September 1.  

The island is only 20 acres in size.  It has no docks or trails and is covered with a dense growth of forest including paper birch, fir, and Canada yew.

Look for another digital adventure next week. To play along, simply like the Friends of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Facebook page and check back next Wednesday for the clue to next week’s location. Make a guess in the comments and we’ll post the answer on Thursday. Click here to view the entire series.

You can find updates about NPS operations on www.nps.gov/coronavirus. For more information about Apostle Islands National Lakeshore,  call (715) 779-3398 or visit go.nps.gov/ApostleConditions.

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