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      2005 is the 200th anniversary of the exploration of the Upper Mississippi River by the Pike expedition. Zebulon Pike was a career Army officer assigned by commanding General of the Army, James Wilkinson to find the origin of the Mississippi River, purchase sites from the American Indians for military posts, halt the illegal fur trade in the north, and bring representative native chiefs to St. Louis for talks. It seems likely that Wilkinson issued these orders without the knowledge of President Jefferson, the mastermind of the Louis and Clark exploration of the Missouri River, then in progress.
      In early August, 1805, Pike and 20 men departed Fort Bellefontaine, Mo., aboard a 70 foot keel boat up the Mississippi. Of local note was Pike's stop and influence at the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers. Pike identified the Iowa side bluff as a strategic location for a future military fort. The Army later did construct a fort in the area, but selected lowlands on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi. The initial fort site, near Villa Louis, was subject to frequent flooding and subsequently moved. The Fort Crawford museum is one of the remaining buildings of the second Fort Crawford.
      While at Prairie du Chien, Pike obtained two barges to replace their large keel boat. One of the greatest successes of the Pike expedition was the purchase of the future Fort Snelling site at the confluence to the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, near Minneapolis. However, this was one of Pikes few achievements. He failed to find the origin of the Mississippi, incorrectly calling Cass Lake the source, exposing his men to severe winter weather in the process; purchased only one military site (on credit); failed to influence the fur trade; and failed to convince any American Indian chiefs to travel to St. Louis. Pike was hampered in his journey of discovery by inadequate support from the Army, such as trained personnel and equipment, and his limited education.
      Pike's later journey to the western United States is better known, largely because of the naming of the Colorado mountain Pike's Peak. Zebulon Pike eventually attained the rank of brigadier general. At age 34, he was killed in action against British troops during the War of 1812, near today's Toronto, Ontario.

Bald Eagle Nesting Summary
      There is continued good news about bald eagle nesting on the Refuge. During 2004, we found 136 active eagle nests on the 260 miles of Upper Miss Refuge. The entire Refuge includes the Mississippi River from Wabasha, Minn., to Clinton, Iowa. This compares to 116 active nests found during our 2003 surveys. Usually, over half of the eagle nests occur on the McGregor District (pools 9, 10 and 11).
      Each active nesting eagle pair usually raises one to two young. In 2004, we estimate 181 young eagles fledged from nests on the Refuge. The return of bald eagles to the river during the last 20 years is heartening. Indiscriminate use of pesticides, primarily DDT, illegal shooting, and habitat development were the primary causes for bald eagle population declines in much of the United States. The first post-DDT bald eagle nest in this region of the river was found near Cassville, Wisconsin in the mid-1970s. Since then, bald eagle nesting continued to increase each year. Eagles are also moving into areas off the Mississippi River in larger numbers. We receive frequent comments from visitors that they are seeing eagles where none existed in recent times. We see that as a good thing; and hope you do too.
      That's the news for now. Until next time, see you on the Refuge.