Bald Eagle Tour

Bald Eagle Tours

Discover the James offers 2-Hour and 3-Hour Bald Eagle Tours. Ride aboard the the Discovery Barge II, a 24-foot pontoon boat, as you travel into the midst of an ecosystem rich with wildlife, history and beauty. Discover the James' Bald Eagle Tour takes you through a stretch of the James River known as Jefferson's Reach.

This tour focuses on resident bald eagles, who thrive in their territories year around. This 'restored' resident eagle population is considered to be the greatest comeback of the bald eagle in the entire continent. Their conservation success story can be seen first hand, where 49 years ago, in 1975, there were no resident bald eagles within the 10,000 square miles of the James River's watershed. Four years after local extinction, in 1979, a first pair came back on their own and began this comeback. Today, over 380 pair of resident eagles call the James River home. Discover the James' Bald Eagle Tour shares a part of this amazing story while traveling through up to ten territories.

In addition to the resident eagles, two other populations of bald eagles migrate into the area. In early May, summer migratory bald eagles, from the south (mainly Florida), arrive and are gone by the end of September. In mid November, winter migratory eagles arrive from the north and stay into February, then return to New England and Eastern Canada to their breeding grounds.

Come experience majestic bald eagles closer than you may have ever seen them. The dates listed below are for public tours where one or more can book. If interested in another date or Private Eagle Tour, click here.

Public Eagle Tour dates listed below.

Call or email to book.

2026 Eagle Tour Schedule

Only dates with openings are listed

2-Hour Eagle Tour. Cost: $110 per person

March 19, Thursday, 7:00-9:00am

March 26, Thursday, 7:00-9:00am

April 16, Thursday, 7:00-9:00am

April 21, Tuesday, 7:00-9:00am & 9:30-11:30am

May 12, Tuesday, 7:00-9:00am & 9:30-11:30am

3-Hour Eagle Tours. Cost: $165 per person

April 9, Thursday, 7:00-10:00am

May 14, Thursday, 7:00-10:00am

For more information or to book an Eagle Tour:

Contact Capt. Mike at 804-938-2350 or Mike@DiscovertheJames.com

Top header image: This is Bandit, a resident bald eagle, perched on a limb. Bandit has an incredible story of survival and persistence. She hatched over one thousand miles away in 2005. And now, at over eighteen years old, she is over half her life span, as bald eagles live to be about 25-30 years in the wild.

--Photo by Marlene Frazier

Lower center: Bandit is undoubtedly one of the most photographed eagles in Jefferson's Reach. Through poor nest buidling skills and powerful storms her nest has fallen at least seven times since November 2009. In this image she is grabbing a fish from the surface of the river, with her mate, Trey, flying just above her.

The bald eagle's call is an amazing sound. Don't get fooled by commercials on TV, as they often pair the visual of a bald eagle in flight with the sound of a red tailed hawk call. To hear what a bald eagle really sounds like, click here.

-- Photo by Bob Jones Jr.

What do people have to say about our Eagle Tours?

"Thank You for a great time! Myself, my wife and my daughter had the pleasure of taking your Bald Eagle Tour Sunday morning. It far exceeded my expectations. We've lived in the Richmond area for 20+ years and the Bald Eagle Tour is easily in the Top 5 things to do around town. I haven't stopped telling people about it."

-- Jimmy J.

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See more bald eagle images taken on the Eagle Tour