Jay,

I flew right over La Crosse on the way home from Oshkosh, so I have an
idea of what it looks like there now...

My closest encounter with a large bird was back when I lived in
Seattle. I was in a 172 with a friend going into Port Townsend. I
spotted a bald eagle at our 12'Oclock, but by the time I could say
anything to the guy in the left seat, it had veered away from us and
passed just a few feet off of our right wingtip.

It was HUGE.

Dean