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The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.
Published November 14, 2018
Eagle Days are upon us once again
JEFFERSON CITY - From December through February, Missouri's winter eagle
watching is spectacular. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is
holding various Eagle Days events around the state and local sites can also be
attended for eagle viewing at anytime.
Because of the states big rivers, many lakes, and abundant wetlands, Missouri
is one of the leading lower 48 states for bald eagle viewing. Each fall,
thousands of these birds migrate south from their nesting range in Canada and
the Great Lakes states to hunt in the Show-Me State.
Eagles take up residence wherever they find open water and plentiful food. More
than 2,000 bald eagles are typically reported in Missouri during winter.
In the lake area, Lake of the Ozarks at Bagnell Dam Access, east of Bagnell is a
popular place to view the birds along with nearby Truman Reservoir west of
Warsaw.
For those who want more information and a close up of eagles, the MDC is
offering Eagle Days events around the state.
Eagle Days Events
MDC Eagle Days events include live captive-eagle programs, exhibits, activities,
videos, and guides with spotting scopes. Watch for eagles perched in large
trees along the water's edge. View them early in the morning to see eagles
flying and fishing, be sure to dress for winter weather and dont forget cameras
and binoculars.
MOUND CITY: Dec. 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge near Mound City. Call 816-271-3100 for
more information.
KANSAS CITY: Jan. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Jan. 6 from 10:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. at Smithville Lake Paradise Pointe Golf Course Clubhouse north of
Kansas City. Call 816-532-0174 for more information.
ST. LOUIS: Jan. 19 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Chain of Rocks
Bridge south of I-270 off Riverview Drive in St. Louis. Call 314-301-1500 for
more information.
SPRINGFIELD: Jan. 19 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan. 20 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
at the MDC Springfield Conservation Nature Center. Call 417-888-4237 for more
information
JEFFERSON CITY: Jan. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MDC Runge Conservation
Nature Center. Call 573-526-5544 for more information.
CLARKSVILLE: Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Lock and Dam 24 and Apple Shed Theater in Clarksville. Call 660-785-2424 for
more information.
PUXICO: Feb. 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge,
Puxico. Call 573-222-3589 for more information.
If you cant make an Eagle Days event there are other locations that can be
visited for winter eagle viewing. These include:
Lake of the Ozarks at Bagnell Dam Access, east of Bagnell
Truman Reservoir west of Warsaw
Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on Route K, southwest of Columbia
Lock & Dam 20, Canton
Lock & Dam 24 at Clarksville
Lock & Dam 25 east of Winfield
Mingo National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Puxico
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge south of I-270, off of Riverview Drive, St. Louis
Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area east of West Alton
Schell-Osage Conservation Area north of El Dorado Springs
Smithville Lake north of Kansas City
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City
Stella at Moses Eagle Park
Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Sumner
Table Rock Lake and Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery southwest of Branson
There will also be an MDC Wild Webcast: Bald Eagles and Eagle Days December 4
from noon to 1 p.m.
MDC Resource Scientist Janet Haslerig and MDC Eagle Days Veteran Dan Zarlenga
will share their expertise about bald eagles in Missouri and the perennially
popular MDC Eagle Days events around the state.
Those interested can register at
http://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZT7
For more information on bald eagles, visit the MDC online Field Guide at
https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/bald-eagle
For more information on Eagle Days, visit
nature.mdc.mo.gov/eagle-days-5
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