MDC to help host Eagle Days at Smithville Lake

Free event Jan. 9 & 10 will include wildlife exhibits and live raptor shows

Kansas City, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and partners will host the 21st annual Eagle Days at Smithville Lake on Jan. 9 and 10. The right combination of weather that’s cold, but not too cold, can concentrate waterfowl and eagles at the lake north of Smithville and Kansas City. Regardless of weather, the indoor conservation exhibits and live raptor shows are always popular. All programs are free and all ages welcome.

   Conservation displays, crafts for children, and a program with live predatory birds will be available indoors at the Paradise Pointe Golf Course Clubhouse, 18212 Golf Course Drive, Smithville, Mo. Operation Wildlife will showcase live raptors. Other exhibits including wild birds rehabilitated from injuries by the Lakeside Nature Center will be on display.

   A wild eagle viewing station will be set up, with spotting scopes and guides, at the Highway W boat ramp. The ramp is near a waterfowl refuge and a prime eagle viewing area. If weather conditions move eagles and waterfowl to other locales, information on a change in viewing station location will be available at the event.

   Eagle Days event hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 9, and 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 10. Operation Wildlife will present four shows on Saturday and three on Sunday. For more information about Eagle Days and live bird show times, call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 816-532-0174.

   Eagle Days at Smithville Lake is a partnership between MDC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Clay County Parks and Recreation Department, and other public and private conservation partners.

   Also in MDC’s Kansas City Region, an Eagle Days event will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. onSaturday, Feb. 6, at the Schell City Community Center and at MDC’s Schell-Osage Conservation Area. The area is in Vernon County northeast of Nevada, Mo. Raptor programs and conservation displays will be at the community center. Guided eagle viewing will be offered at the lakes at the nearby conservation area. For information, call MDC’s El Dorado Springs office, 417-876-5226.

   For information about these and other Eagle Days events throughout Missouri, and for eagle viewing sites throughout winter, visit mdc.mo.gov/events/eagledays.

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Discover Nature with MDC Eagle Days around the state

First Eagle Days event is at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge on Dec. 5.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – From December through February, Missouri's winter eagle watching is spectacular. Discover nature with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) through Eagle Days events around the state, or enjoy eagle viewing on your own.

Because of its 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 great 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.

MDC offers Eagle Days events on the dates and locations listed below. The 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 don't forget cameras and binoculars.

• Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City. Call 816-271-3100 for more information.
• Jan. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Jan. 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Smithville Lake Paradise Pointe Golf Course Clubhouse north of Kansas City. Call 816-532-0174for more information.
• Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan. 17 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the MDC Springfield Conservation Nature Center. Call 417-888-4237 for more information.
• Jan. 16-17 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 314-877-1309 for more information.
• Jan. 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lock and Dam 24 and Apple Shed Theater in Clarksville. Call 660-785-2420 for more information.
• Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Schell City Community Center in downtown Schell City, and at the Schell-Osage Conservation Area. Call 417-876-5226 for more information.

Can't make an Eagle Days event? Other hot spots for winter eagle viewing include:

• Lake of the Ozarks at Bagnell Dam Access east of Bagnell
• Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on Route K southwest of Columbia
• Lock & Dam 20 at Canton
• Lock & Dam 24 at Clarksville
• Lock & Dam 25 east of Winfield
• Mingo National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Puxico
• Moses Eagle Park at Stella
• Old Chain of Rocks Bridge south of I-270, off of Riverview Drive in St. Louis
• Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, east of West Alton
• Schell-Osage Conservation Area north of El Dorado Springs
• Smithville Lake north of Kansas City
• Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City
• Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Sumner
• Table Rock Lake and Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery southwest of Branson
• Truman Reservoir west of Warsaw

For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/events/eagledays.

Eagle viewing at Montauk State Park in February

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Guests can watch as the eagles glide across the skies above the Montauk valley on Feb. 6 and Feb. 20 at Montauk State Park. The events are sponsored by Missouri State Parks and will be held at 9 a.m. on both days. Participants should meet at the CCC Stone Picnic Shelter for the free, public programs.

The park naturalist will lead a group to view the eagles, including an active eagle’s nest in the park. A spotting scope and binoculars will be available, but guests are encouraged to bring their own binoculars and cameras. Participants should also dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.

Montauk State Park is located 22 miles southwest of Salem on Hwy. 119 in Dent County. For more information about the event, call the Montauk State Park at 573-548-2225 or 573-548-2201. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Discover nature with MDC Eagle Days

Join wildlife watchers around the state to view our nation’s symbol in action.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- From December through February, Missouri's winter eagle watching is spectacular. Discover nature with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) through Eagle Days events around the state, or enjoy eagle-viewing on your own.

Because of its big rivers, many lakes and expansive wetlands, Missouri is one of the leading lower 48 states for bald eagle viewing. Each fall, thousands of these great 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.

MDC offers Eagle Days events on the dates and locations listed. The 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 don’t forget cameras and binoculars.

• Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City. Call 816-271-3100 for more information.
• Jan. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Jan. 11 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.
• Jan. 17 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan. 18 from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the MDC Springfield Conservation Nature Center. Call 417-888-4237 for more information.
• Jan. 17-18 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 314-877-1309 for more information.
• Jan. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Jan. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lock and Dam 24 and Apple Shed Theater in Clarksville. Call 660-785-2420 for more information.
• Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge off State Highway 51 near Puxico. Call 573-222-3589 for more information.

Can’t make an Eagle Days event? Other hot spots for winter eagle viewing include:

• Lake of the Ozarks at Bagnell Dam Access east of Bagnell
• Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on Route K southwest of Columbia
• Lock & Dam 24 at Clarksville
• Lock & Dam 25 east of Winfield
• Mingo National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Puxico
• Moses Eagle Park at Stella
• Old Chain of Rocks Bridge south of I-270, off of Riverview Drive in St. Louis
• Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area east of West Alton
• Schell-Osage Conservation Area north of El Dorado Spring
• Smithville Lake north of Kansas City
• Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City
• Swan Lake National Wildlife Refuge south of Sumner
• Table Rock Lake and Shepherd of the Hills Fish Hatchery southwest of Branson
• Truman Reservoir west of Warsaw

For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov/events/eagledays.

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