Visitors see eagles and waterfowl at 40th annual Loess Bluffs Eagle Days

THIS CONTENT IS ARCHIVED
News from the region
Northwest
Published Date
12/04/2018
Body

Mound City, Mo. – Visitors to the 40th annual Eagle Days at the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge Nov. 30-Dec. 2 found waterfowl on unfrozen areas in the marshes and bald eagles watching from the trees. Ice locked in portions of the wetlands. But waterfowl keep some areas open, and near the open water waterfowl also stood nearby on the ice. Trumpeter swans were also present among the migrating ducks and geese.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service hosts the event with an assist from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri State Parks, Missouri Master Naturalist chapters, and other volunteers. Dickerson Park Zoo presented indoor eagle shows with captive raptors.

On Nov. 30, nearly 1,000 students from more than 25 northwest Missouri schools attended the school-day portion of Eagle Days. They saw the live eagle show and then took the refuge’s driving tour through the marshes. MDC staff hosted stops along the way with information and exhibits about wetland ecology and creatures. The public attended Eagle Days on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1-2.

Upcoming is the Smithville Lake Eagle Days Jan. 5-6 at the Paradise Pointe Golf Course Clubhouse, 18212 Golf Course Drive, Smithville. That free event also features nature displays and live bird exhibits in the clubhouse. Outdoor viewing of wild eagles is weather dependent regarding locations, and spotting scope sites will be determined the mornings of the event. For more information, call 816-532-0174.

Missouri has several places to see migrating wild eagles and waterfowl during winter. For suggestions, visit https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/eagle-days-5.