Eagle Days is returning to Springfield on Jan. 21 and 22, with the usual line-up with educational programs and chances to see live bald eagles both indoors and outdoors.
Eagle Days, put on by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), takes place statewide, spanning from December to February.
“From December through February, Missouri's winter eagle watching is spectacular,” a news release from the MDC reads. “…Because of Missouri’s big rivers, many lakes, and abundant wetlands, the Show-Me state is one of the leading lower 48 states for bald eagle viewing.”
Prior to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, bald eagles were well on their way to extinction, with less than 500 breeding pairs left in the lower 48 states. In 2007, they were removed from the Endangered Species List. According to a 2020 release from the MDC, today, Missouri alone is home to about 500 nests.
When and where to see eagles across the Ozarks
There will be two days and multiple opportunities to see eagles in Springfield this weekend. On Jan. 21 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., educational programs featuring a live bald eagle from the Dickerson Park Zoo will take place every hour, on the hour, at the Springfield Nature Conservation Center, located at 4601 S. Nature Center Way.
The programs will be led by MDC Naturalist Morgan Wyatt.
During the same hours, the Lake Springfield Boathouse, at 2312 Lake Springfield Park Road, will provide opportunities for people to see eagles in the wild, with spotting scopes and volunteers.
Eagles nests can be spotted in treetops near bodies of water. They are often about four to five feet wide and two to four feet deep.
The MDC encourages guests to dress for the weather, and bring a camera and set of binoculars.
If you learned a lot at Springfield’s program, or simply want to test your knowledge, a Bald Eagle Trail Trivia will be held in Joplin. Attendees can pick up a question sheet at the Shoal Creek Education Conservation Center, located at 201 W. Riviera Drive in Joplin, and hit the trail. Upon returning from their nature walk and eagle spotting, participants can submit their trivia answers and claim a prize.
This event takes place Jan. 21 only, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The above events are free to attend and no registration is required. If you are planning to attend other events across the state, check the Eagle Days page on the MDC’s website, as preregistration is required for some events.
Best spots around Missouri to spot eagles
For those unable to attend the Eagle Days events, the MDC provides a list of prime locations for winter eagle viewing in Missouri.
- Duck Creek Conservation Area north of Puxico on Highway 51 in Stoddard
- Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on Route K southwest of Columbia
- Lake of the Ozarks at Bagnell Dam Access east of Bagnell
- Lock & Dam 20 in Canton
- Lock & Dam 24 at Clarksville
- Lock & Dam 25 east of Winfield
- Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge south of Mound City
- Mingo National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Puxico
- Moses Eagle Park in 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 Springs
- Smithville Lake north of Kansas City
- Stockton Lake near Stockton
- 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
- Wappapello Lake's Eagle Point in southeast Missouri
