By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Eagle Days will return to Smithville Lake this Saturday and Sunday.
The Missouri Department of Conservation helps with the annual event, giving people the opportunity to observe the majestic Bald Eagle in nature.
Department spokesman Bill Graham says the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in Mound City, just north of St. Joseph, has seen a big migration of eagles, around two to three hundred birds. But Graham says the eagle's migration is very dependent on the weather.
"It can be high times, but then the weather is a factor, does the weather cause ice and congregate them or not," Graham tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Our weather has been up and down, so, sometimes it's kind of spectacular viewing and sometimes you're lucky to see something."
Graham says that we have seen a rebound in the bald eagle population. And from restricted pesticide use, to less hunting, and more nesting habitats.
"There's more than one factor that goes into the rebound of the bald eagle, and maybe one of the biggest factors is just, people's general appreciation for the beauty, grace, size," Graham says. "Really close up to a big bald eagle, it's pretty impressive."
The Missouri department of Conservation along with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Clay County Parks and Rec host the annual event.
Smithville Lake Park Manager Derek Dorsey, also with the Army Corps of Engineers, says that Eagle Days will provide people with a great opportunity to view Bald Eagles not only inside at the show, but also out on the lake.
"On the lake, the lakes still open water it's not frozen over yet, so the eagles are really scattered out across the 20,000 acres that we manage here," Dorsey says. "So, we're hoping to find where they're resting at Saturday and Sunday, and try to set up some scopes."
Eagle Days will take place on Saturday and Sunday at Smithville Lake. Live shows will take place at the Paradise Pointe Golf Course complex at 9:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 2pm on Saturday, and, 11:30am, 12:30pm and 2pm on Sunday at the Paradise Pointe Golf Course complex.
You can find more information about Eagle Days events HERE.