With the prolonged frigid weather this year it’s still not too late to see eagles in abundance in the St. Louis and surrounding areas.
Bald Eagles perched in trees near the river have become an increasingly common sight in the St. Louis area
Have you ever wondered what drives Bald Eagles to migrate South in the Winter? Following is an excerpt from an article by our Assistant Director, Jeff Meshach, first published in our quarterly publication, the World Bird Sanctuary “Mews News”, in the Winter of 2005. The information is still as good today as it was when first published.
“Each winter people in the St. Louis area get an opportunity to witness a spectacle that most other city people in the nation cannot see. Just get in your vehicle and drive north to destinations like the Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area near Alton, Illinois; Lock and Dam #25 at Winfield, Missouri or Lock and Dam #24 at Clarksville, Missouri, and you will have a chance to see hundreds of eagles.
A Bald Eagle hunting in the river near St. Louis
“With the right weather in place, the Mississippi River in this area acts like a big funnel, drawing most southward migrating Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from the upper Midwest and South Central Canada right to our doorstep. “What is the right weather,” you may ask? It’s cold weather. Cold, colder and coldest weather of all brings our national symbol to us.
“The eagles have to migrate south, since their main food source, fish, become hard, if not impossible to catch after ice forms on the lakes and rivers north of us. During normal winter weather in the Midwest, the Mississippi River freezes to just north of St. Louis. The eagles come just far enough south to be able to hunt where there is no ice. With the warmer than usual weather we have experienced in our area over the last several years the eagles have been able to move away from the river to find thawed carrion (dead animals) to feed on.
A Bald Eagle hunting from an ice floe in the river
“However, when the weather is normal (cold), or extremely cold (like this year), the carrion freezes and the eagles are forced back to the river to catch fish. The locks and dams at Alton, Illinois, Winfield, Missouri, and Clarksville, Missouri, help concentrate the eagles even more. As fish pass through the locks and dams they become disoriented and rise to the surface, temporarily stunned. This makes them easy “pickins” for the eagles, and also allows us to see two or three hundred eagles at a time as they congregate at these locations.
When the temperatures are really cold in the St. Louis area, look up--that large bird may be a Bald Eagle
“Being able to view these eagles in such great numbers makes this area unique. Missouri and Illinois have the second largest wintering population of Bald Eagles in the lower forty-eight states. We are second only to the state of Washington, which gets migrating eagles from Southern Alaska and Southwest Canada.”
Our Education Department brings live Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles to many venues in the Midwest to celebrate the return of our national symbol. If you are unable get out to see the eagles this month, make a note on your calendar to join us for our annual celebration of all things eagle – WORLD EAGLE DAY!
A stately Bateleur Eagle (a non-native species)-- one of the many eagles which may be on display at World Eagle Day
At World Eagle Day you will have an opportunity to see the only two eagles native to the United States—the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle. There will also be other eagles from around the world in close enough proximity to afford the opportunity for unobstructed photos. Our naturalists will present educational programs about the various species and will be available to answer questions. For a small fee there will be a photo op for those who would like to have their photo taken with our national symbol.
Come and join us for a day of fun and eagle watching.
World Eagle Day
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Admission and parking are free!
No comments:
Post a Comment