All eyes will be on the skies, and the live birds perched on the arms of naturalists, during the family-friendly 2024 Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days events, Saturday, January 6 in Lake Ozark.
The popular Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days is presented by Ameren Missouri and features opportunities to view wild bald eagles in their natural habitat as well as up-close during numerous interpretive programs throughout the weekend. While the bald eagles are the main draw, attendees also will be able to learn about several other species of Missouri’s birds of prey, including peregrine falcons, American kestrels and a variety of owls. The educational and entertaining Eagle Days events are free and open to the public and geared for birders of all ages.
There will be four total locations throughout the the city of Lake Ozark featuring scheduled Eagle Days activities: The Encore Lakeside Grill and Sky Bar, Osage National Golf Resort, Willmore Lodge and the Bagnell Dam River Access. Activities get underway at 9:00 a.m. and run until 4:30 p.m.
There will be many activities and exhibitors at The Encore Lakeside Grill and Sky Bar. The highlight of the activities at The Encore is presentations by the Dickerson Park Zoo of Springfield, Mo. Staff members from the zoo offer two rotating interactive programs, one focusing on bald eagles and the other, called “Talons: Tall to Small,” featuring peregrine falcons, American kestrels and owls. In addition to the Dickerson Zoo presentations, The Encore also will host an eagle-themed coloring contest for children 12 and under as well as an amateur photography contest featuring eagles in the wild for anyone 13 years or age and older. There also will be numerous vendors and exhibitors at The Encore, including Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri State Parks and the Lake of the Ozarks chapter of Missouri Naturalists, to name a few.
Osage National Golf Resort hosts interpretive programs presented by the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis. The programs take place every hour, on the hour, beginning at 9 a.m. The entertaining and educational programs include presentations of a variety of eagles by the organization’s naturalists as well as questions and answers from the audience.
Attendees interested in wild eagle viewing will have two locations to choose from. Historic Willmore Lodge has many prime eagle-watching view points overlooking the Lake of the Ozarks and will also feature interactive exhibits and locally-made crafts on display. Willmore Lodge will be open from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The Bagnell Dam Access, located roughly three miles from Willmore Lodge off of Highway 54 on Osage River Bridge Road, is another great place to view eagles in the wild. Additionally, visitors to the Bagnell Dam Access also will be able to watch eagle nest-building demonstrations by Master Naturalists and enjoy free hot chocolate.
Anyone planning to attend the Eagle Days activities will find an ample selection of accommodations to fit all sizes of groups and budgets. Guests can choose from resorts, cabins, condos, vacation homes, hotels, motels, campgrounds and RV parks as well as bed and breakfasts. Some offer special winter and holiday lodging rates where travelers can save as much as 40 percent off in-season rates.
Learn more about all the fun events and attractions, as well as the many options for lodging and dining available at the “Best Recreational Lake in the Nation” at www.FunLake.com or by calling the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).
