MISSOURI PRIME WINTERING PLACE FOR EAGLES

At this time of year, bald eagles sometimes roost in the trees that surround Mary and Greg Henson's house at Trail of Tears State Park. But seeing an eagle still thrills them.

"If you ever see one, you've had a very lucky day," says Mary Henson, an assistant resource steward at the park.

Missouri is a prime wintering haven for bald eagles, the national symbol and inhabitant of Missouri's endangered species list. The eagles descend the continent in November or December after spending the warm months in northern states.

Last winter, seven bald eagles were counted at Trail of Tears State Park. Mingo National Wildlife Refuge in Puxico had 15 eagles in its most recent survey.

The refuge is one of the few places in Missouri where bald eagles have established nests and are reproducing. The refuge has two nests, and another is located in the nearby Duck Creek State Wildlife Management Area.

The nests are added to every year, and can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. "It's hard to miss an eagle's nest," says Terry Peacock, assistant refuge manager.

At this time of year, the eagles will be preparing their nests to lay eggs. Both parents will sit on the eggs once they are laid.

The Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been sponsoring Eagle Days at various locations around the state this winter. On Feb. 6-7, the site will be the Mingo refuge.

The Jefferson Park Zoo in Springfield will present a program about eagles from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day. A live bald eagle will be on display.

Those who want a chance to see eagles in the wild will be directed to the Duck Creek State Wildlife Management Area to view a nest located near a road.

Telescopes will be provided, but binoculars are suggested, along with warm clothing. Early morning hours provide the best chance of spotting eagles, Peacock said, because they will move back into the forest as more people arrive.

Past Eagle Days have drawn 2,000-3,000 people to the refuge.

Eagles often will be spotted roosting in trees near the water. Peacock said the bald eagles follow the migration paths of other birds, feeding on wounded waterfowl and fish.

At Trail of Tears, another of the area's prime eagle-watching spots along with Horseshoe Lake and Clearwater Lake, the marina and the lower campground are favored habitats, Mary Henson said.

They often crisscross the river between Missouri and Illinois, depending on the food supply and time and day. One nest has been located on state land across the river from Trail of Tears, Henson said.

She said that people walking along the river bank sometimes see eagles eating fish in trees. Hikers on the 2.5-mile Shepherd Point Trail also sometimes return with tales of eagles.

The overlook also offers a chance of seeing an eagle, but Henson says, "You probably won't see them from your car."

The eagles are not bald, only white-headed. They also have brilliant white tail feathers. The immature eagles are speckled, and their wings are brindled. They sometimes are mistaken for golden eagles, which are much larger and predominantly inhabit the West, Henson said.

Her husband, Greg, is a naturalist at the park. He said the eagles emit a high-pitched sound "like a giggling noise." The screeching call usually associated with eagles in movies is in reality the sound made by a hawk, he said.

When people come to the park looking for eagles, "I tell them to go on down to the water. At this time of year, if the weather is warm, they've got a 50-50 chance of seeing one," he said.

Warm weather brings out the rising columns of warm air called thermals. "If the thermals are out they're going to be riding (them)," the naturalist said.

Mary Henson said the park would be overjoyed if a pair of eagles decided to nest there. "It's a sign of a healthy ecosystem," she said, pointing out that eagles are a good indicator species.

She said eagles are especially endangered in the West, where they have been victimized by the poisoned carcasses used by ranchers to control the coyote population.

"There are still a lot of dangers for them," she said. "Seeing them is a real privilege."