Eagle Days at Smithville Lake to Take Place in January

The 27th annual Eagle Days at Smithville Lake will be Jan. 7-8, with eagle viewing at the lake and indoor captive eagle shows and wildlife exhibits. Photo by Missouri Department of Conservation.

SMITHVILLE, MO – The 27th annual Eagle Days at Smithville Lake will take place on Saturday and Sunday, January 7th and 8th. Activities will be from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Conservation agents will be present at eagle viewing areas at the lake to answer questions and help visitors use spotting scopes. Eagles have congregated in recent years at the spillway below the dam to feed on fish coming through during water releases. But this year, the lake is drawn down due to work on the dam and water releases are limited. Viewing stations will be near the lake and locations will be announced closer to the event when officials find where waterfowl and eagles are congregating. Eagle and waterfowl viewing is somewhat weather dependent, as extreme cold snaps can prompt birds to move south to warmer weather and open water.

Regardless of weather, the event will include captive eagle presentations at the Paradise Pointe Gold Course Clubhouse by operation wildlife. The captive eagle shows by Operation Wildlife will begin at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 7. They will begin at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 8. Seating is limited for the live eagle shows.

The Paradise Point Golf Course Clubhouse is located at 18212 Golf Course Drive, in Smithville, on the west side of the lake. For more information about seeing eagles in Missouri at their winter hangouts or at planned events, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/Zt6.