MDC Preparing For 28th Eagle Days At Smithville Lake

The 28th annual Eagle Days at Smithville Lake will be held this Saturday and Sunday with activities centered at the Paradise Pointe Golf Course Clubhouse at Smithville. 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. The Missouri Department of Conservation is one of the sponsoring organizations for the event.

The event will include a life raptor program with birds rehabilitated from injuries presented by Operation Wildlife. Exhibits and information booths will be set up indoors by the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, the Friends of Lakeside Nature Center, Wings of Love, and the Clay County Parks and Recreation Department. Some of those exhibits will also include live raptors or terrestrial wildlife such as turtles.

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. They will begin at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Seating is limited for the live eagle shows.

Eagle viewing stations at the lake will be announced at the event when officials find where waterfowl and eagles are congregating. Eagles catch fish at the lake but also follow and feed on waterfowl using the lake.