A mated pair of bald eagles who have called the Wappapello Dam area home for the past decade were visible Saturday for visitors of Winter Watch.
The event brought out spotting scopes and binoculars to help visitors better see some of the birds native to the area, according to Alyssa Moss, park ranger student trainee with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For those who missed the event, it’s still a good time to see eagles in the area, she said.
“It’s nice to do it now because all the leaves are off the trees so you can see them a lot better,” explained Moss. “Around this time, they start mating, so they’re more active, moving around. Once they lay their eggs, they nest and they’ll stay up there for six to eight weeks.”
The best view window lasts until the end of March, early April, typically, she said.
The nest is visible looking south toward the St. Francis River from the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center.
Two other mated pairs of eagles can be seen looking south at the Highway 34 bridge. Another place where eagles have been spotted around Wappapello Lake is the Asher Creek area.
For general bird watching, Moss recommended visiting any of the project trails, including Lost Creek and Pine Ridge.
The next event at Wappapello Lake will be the April 9 annual spring roadside clean up. Volunteers are needed to help clear the area around the lake of trash and litter. There will be several designated roadways that lead to the lake which will be targeted, according to organizers.
Volunteers should meet at the Bill Emerson Memorial Visitor Center at 8 a.m. to receive supplies and instructions. The cleanup is scheduled to last until 11 a.m.
The Wappapello Lake Area Association (WLAA) will provide a free lunch for all participants.
In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Saturday, April 16.
For more information, or to register, please contact Park Rangers Andrew Jefferson or Becky Hays by calling 573-222-8562.