Once-endangered bald eagles’ revival can be seen around Kansas

Bald eagles are our national symbol, and one of America’s top conservation success stories.

Fifty years ago it was feared they would be extinct in the lower 48 states. But over the past 20 years, the birds increased their numbers enough to be removed from both the federal endangered and threatened species lists.

This spring and summer, Kansas is expected to have at least 100 pairs of bald eagles nesting atop towering cottonwoods and sycamores across the state.

Over the next few weekends, several Kansas conservation groups and nature centers are inviting the public to come celebrate the historic return of bald eagles to Kansas. All of the events are free.

Eagle Day at Milford Lake, Saturday

Pat Silovsky, Milford Nature Center director, said this is about the 26th year that the facility below the dam of Milford Reservoir, near Junction City, has hosted the event.

This year’s event features guided bus tours of the lake, heading out every half-hour between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.in search of eagles.

“We stop so we can show people eagles in the wild. That’s what people seem to like most about the day,” she said.

Binoculars are recommended, though tour guides will have high-magnification spotting scopes set up when the bus stops.

Silovsky said presentations within the nature center will include live viewing of bald eagles and other birds of prey. Outside, the public can get free hot chocolate and popcorn, and kids can play in a simulated bald eagle nest.

The nature center is about two hours northeast of Wichita, at 3415 Hatchery Drive, Junction City. For information, call 785-238-5323 or go to ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Museums-and-Nature-Centers.

Kaw Valley Eagles Day, Jan. 23

For the 20th time, the Jayhawk Audubon Society and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are inviting the public for guided bus rides to see bald eagles at Clinton Reservoir.

Eagles Day is based out of Lawrence Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, from 10:45 a.m. until 3 p.m. A number of kid-based programs will be offered, including building bird houses and dissecting owl pellets. Area biologists and experts will also give detailed programs on bald eagles in Kansas.

Kaw Valley Eagles Day is about 2 1/2 hours northeast of Wichita. For more information call 913-484-8932 or go to kawvalleyeaglesday.com.

Chaplin Nature Center Eagle Watch, Jan. 30 and Feb.6

Shawn Silliman, Chaplin Nature Center director, said the event – which runs from 10 a.m. to noon – starts with a small presentation about the current state of bald eagles in America. He will then lead about a 3/4-mile hike to the nearby Arkansas River.

The hike follows an established trail that’s easily traversed by most people before ending on a sand bar.

“We’ll look for eagles up and down the river, and if we don’t see any, we’ll probably hike up and look around the bend,” Silliman said. “If they want, people can stay and hang out at the river after that, and relax. That’s a good way to see eagles cruising up and down the river.”

The nature center is about one hour south of Wichita, at 27814 27th Drive, Arkansas City.

For more information, call 620-442-4133 or go to wichitaaudubon.org/cnc.html.

Local bald eagle watching

Some winters, people can just head to downtown Wichita to see bald eagles perched along the Arkansas River. This year, such opportunities are limited.

“We don’t have a lot of ducks in town, so we don’t have a lot of eagles in town,” said Charles Cope, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism biologist. “Historically, the eagles show up when the ducks (on which they feed) show up.”

Ideal conditions for local eagle watching are when it gets cold enough to form ice on area lakes and ponds. That forces waterfowl to areas of flowing water where ice is not present.

The pockets of open water below several dams in the Wichita area also give bald eagles a place to catch fish, too. This year’s unusually warm fall and early winter, coupled with high amounts of rain, may have ducks and eagles scattered throughout the area.

This weekend’s cold front could help eagle watching by concentrating the birds around rivers and larger bodies of water, where wind prevents ice from forming. Marion and Cheney Reservoirs are both popular with local birders looking for bald eagles.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 8:49 PM with the headline "Once-endangered bald eagles’ revival can be seen around Kansas."