LAKE OZARK, Mo. — A perennial favorite in central Missouri, Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days will be returning to awe and educate people of all ages next month.
Eagle Days is scheduled for Jan. 4–5, 2014 at Osage National Golf Resort, Country Club Hotel and Spa, and Willmore Lodge.
The event is the result of a collective partnership with the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau, MO Master Naturalist, Ozarks Chapter, and Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, along with LakeoftheOzarksRadio.com, Country Club Hotel & Spa and Osage National Golf Resort.
Highlights of the weekend event include live eagles from the World Bird Sanctuary, with naturalists on hand to answer questions at Osage National Golf Resort. The programs will begin on the hour each day. Additional programs have been added and will be held at Country Club Hotel & Spa; businesses, organizations and agencies will also be on hand with information and displays.
Returning this year from Dickerson Park Zoo is the popular “Owls of Missouri” program with at least three of the four owl species indigenous to Missouri on hand – the screech owl, barred owl and great-horned owl.
New this year, Eagle Days will also feature the “Day Shift, Night Shift, and Garbage Gal” program. Hawks, turkey vultures and owls take the stage in this presentation. The two shows will rotate hourly. Along with the presentations, visitors to Eagle Days will find a wood carving exhibition and live animal viewing from Funny Farm Petting Zoo. Face painting will also be offered, and the Missouri State Parks Department will be at Country Club Hotel to complete the family-friendly event.
Boy Scouts along with the Master Naturalist Chapter of Lake of the Ozarks will point out wild eagles in their natural habitat, with great viewing opportunities; offer hot chocolate and literature; and construct Bald Eagles' Nests using the readily available, dry nesting materials found abundantly around the Lake.
This ongoing process will take place both days at the River Dam Access site, where viewers can see the nests and join in the nest-building process. In addition the Scouts will be demonstrating Dutch-oven cooking at its best, with the products available for purchase. S’mores will be cooked over the burn barrels, and Scouts will be teaching rope-making
Wild Eagle viewing opportunities are an option at Willmore Lodge, with scopes provided by the Lake of the Ozarks Astronomy Club. Eagle watch cruises (weather permitting) will be offered by the Paddlewheeler Tom Sawyer on Saturday and Sunday on the half hour for only $5 per person. Visitors are urged to bring binoculars and cameras for optimal viewing opportunities.
Submissions for the ever-popular coloring contest will also be located at the Country Club Hotel for kiddos to turn in their creations or color them on site. Photographs for the photo contest can also be turned in there.
“Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days is in its fifth year as a stand-alone event, completely funded by the community through donations and sponsorships, and the committee felt it was important to continue to grow the event and bring new components to it so people will want to attend, experiencing something new along with the favorites they come back for year after year,” said Tim Jacobsen, Executive Director of the Convention and Visitor Bureau. “This family-friendly, free event in the first quarter is not only a boost to area businesses that time of year, but also it gives families something to get out and do together and maybe learn a little bit along the way about our beautiful area,” added Michelle Cook, LOTO Eagle Days committee member.
The event is completely free, except for small charge for the boat cruise, and open to the public. Eagle Days will go from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 and from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5.
The committee is still in need of donations, and sponsorships are available for businesses, families and individuals to continue the event. For information about Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days, visit www.lakeoftheozarkseagledays.com.
