Festival of Eagles

Last week, my family had the privilege to witness a conservation success story as numerous bald eagles soared high above us in the blue skies over Stella, Missouri.

This experience would not have been possible four decades ago, when the eagle was declared an endangered species in the United States. But with efforts to reestablish the population (including the the release of 74 young eagles in Missouri in 1981), this species was removed from the federal endangered list in 2007.

These days, eagles can be spotted in Stella’s Moses Eagle Village Park each year beginning in November, and they remain there until March.

Why do the eagles chose Stella? Because they can nest high up in the sycamore tees and hunt in the surrounding waters of Indian Creek without being disturbed. And the 160 people living in Stella respect that.

The citizens of Stella hold a festival each January to honor the majestic birds that set up residence in their town each winter. Stella’s Festival of Eagles attracts bird enthusiasts, as well as people like me who think it’s kind of fascinating that these once-endangered birds feel comfortable returning to the same spot each year to nest while a bunch of humans watch them.

It certainly felt surreal to see these huge birds circling overhead so close to the crowds of people in the park,

and to observe them as they perched in nearby trees.

We brought a pair of binoculars with us but we didn’t really need them because there were several scopes set up for anyone to use.

My youngest daughter enjoyed watching the eagles for about five minutes, so I was thankful that there was playground equipment in the park so that she could have some kid fun while I watched the birds overhead.

After we left Moses Eagle Village Park, we crossed the bridge over Indian Creek and headed to downtown Stella.

The first thing we saw was a huge eagle nest that kids could get their pictures taken in while holding an eaglet (a fake one, of course).

I thought that the size of the nest was exaggerated for the photo op, until I read this sign.

That 5-foot nest was the actual size of a typical one found in the Stella area!

Next, we learned that the wingspan of some eagles can reach up to 8 feet. There was an interactive display that helped us visualize what that looks like.

Here’s my little eaglet.

These educational stations were provided courtesy of organizations like the Missouri Department of Conservation and Missouri Master Naturalist.

Our visit to the Festival of Eagles was a fun family activity for wintertime. The birds will remain in Stella until March, so if you missed the festival, you can still stop at the park to view these beautiful creatures.

Well, not these beautiful creatures.

But you can still see the eagles.

WANT MORE?

Find out the latest on what to see and do in the area by following Joplin MO Life on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and on Facebook, or sign up for the newsletter at the top part of this post.

---

Living Life to The Fullest!

I love seeking out new experiences and finding places off the beaten path. I started Joplin MO Life in August 2013 as a way to share my discoveries with others in the Joplin community so that they can learn about the resources that exist right in their own backyards.

I have worked in education and event planning, and have always loved to write. I hold a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor's degree in marketing from Tulane University.