The 40th annual Eagle Days at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) will be Saturday, December 1, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 2, 2018, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. See wildlife like bald eagles, trumpeter swans, snow geese, and ducks! The event is hosted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at Loess Bluffs NWR near Mound City, with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Dickerson Park Zoo from Springfield, Missouri, Remington Nature Center from St. Joseph, and their many volunteer partners like Friends of Loess Bluffs, Loess Hills and Osage Trails Missouri Master Naturalists, Missouri Western State University’s Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society, Northwest Missouri State University, Audubon Society, Fairytale Face Paint, Missourians for Monarchs and the Missouri Department of Transportation.

There will be activities throughout the day such as live captive eagle programs provided by the Dickerson Park Zoo in the refuge maintenance building each hour on the hour. Free guided bus tours will be offered or drive around the auto tour route independently and stop at the eagle viewing stations staffed by our volunteers to view eagles up close with our spotting scopes. There will be special eagle exhibits on display and Remington Nature Center and volunteers will be on hand for crafts for kids. Fairytale Face Paint will be here for magical face painting creations on Saturday. Free-will donations for concessions will be available through Friends of Loess Bluffs NWR or visit the local community for more food options as well. The Midland Empire Audubon Society will be selling wild bird seed and feeders and the Nature Shop will be open in the Visitor Center.

The schedule for eagle days event and bus tours is as follows:

• Eagle shows on Saturday, December 1, 2018, will be from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., every hour on the hour.

• Free guided bus tours on Saturday, December 1, will be each half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

• On Saturday only from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., a free shuttle bus will be available from the alternate parking area located near the Garden Inn Truck Stop located on the corner of Highway 159 and Exit 79 near I-29, south of Mound City.

• Eagle shows on Sunday, December 2, 2018 will be from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. every hour on the hour.

• Free guided bus tours on Sunday, December 2, will be every hour from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Eagle Days alternate parking for passenger cars and groups will be provided near the Garden Inn Truck Stop, located on the corner of Highway 159 and Exit 79 off of I-29 (south of Mound City), 3 miles away from the refuge. A free shuttle bus will be available on Saturday only from the alternate parking lot to the Eagle Days event. For current bird survey numbers or questions about programs and the event flyer at Loess Bluffs NWR, visit their website at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Loess_Bluffs/. In case of inclement weather, check the Loess Bluffs NWR Facebook page or listen to local radio and local TV for updates for the Eagle Days event.

Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is located in northwest Missouri near Mound City. Take Interstate 29 to Exit 79 south of Mound City, Missouri, then travel south 2 ½ miles on U.S. Highway 159. For more information call 660-442-3187.