Eagle Days attracts crowds to Wyandotte County Lake Park

While hundreds of people listened to an Eagle Days presentation Saturday indoors at the Schlagle Library at Wyandotte County Lake Park, this eagle was out on the ice at the lake. Eagle Days continues Sunday at Wyandotte County Lake Park. (Staff photo by Mary Rupert)

by Mary Rupert

Temperatures in the 50s attracted good crowds to today’s Eagle Days presentations at Wyandotte County Lake Park.

The event continues through 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at the Mr. and Mrs. F.L. Schlagle Library and the James P. Davis Hall at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas. The program is free and open to the public.

Bill Whinery, an Operation WildLife volunteer, introduced injured birds of prey to the packed audience on Saturday at the presentation at the Schlagle Library. Whinery told stories about each bird, including how they were rescued by Operation WildLife, and general information about each bird of prey.

Falcons, hawks, owls and a turkey vulture were on display at the Schlagle Library. This year, a young bald eagle was at the Davis Hall.

Outside the Schlagle Library, some volunteers from the Audubon Society set up telescopes and allowed visitors to look through them at eagles on the lake. One eagle was sitting on the ice in the middle of the lake, while some others were in trees on the opposite shore.

John Bollin, looking at eagles outdoors, said that eagles were plentiful now at the lake because they were feeding on snow geese there.

Eagle Days is sponsored by Operation WildLife, the Schlagle Library, the Board of Public Utilities, the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools and the Unified Government Parks and Recreation Department.