Looking up into the sky over the winter months, you might see some large birds flying near the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
But they aren't just any birds, they are bald eagles nesting in the St. Louis region.
Bald eagles, once an endangered species, have made an incredible comeback in the last 40 years, and that’s thanks to human intervention. Missouri remains a leading state in bald eagle populations.
Since 1981, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and the Missouri Department of National Resources, has kept track of bald eagle nests.
According to Janet Haslerig, a resource scientist with the MDC, numbers have increased to around 587 active bald eagle nests in Missouri in 2022, up from 123 active nests in 2006.
"Fish are a prime source of food for bald eagles. As temperatures drop for prolonged periods of time in the areas north, many lakes and waterways freeze up, which drives the eagles south toward us in search of open water," explains Dan Zarlenga with the Missouri Department of Conservation, St. Louis region.
"We are fortunate to have the two largest rivers in North America converging here, along with other rivers and big lakes. This provides excellent fishing for eagles," he said.
The exact numbers of nesting bald eagles can vary each year depending on the weather to our north. "If waters freeze up north of us, we tend to get a lot of eagles here, and if waters up north remain open, we tend to see fewer migrating in," says Zarlenga.
The numbers have proven successful in helping to restore bald eagle populations, but it needs to continue. The bald eagles still face threats from dying, becoming wounded from intentional shooting, collision with vehicles and power lines and habitat degradation.
Want to see these spectacular birds in person near St. Louis? Well, right now is prime bald eagle season with the best viewings from January through March.
Grab the winter coat and a pair of binoculars and position yourself in an area with open water below a dam.
Here's a list of where to see bald eagles in the St. Louis region.
Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.