A wildlife refuge an hour northwest of Kansas City counted a record number of bald eagles one day before New Year’s Eve, breaking a number set four years ago.

The Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, 25542 US Highway 159 in Forest City, said it observed 1,012 bald eagles on the refuge during a survey taken Dec. 30, 2025. The refuge said in a Facebook post that the previous record was 833 bald eagles, observed Jan. 3, 2022.

The refuge said that if you’ve been considering making the trip to see eagles this winter, now is the time. The Missouri Department of Conservation says late December through early February is the peak time for bald eagles, and watchers should look for eagles perched in large trees along the water’s edge. A bald eagle comes in for a landing as other Bald eagles feed on a dead snow goose on Friday, Dec. 19, at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in Forest City, in northwest Missouri. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com

A bald eagle comes in for a landing as other Bald eagles feed on a dead snow goose on Friday, Dec. 19, at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in Forest City, in northwest Missouri. Tammy Ljungblad tljungblad@kcstar.com

If you’re interested in spotting the bird of prey in the wild, here are a few places you can go in the Kansas City area.

Where to see bald eagles in the Kansas City area

It’s Eagle Days season in Missouri, where the state department of conservation hosts events at lakes and nature areas around the state for visitors to group together to spot a bald eagle in the open. While no events are scheduled within the Kansas City area as of Friday, Jan. 2, the department recommends anyone interested in seeing a bald eagle visit Smithville Lake, 42 minutes north of KC.

On the Kansas side, Eagle Days are scheduled for Jan. 17-18 at Wyandotte County Lake Park, 23 minutes west of Kansas City. The free two-day event is hosted by the Kansas City, Kansas Public Library, and it starts at Mr. & Mrs. F. L Schlagle Library and James P. Davis Hall.

How to spot a bald eagle

The Missouri Division of Tourism website lists these tips for spotting a bald eagle in the wild:

Look near bodies of water since those are their preferred hunting grounds.

Scan treetops for high points with clear views of the surrounding landscape for nests.

Nests are generally large and made of thin branches. They’re often located near the top of mature trees

Bring binoculars or a spotting scope.