Visitors are invited to view eagles through spotting scopes staffed by trained volunteers at any time during Eagle Days on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM on January 18 and 19. On both days, an educational program presented by the World Bird Sanctuary, featuring a live eagle, is repeated every 20 minutes from 10am to 2:40pm.
In addition, Eagle Days on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge features activities to entertain and educate the whole family. Programming includes a hands-on exhibit of local birds presented by St. Louis Audubon, a full-size replica of an eagle’s nest, and warming tent activities including children’s art courtesy of The Green Center.
Nature and history will intersect, as visitors enjoy Lewis and Clark living history demonstrations at both Bridge entrances. The Missouri Bridge entrance will feature reenactors from the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri. Visitors can see how Lewis and Clark and their crew lived, cooked and traveled during their historic voyage more than 200 years ago. The Illinois side will feature re-enactors from the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site.
Visitors are encouraged to dress warmly, wear comfortable shoes (eagle viewing occurs at the center of the Bridge, a half-mile walk from each Bridge entrance), and leave their pets at home.
During the winter, the Mississippi River hosts one of North America’s largest concentrations of bald eagles; they are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food. The Chain of Rocks rapids to the south of the Bridge are ideal fishing waters for eagles. The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, a historic Route 66 crossing owned by the City of Madison, Illinois and renovated in 1999 by Trailnet, makes an ideal viewing platform.
Directions to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge from St. Louis: Take I-270 east toward Alton, IL. Exit at Riverview Drive exit and turn right. Turn left into the entrance of the Confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Park/Missouri Bridge. Parking at the Missouri Bridge entrance costs $5.
From Illinois: Take I-270 west towards Missouri. Exit at IL Route 3, go south to Chain of Rocks Road and follow west to the bridge entrance parking area (free). OR to park on the Missouri side, continue on I-270 west, over the Mississippi River; exit at Riverview Drive and turn left. Turn left into the entrance of the Confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Park/Missouri Bridge. Parking at the Missouri Bridge entrance costs $5.
Free parking is available at two satellite lots in Missouri, the St. Louis Welcome Center at Riverview and I-270 and North Riverfront Park, off of Riverview south of the waterworks. A free shuttle will be available from both locations. Free parking is also available at the Illinois Bridge entrance.
www.mdc.mo.gov/events/eagledays