Perhaps the biggest spectator event in the United States will be held Sunday at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., population 235,000.
One of the biggest spectator events in the area was held this past Sunday in Stella, population 161.
According to Jeff Cantrell, with the Missouri Department of Conservation, over 1,200 people showed up in Stella for the community's annual Eagle Day.
That equals about 7.5 times the community's population. If the Super Bowl had that big of a turnout, 1,762,500 would show up. The stadium only holds 72,000.
Needless to say, the 1,200 at Stella fared much better than the 1.7 million who wouldn't have seats if they went to Glendale.
The event included eagle viewing, educational displays and activities for children.
Cantrell said the Department of Conservation has counted about 320 eagles in the area this winter.
"For this festival we have about 20 right in Stella itself," Cantrell said. "We have been sending people just a short distance out and they can easily see 50 or so pretty close."
Cantrell said the turnout was really nice.
"We have had a very good showing," Cantrell said. "That part has been really nice. Stella is a great community and they do a great job."
Cantrell said the biggest factor in leading to the eagle decline in the 1960s and 1970s was from the pesticide DDT. They were transferred from endangered species list to the list of threatened species in 1995. They were removed from that list in 2007.
Most of the eagles seen locally migrate from Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada. Cantrell said a few eagles are breeding and nesting in the area year-round. He said Missouri ranks second in the lower 48 states for eagle numbers behind the state of Washington.
Eagles are birds of prey. Fish is their main food source, but they will also eat wounded water fowl including ducks and geese. Cantrell said they will also feast on road kill when the opportunity arises.
Community on 01/29/2015