Mid-Missourians learn more about America's "national' bird

Braxton Sneller checks to see how his wingspan stacks up to that of a bald eagle while attending the Saturday's Eagle Adventure program at Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City.
Braxton Sneller checks to see how his wingspan stacks up to that of a bald eagle while attending the Saturday's Eagle Adventure program at Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City.

Standing on a porch at the rear of the Heisinger Senior Center, the boy moved the high-powered binoculars slowly along the horizon and then up toward the sky, hoping to spot a bald eagle.

Suddenly, he cried: "I think I see one!!"

State Conservation officials announced Saturday morning, during a program at Jefferson City's Runge Nature Center, that people at the Marion Conservation Access in northwestern Cole County had seen at least three eagles, while those looking over the river from the Heisinger Home just west of the twin bridges crossing the Missouri River had seen at least one eagle, flying along the river's Callaway County bank.