Go on a mission to find bald eagles with MDC and Agents of Discovery

St. LOUIS, Mo.—Bald eagles are flocking to the St. Louis region right now in the greatest numbers of the year.  The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is inviting outdoor adventurers everywhere to explore the explosion of eagles for themselves this winter.  And they can do it using their mobile devices combined with real world investigations. 

MDC encourages kids and adults both to check out the free mobile gaming app, Agents of Discovery. MDC has teamed up with the app to help people explore nature and natural areas around the state. Agents of Discovery is an augmented reality, geo-triggered app that uses the power of mobile devices to help get people outside and engaged in the outdoor world. The app enables users to become outdoor detectives and discover nature by completing “challenges”, or mini games, that help them learn about Missouri’s forest, fish, and wildlife. 

As users complete these assignments, they can claim rewards. Gamers can post their challenges on social media using an MDC Snapchat filter, or grab small prizes at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood.  The more missions they play, the more rewards they can earn.

And right now, Agents of Discovery is offering a special mission to explore bald eagles.  These include the Bald Eagle Diet, Eagle Eyes, Eagle Nest Lookout, and Fish Like an Eagle challenges. 

Start off by downloading the free Agents of Discovery mobile app at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Zi. Create an Agent profile, then pick a mission in your area. Download the mission before heading out so you can play the game without Wi-Fi or a data connection. Then use the app’s special secret agent tools to find and unlock challenges.  Reveal all the details of each bald eagle challenge at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4ZS.

To help outdoor detectives complete their bald eagle challenges, there are plenty of excellent places to investigate eagles right here in the St. Louis area.  Since fish are one of their favorite foods, bald eagles can often be found near bodies of water like large lakes and rivers.  A few great spots to seek them out in this area include:

• Columbia Bottom Conservation Area in Spanish Lake. The North America’s largest two rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi, meet here.  Look for eagles from the Missouri River boat ramp or roosting in trees on the area.
• The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in St. Louis, just south of I-270 off North Riverview Drive. The line of rocks south of the bridge that gives the structure its name also helps churn up fish, making easier pickings for hungry eagles.
• The Audubon Center at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary in West Alton
• Mississippi Lock and Dam #25 just north of Winfield. At just 45-minutes from St. Louis, it’s also the location of the Nature Conservancy’s Sandy Island Bald Eagle Sanctuary.
• Mississippi Lock and Dam #24 at Clarksville. This is an outstanding eagle viewing spot just an hour and a half drive from St. Louis.  Join MDC for the annual Eagle Days celebration too at the Apple Shed Theater in Clarksville Saturday, Jan. 29, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and Sunday, Jan. 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Agents of Discovery is available for free download through the Apple App Store or Google Play for Android devices.