By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis – Migrating bald eagles are returning to the area.
This weekend marks the kick-off of "Eagle Days" in Alton.
Ever since the bald eagle was put on the Endangered Species list in 1978, the number of bald eagles in the St. Louis region has risen steadily.
Katie Manar is a biologist at Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary.
"Even yesterday we had visitors that saw their first bald eagle, and I thought that was a little surprising. But then I remembered when I first started working here 10 years ago there were people who hadn't seen a bald eagle yet, but each year the population increases."
The confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers is one of the best places to view eagles in the region.
The bald eagle will be removed from the endangered species list in February.