Junction City — As Rick Dykstra of Junction City rode across the Milford Reservoir dam recently, he noticed what appeared to be a group of turkey vultures circling high overhead.
Upon a closer look, however, he realized they were bald eagles.
"Each winter, bald eagles travel to Milford in search of a winter home and a good meal," Dykstra said. "I wanted to know more about them and how folks could enjoy my experience on the lake, so I went to the state park for more information."
Tom Silovsky, Milford State Park manager, explained that the majority of the eagles at Milford fly from Canada and northern states.
"The eagles follow the waterfowl as they migrate south," Silovsky said. "As lakes and rivers freeze in the north, eagles move farther south to find open water."
Silovsky added that with the nearby Republican, Kansas, and Smoky Hill rivers, the eagles usually have open water for hunting. He also noted the abundant opportunities for viewing eagles at Milford State Park, thanks mainly to a wildlife viewing tower in the park.
"Most visitors can drive the roads located at the lake's edge and see eagles," Silovsky said. "Some of our hot spots include Rush Creek, Piney Point and the outlet area."
In addition to eagles, visitors shouldn't be surprised to see waterfowl, deer and turkeys from the comfort of their vehicles.
For information , call the Milford Nature Center at 785-238-5323.
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