How to Go Eagle Watching in Oklahoma

If you're looking for an exciting outdoor winter activity that won't break your budget and is suitable for the entire family, consider eagle watching in Oklahoma. Approximately 1,000 bald eagles winter in Oklahoma each year, drawn to open waters that don't freeze over. Several state parks host bald eagle watching events throughout the winter. Many also have cabins available for overnight trips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Binoculars
• Camera
• Warm clothes and sturdy shoes

1. Pick a location for eagle watching. Among the possibilities are Mountain Fork River in southeastern Oklahoma, Lake Thunderbird in central Oklahoma, the Great Salt Plains Lake in the northwest, Quartz Mountain in the southwest and Keystone Lake in the northeast.
2. Decide if you want to participate in an organized eagle watching event led by a guide or would prefer taking a self-guided tour.
3. Search "eagle watching" on the Oklahoma travel Web site (see Who Can Help below) for links to the state parks where you can see eagles.
4. Contact the state park you want to visit to find out the dates and times of guided or self-guided eagle watching events. Most take place in January and February.
5. Sign up early for eagle-watching tours. These are popular events, and guided tours fill up quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Lake Wister State Park offers pontoon boat eagle-watching tours. Call the park at [phone] in January or February to sign up.
• Some of the best bald eagle sightings occur during self-guided tours at the Great Salt Plains State Park, [phone], and Keystone State Park, [phone]. Call the parks to find out when they sponsor tours; Saturday is the usual day.
• Eagles think Oklahoma winters are warm, but you won't. Dress warmly for your eagle-watching adventure.