THV Extra at 6: Bald eagles making a home in Searcy | News

SEARCY, Ark. (KTHV) -- It's business as usual for some Searcy residents, but for others it's a day of sightseeing. "It's Searcy's newest attraction, it's amazing to see this many eagles in one spot." Searcy is now home to about 15 bald Eagles, some adult and some juvenile.

The birds are the talk of the town. "I've never seen this many eagles in one place."

Tracy Rambo and Gary Lane are two out of about 20 people stopping by Davis drive in Searcy admiring our national emblem. Locals aren't the only ones taking advantage of this opportunity. Darrell Whittingham traveled down to see the eagles from Jonesboro. "I'm just waiting on them to pose for me basically, you know get them catching a fish or bringing one up on the tree."

While many are shocked to see so many eagles on an old sewage pond in Searcy Nathan Mills a biology professor, is not. "Eagles have been coming to the water treatment plant for at least 10 or 15 years but it does seem like the numbers have increased over the last several years." Mills says it's all about the location.
"Arkansas has a good winter habitat for them, it doesn't freeze over in the winter so they have access to the fish and there are plenty of wetlands available to them which is a habitat they like."

Regardless of why the Eagles decided to land here, Searcy Mayor David Morris says he's thrilled about the new visitors. "Every day you see cars lined up, especially in the afternoon, looking at the eagles because in this area, where else can you go and see one?"

Mills says the eagles usually show up late October and typically leave around mid February. Many of the sightseers say they're feeding on shad in the pond.