A Nostalgic Sound

On my catch to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, the refuge seemed a chip subdued; piece thunderstorms rumbled to its south, the floodplain save received simply a few passing showers.  Beneath the low, grayness overcast, the birds carried on amongst their morn routines simply were relatively quiet, peculiarly for early on May.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pregnant exception was the calling of northern bobwhites, manifestly proclaiming their territorial rights.

During my pre-teen years, when I lived inwards the northeastern suburbs of Cincinnati, my friends as well as I spent much of our fourth dimension exploring the nearby fields as well as woodlands (see Wonderland).  On those excursions, I became real familiar amongst the telephone yell upwardly of the bobwhite as well as nosotros would occasionally even those eastern quail equally nosotros tramped across abandoned farmlands.

Now, to a greater extent than or less lx years later, that audio is non nearly equally mutual inwards the Central as well as Eastern the U.S. of A. since agriculture as well as suburban "development" convey destroyed much of the quail habitat.  Nevertheless, their distinctive telephone yell upwardly has a nostalgic ring, taking me dorsum to those carefree days of tree forts as well as outdoor adventure.

A Bird's-Eye Stance Of Eagle Bluffs

Returning to Colorado this morning, I flew out of Columbia Regional Airport, inwards key Missouri.  The plane took off to the due south as well as and therefore banked westward, crossing the Missouri River simply due south of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.

Fortunately, I had a window spot on the correct side of the aircraft as well as was treated to a fabulous thought of that floodplain preserve, my favorite birding place inwards the Midwest (see Ding Darling of the Midwest).  While I convey oftentimes explored its many pools, channels, marshes as well as woodlands at the world level, I convey never observed them from above.

Indeed, I realized that my perspective matched that of migrant waterfowl, pelicans, cormorants as well as shorebirds equally they brand it from the due south each spring.  Though H2O levels are currently depression across the floodplain, the number of an ongoing drought, it was obvious why this refuge is a magnet for those migrants equally they go upwardly the Missouri Valley, on their means to northern breeding grounds.

Stopping Past Times Eagle Bluffs

During a brief remain inwards key Missouri, I took my oldest grandson downwards to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area.  Though he is a novice birder, his attending bridge remains short, ensuring that our watch would endure relatively brief together with efficient.

Unfortunately, nosotros were greeted past times dense fog inwards the Missouri River Valley together with our initial leg through the refuge offered exclusively brief glimpses of the wildlife.  But, past times the fourth dimension nosotros turned dorsum at the due south halt of the floodplain preserve, the Sun had taken its terms on the haze together with nosotros were rewarded alongside a skillful diverseness of species.  Turkey vultures, bang-up bluish herons together with bang-up egrets were virtually abundant (if yous don't count the red-winged blackbirds together with indigo buntings) only nosotros also saw bald eagles, forest ducks, a double-crested cormorant, belted kingfishers together with a mix of shorebirds.  Highlights, novel to my grandson, were a twosome of American avocets together with a modest flock of blue-gray gnatcatchers.

While our watch was brusque together with the atmospheric condition was non ideal, a jeopardy to explore Eagle Bluffs is never declined past times this birder together with ii novel species for a budding naturalist were unexpected benefits.  Though I volition endure returning to Colorado inwards a few days, I'm already looking frontwards to my adjacent watch to this fabulous refuge, hopefully to grab the tiptop of the spill waterfowl migration.

Abandoned Nests

On my end solar daytime inwards key Missouri, my married adult woman together with I took a walk some Perry Phillips Lake, but southward of Columbia.  In belatedly jump together with early on summer, nosotros e'er cease at the covered line-fishing deck to lookout adult man the nesting action of barn together with cliff swallows; the quondam house their nests on the cross beams of the construction piece the latter adhere their cavities of mud to angular joints of the roof.

Now, inwards early on August, those nests are abandoned.  While barn swallows nonetheless strafe the lake together with following fields, feasting on insects, the cliff swallows accept moved off to the southwest, showtime their long journeying to southern South America; past times January, during the tiptop of the Southern Summer, they volition caput for North America ane time again, sometimes arriving inwards the Desert Southwest past times belatedly February.  The barn swallows volition migrate southward past times September, wintering inwards to a greater extent than northern regions of South America.

The abandoned nests at Phillips Lake are but some other sign that summertime is winding down, though many days of oppressive oestrus nonetheless prevarication ahead.  Some of us, piece fond of our four-season climate, envy these long-distance travelers, choosing to ignore the many natural together with human-induced threats that they confront along their journey.

A Forenoon Of Pewees

Back inwards key Missouri, I visited the Columbia Audubon Sanctuary this morning.  Though nosotros are inwards the midst of or then other oestrus wave, it was relatively mild too breezy simply later on dawn but harassment yesteryear Equus caballus flies hastened my walk through the refuge.

While I encountered a fair diversity of species, including pileated woodpeckers too a barred owl, eastern wood pewees dominated the scene, moving almost inwards pocket-sized groups too calling from every package of forest.  The most mutual too widespread flycatcher inwards the eastern U.S., these birds to a greater extent than oft than non teach far inwards May too depart for South America yesteryear early on October.  Throughout the warmer months, they are most oft seen alone, perched nigh the tip of a dead limb from which they brand repeated sorties to snare flight insects; they may equally good glean prey (insects or spiders) from the foliage.

Upon arriving inwards leap too simply earlier leaving inwards the fall, eastern wood species, similar many other birds, may congregate inwards favored locations where nutrient is plentiful.  The campaign for their abundance this morning time is uncertain but their cheerful calls too "bug-control" services are ever welcome.

Spectacle At Dusk

On this cool, breezy eve inwards Columbia, Missouri, I went out to the dorsum deck for a aeroplane count.  After spending an sixty minutes inwards the lounge chair, I had seen a fair diversity of birds, all mutual summertime residents inwards our area.

As dusk progressed, I was almost to larn within when a flock of mutual nighthawks appeared inwards the darkening sky; numbering 32, they were drifting to the SSE.  To my delight, this initial flock was followed past times 2 more, all heading the same direction; the full count for all 3 flocks was 84.

Though large flocks of migrating nighthawks are non odd inwards belatedly August together with early on September, this evening's spectacle, unexpected together with almost missed, was particularly inspiring every bit the soundless travelers passed overhead.  They are on their means to South America, ever leaving good ahead of the tumble chill; dissimilar some insectivores (e.g. chimney swifts), which stick unopen to until mid October, nighthawks create non gamble whatsoever depletion of their prey (flying insects).  Feeding on the wing every bit they migrate, they volition non provide to the Heartland until early on May.

River Otter At Eagle Bluffs

On this pleasant morning time inward fundamental Missouri, a friend as well as I headed downwards to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain.  Bird sightings were far from spectacular though a large set out of groovy egrets as well as groovy bluish herons were encountered.  The highlight of this morning's watch was the sighting of a river otter, feeding inward a channel at the due south terminate of the refuge.

Nearly extirpated from Missouri inward the early on 20th Century, river otters bring made a dramatic comeback due to a reintroduction plan that began inward the 1980s.  Now establish inward rivers, large creeks as well as lakes throughout the State, these large mustelids feast primarily on fish, crayfish as well as amphibians; the immature are born inward belatedly wintertime as well as household unit of measurement groups may survive establish throughout the year.

Since river otters are primarily nocturnal, they are non regularly observed yesteryear the full general populace as well as are to a greater extent than abundant than almost of us mightiness suspect.  This morning's sighting was hence a particular as well as unexpected treat; though I bring encountered many mink as well as muskrats at Eagle Bluffs, this was my "first otter" afterward hundreds of visits to that fabulous refuge.

Back To Snowfall Geese Country

While a fair seat out of snowfall geese migrate southward along the Colorado Front Range, heading for wintering areas inwards New Mexico, their numbers pale inwards comparing to those that move through the Missouri in addition to Mississippi Valleys; these migrants caput for the lower Mississippi Valley in addition to western Gulf Coast, where they pass the wintertime on crop fields in addition to inwards wetlands.

Returning to Missouri for a few weeks, nosotros spent the nighttime inwards Abilene, Kansas, in addition to resumed our journeying this morning, guided past times a Cheshire satelite in addition to brilliant Venus inwards the predawn sky.  Once the Sun rose, I began to scout for flocks of snowfall geese though it's a chip early on all the same for those hardy migrants; unfortunately, I solely saw their large Canadian cousins in addition to a host of raptors equally nosotros crossed Eastern Kansas in addition to Western Missouri.

No doubt, I'll notice enough of snowfall geese (and greater white-fronted geese equally well) earlier returning to Colorado.  After all, I'll endure hanging out inwards the middle of snowfall geese country!

Birding Urban Parks

While nearly naturalists too veteran birders caput for conservation areas, nature preserves too wild fauna refuges to notice too photograph wildlife, urban parks convey a corking bargain to offer.  Providing a natural escape from human "development," these urban oases are by too large planted amongst a broad diversity of native wildflowers, shrubs too plants, attracting a various assembly of wildlife.

Indeed, inwards my experience, the to a greater extent than extensive the nature sanctuary the to a greater extent than dispersed the wild creatures too the to a greater extent than hard they are to find.  Urban parks, on the other hand, tend to concentrate wildlife, offering nutrient too shelter that is non readily available inwards the surrounding concrete jungle.

This morning, my grandson too I walked through Stephens Lake Park on the due east side of Columbia.  Though its hike-bike path is less than ii miles long, nosotros observed 20 plane species, including a yellow-bellied sapsucker (a lifer for my grandson).  Urban parks may non offering the solitude too serenity of wilderness or large nature preserves simply the local birds for certain appreciate their offerings!

Eagle Bluffs Lite

From Nov through January, nearly of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area is unopen to the populace for duck hunting season.  Only the northernmost department of this fabulous refuge is accessible; nevertheless, birders may soundless run across a skillful multifariousness of species.

On this cold, snowy morning, I ventured downwardly to that floodplain save in addition to was rewarded amongst a span novel sightings for the season: 14 trumpeter swans in addition to at to the lowest degree 50 snowfall geese.  Raptors were express to a Cooper's hawk in addition to a red-tailed hawk in addition to a host of other sightings brought the species total to sixteen, rather meager for this well-known birding mecca.  The conditions in addition to my express fourth dimension frame were pregnant factors in addition to I'm certain my species listing would accept doubled if I had to a greater extent than or less other hr to explore the accessible region.

Except for a two-hour window inward mid afternoon, birders must aspect until Feb to to a greater extent than fully explore Eagle Bluffs 1 time again.  While I accept no personal objection to duck hunting (assuming the centre is consumed), I accept long wondered whether hunting in addition to birding could non safely coexist across this large refuge (e.g. past times narrowing the hunting zones and/or reducing the hunting hours).

Deep Freeze At Eagle Bluffs

The landscape of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area was peculiarly beautiful this morning; crystal-clear air, brilliant sunshine together with snow-crusted leafage produced spectacular scenery.  On the other hand, the temperature was inward the mid teens (F), causing steam to rising from the opened upwardly pools together with injecting patchy fog from the following Missouri River.

Waterfowl, to a greater extent than oft than non mallards, congregated on what opened upwardly H2O remained together with large flocks of ducks wheeled inward a higher house the frozen landscape.  Ten trumpeter swans lounged on an H2O ice covered pool, oblivious of the wintertime chill, together with a unmarried flock of snowfall geese passed overhead, on their means to less frigid climes.  Several bald eagles together with 2 red-tailed hawks patrolled the floodplain, where massive flocks of red-winged blackbirds scoured the icy fields.

It was nature at its best, combining scenic beauty, the challenges of wintertime together with the fortitude of wildlife.  Watching the activeness from the comfort of my heated pickup, I was forced to admit the relative vulnerability of modern man. 

Companions On The Trail

Veteran naturalists, despite decades inwards the field, frequently run across species or beast ask that they had non observed inwards the past.  Indeed, it is this expectation that keeps us interested as well as attentive, drawing us into natural ecosystems throughout the year.

This morning, spell I was birding at the Columbia Audubon Sanctuary, I heard a dissonance behind me; turning to look, I discovered 6 immature white-tailed deer, standing at attention.  As I continued to brand my agency across a sunny hillside, the deer followed at a rubber distance, stopping to browse when I stopped to scan the landscape amongst my binoculars.  This blueprint continued for a quarter mile about earlier they seemed to lose involvement as well as wandered into an following meadow.

I suspect they were of late abandoned past times their newly meaning mothers as well as banded together for comfort.  No doubt, I was a mere curiosity and, having spent their brusk lives inwards a nature sanctuary, complimentary of hunters, they had no argue to fright an aging human.  As for me, it was a humbling as well as emotional sense to last joined past times these gentle creatures; equally good frequently despised for causing route accidents or damaging suburban foliage, deer are a "problem" because nosotros humans killed off their natural predators as well as destroyed close of their natural habitat.

Avian Political Party Crasher

On this cloudy, cool afternoon inwards Columbia, Missouri, a mix of songbirds together with woodpeckers descended on our backyard, partly drawn past times fresh seed inwards the feeding area.  Such feeding groups are mutual during the colder months, making their foraging efforts to a greater extent than efficient together with reducing the adventure of predation (more eyes ameliorate the degree of alertness); the latter create goodness was peculiarly of import today.

As I watched from the comfort of our household unit of measurement room, the visitors scattered into the nearby shrubs together with trees when a Cooper's hawk swooped inwards for a belatedly lunch.  Fortunately for the songbirds, the powerful accipiter missed his target but the avian political party was over.

Though nosotros alive nigh the middle of Columbia, but westward of the University of Missouri, our neighborhood lies betwixt 2 wooded flow valleys, favored habitat for both Cooper's hawks together with barred owls.  We therefore buy the farm to a greater extent than than our fair portion of raptor sightings together with the local songbirds are for sure aware of that fact.

Snows Over The Floodplain

Ah the sight of snowfall geese inward the morning!  Arriving at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area only earlier dawn, I encountered a large, restless flock inward 1 of the fields; having spent the nighttime at the refuge, they seemed anxious to buy the farm on their journeying and, inside x minutes of my arrival, they exploded into the air, circling overhead earlier heading downwardly the Missouri River Valley.

During my xc infinitesimal visit, I was fortunate to see 8 to a greater extent than flocks of snowfall geese, coming inward from the due north as well as eastward as well as passing inward a higher house the floodplain refuge equally they angled southward.  In all, I gauge that I saw at to the lowest degree 2400 of the hardy as well as song travelers on this cool, cloudy morn inward key Missouri.

While I likewise encountered a skilful order out of raptors (including ii bald eagles) as well as a fair diverseness of waterfowl (including x canvasbacks), I had come upwards to see snowfall geese as well as my endeavor was rewarded beyond expectations.  The stirring spectacle of migrant snowfall geese is ever the highlight of my natural year.

The Beaver Moon

November's amount moon, currently brightening the nighttime sky, is commonly known every bit the "Beaver Moon," a designation attributed to the Algonquin Tribe together with immediately imbedded inwards American folklore.  The advert reflects the fact that beaver are specially active at this fourth dimension of year, repairing their dams together with lodges together with storing nutrient for the wintertime months.  The latter unremarkably consists of minor deciduous trees together with limbs that are placed underwater for sustenance spell H2O ice coats the current or pond.

My married adult woman together with I, frequent visitors to Philips Lake inwards southeast Columbia, convey of late noted extensive beaver harm to minor trees along the 40-acre lake.  Once a farm pond, the lake is stocked amongst fish yesteryear the Missouri Department of Conservation together with the surrounding state was dedicated every bit the A. Perry Philips Park inwards 2011.  This is the get-go twelvemonth that nosotros convey noticed the beaver harm together with convey been surprised that these large rodents made their agency upward from the nearby Gans Creek Valley.

If left alone, the beavers volition before long convey destroyed well-nigh of the minor trees together with shrubs along the lake together with ane wonders whether Park managers volition extirpate the squatters; such is ofttimes the dilemma faced yesteryear those charged volition balancing human recreation together with natural ecosystems.  I'm guessing the beaver volition move relocated (or worse).

November Rain

Nov rain, similar that of March, is mostly mutual frigidity together with unpleasant.  And, dissimilar the pop-up showers together with thunderstorms of the warmer months, it is unremarkably a long-lasting affair.  After all, it close ofttimes develops along a mutual frigidity front, where dense, chilly air noses beneath a warmer, humid air mass.

Unlike pelting that occurs inwards March, the Nov atmospheric precipitation falls on the world that has non silent frozen, allowing the H2O to percolate into the soil together with diminishing the adventure of runoff flooding that together with thence ofttimes muddies the landscape inwards belatedly wintertime together with early on spring.

Today's atmospheric precipitation inwards Missouri was typical Nov rain, developing yesteryear mid morn together with non letting upward until belatedly afternoon.  The temperature hovered inwards the forties (F) for close of the 24-hour interval together with a low, gray overcast precluded whatever sunshine.  It proved to live practiced conditions for watching college basketball game exactly I'll conduct keep Dec snowfall over Nov pelting whatever day. 

The Mute Swan Problem

As my married adult woman together with I walked some Philips Lake inward southeast Columbia this morning, a brace of adult mute swans flew overhead.  Graceful together with tranquility every bit they cruised inward a higher house the lake, they were a beautiful sight to behold; i would non imagine that those swans are a potential menace.

As I discussed inward my post service from September of 2016, Mute Swans inward the U.S., these large birds are native to Eurasia together with were offset introduced to North America inward the belatedly 1800s.  Since that time, they convey colonized the Northeast together with Mid-Atlantic Coasts also every bit the Great Lakes Region.  Looking at their make map on eBird, i finds that mute swans directly inhabit or catch portions of all of the Lower 48 States.  Unfortunately, they are aggressive birds, known to gear upward on native waterfowl species, together with are voracious consumers of aquatic vegetation, threatening the wellness of both coastal together with interior wetlands.

Wildlife managers along the Eastern Seaboard attempted to constitute a hunting flavour to command their population exactly that get was blocked past times swan-loving citizens.  While efforts to eliminate invasive plants rarely grab the attending of the full general public, the killing of swans, long associated amongst wilderness, royalty together with fairytales is some other matter; the fact that they may comport upon the welfare of our native trumpeter together with tundra swans seems to send niggling weight.  Such are the consequences of careless introduction programs, a human habit that continues today.

After The Blizzard

We inwards Columbia, Missouri, were on the southward side of a strong wintertime tempest that raced across the northern Midwest final evening.  Though nosotros entirely received nearly 3 inches of snow, the high winds plastered everything outdoors alongside snowfall in addition to ice.  So what to produce on the morning time after?  Head downward to Eagle Bluffs, of course, to regard what the tempest blew in.

Nearly solitary on the floodplain, I drove slow through the wintry landscape, stopping at favored viewing points along the way; since most of the refuge is however unopen for the duck hunters, I completed my road inwards less than an hour.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 squadron of trumpeter swans arrived from the north, equally did wavering v's of snowfall geese in addition to greater white-fronted geese.  Large flocks of mallards, gadwall in addition to coot dominated the scene, joined past times smaller groups of green-winged teal in addition to a few northern shovelers.  While I expected to run into a large release of raptors on this cold, cloudy morning, a brace of bald eagles in addition to a lone kestrel were the entirely avian hunters.  Perhaps the highlight of my see was a large, restless convention of horned larks, fluttering nearly an ice-crusted field.

Our abrupt boom of wintertime is expected to abate over the adjacent few days in addition to we'll supply to to a greater extent than "seasonal" conditions.  The residents of Eagle Bluffs volition probable appreciate a milder bring out simply they are equipped to bargain alongside whatever challenges that nature throws their way; they ask entirely worry nearly natural predators in addition to the threats imposed past times human society.

The Kings Of Bradford Farm

Bradford Farm, an agricultural query pump operated past times the University of Missouri, stretches across opened upward province due east of Columbia.  On this cold, cloudy morning, a friend too I drove along its graveled roadways, hoping to catch longspurs or uncommon grassland sparrows.  Instead, nosotros encountered a host of raptors, the kings of this farmland refuge.

We were initially greeted past times a rough-legged hawk, hovering inwards a higher house the snow-laden fields; this heavy-bodied buteo, downwards from Northern Canada, is an uncommon only regular wintertime visitor inwards key Missouri.  Later on, a duo of northern harriers crossed our path, flight depression over the crop stubble inwards search of rodents too unwary songbirds.  H5N1 red-shouldered hawk patiently hunted from the limb of a large tree too ii American kestrels observed our approach from above; i of these modest falcons was feasting on a plain mouse that dangled from his talons.

Oblivious of the frigid weather, these hunters bask an payoff during the colder months, their prey forced to provender inwards barren, icy fields.  Red-tailed hawks too kestrels are to a greater extent than ofttimes than non the close mutual raptors at Bradford Farm only bald eagles are regular visitors too short-eared owls may last observed hither inwards winter.

Migrant Dark Scoters

Black scoters bring been turning upwards inwards both of my primary eBird areas (Arapahoe County, Colorado, together with Boone County, Missouri) inwards recent weeks.  These body of body of water ducks breed along Arctic Coasts together with on tundra lakes of Alaska together with Northern Canada, wintering along both coasts of North America too equally the Gulf Coast.

While they occasionally plow upwards on reservoirs together with lakes of the interior, they are non equally mutual away from the coasts equally their white-winged cousins.  Black scoters are unremarkably encountered inwards flocks, bobbing inwards the H2O of coastal bays together with diving for mollusks, crustaceans together with other aquatic invertebrates.  When observed on lakes of the interior, they tend to hold out lonely or inwards pocket-size groups; close deed on to coastal areas for the wintertime only roughly remain on inland lakes if adequate nutrient is available together with the waters remain open.

Unfortunately, I bring non had the chance to disclose this year's visitors to Colorado together with Missouri only I bring oft seen wintering dark scoters off Longboat Key, Florida, where nosotros ain a condo.  Wherever they are found, i cannot assistance only admire these hardy migrants from the far North.