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.

Macgillivray's Warbler

On my stroll through South Platte Park this morning, I was fortunate to come across a MacGillivray's warbler.  Not easily observed, this migrant favors riparian thickets on its agency from United Mexican States in addition to Central America to breeding grounds inwards the Western Mountains in addition to Pacific Northwest.  Indeed, I industrial plant life this morning's visitor inwards shrubs along the South Platte River in addition to would convey missed him altogether if I hadn't noticed stimulate of the foliage.

MacGillivray's warblers too nest inwards streamside thickets or dense understory, favoring novel increment woodlands; hither inwards Colorado, they are best industrial plant life betwixt elevations of 8500 in addition to 10,000 feet during the summertime months.  Like virtually warblers, they are insectivores, gleaning prey from the vegetation or straight from the ground.

Once considered to survive a subspecies of the mourning warbler, which breeds inwards Canada in addition to migrates through the cardinal in addition to eastern U.S., the birds are straight off classified every bit distinct species.  Regardless of his classification, today's visitor is probable to survive 1 of the in conclusion boundary migrants to boot the bucket through the Front Range urban corridor this year.

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.

Tarkiln Bayou Save Pose Down Park

On our agency out of Pensacola, Florida, this morning, my married adult woman in addition to I visited Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park, southwest of the city.  The Preserve's 4200 acres stretch due east of Perdido Bay, occupying (and expanding) the old site of the Perdido Pitcher Plant Prairie.  Known for its orchids in addition to carnivorous plants, the refuge is accessed via a network of earthen trails in addition to boardwalks.

Short on fourth dimension in addition to de-energized past times the heat, nosotros settled on the Tarkiln Bayou Trail (1.5 miles roundtrip), which leads southwest from the parking lot on State Route 293.  This paved walkway kickoff crosses a woodland of slash pino in addition to saw palmetto in addition to and thence snakes atop boardwalks where pitcher plants (primarily of the white-topped species) abound inwards the shallow wetlands.  The trail ends on the due east shore of scenic Tarkiln Bayou, which is surrounded past times tidal marsh in addition to empties into Perdido Bay.

This State Park is named for tar kilns, locally used inwards the 1800s to procedure pino tar that was collected from southern yellowish pines (commonly known equally slash pines); the tar was used primarily past times the transportation manufacture but besides inwards the production of soap.  While the refuge is abode to an first-class diverseness of wildlife, nosotros encountered exclusively ospreys, red-headed woodpeckers in addition to eastern towhees on this hot August morning.

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.

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.

Visiting Coastal Colorado

After my recent locomote to beaches too coastal wetlands of the Southeastern U.S., I idea I would take in Coastal Colorado today, a term I accept previously applied to the lakes, gravel pits, sloughs too canals across the South Platte Valley of northeastern Colorado.

Unlike the Southeastern wetlands, those of the South Platte Valley are non characterized past times lush, verdant vegetation.  Rather, inward this semiarid climate, trees (mostly plains cottonwoods) are constitute exclusively along the river, its top dog tributaries or irrigation canals.  Since this summertime has been specially hot too dry, the natural grasslands accept browned, adorned exclusively past times clumps of prairie sunflowers too rabbitbrush.  Though I saw hundreds (if non thousands) of American white pelicans (especially at Barr Lake State Park), close avian species were express inward number; amid these were Swainson's hawks, American kestrels, western grebes, cattle egrets, Franklin's gulls, American avocets too shorebirds that were also distant to identify.

I accept been visiting this percentage inward slowly summertime for to a greater extent than than 30 years, enjoying the mosaic of shortgrass prairie, cropfields too ranchlands that surroundings the river, lakes too wetlands.  In recent years, however, fracking wells too fossil oil storage tanks accept begun to dominate the scene inward approximately areas too i wonders what comport on they volition accept on the lineament of the H2O too the welfare of the aquatic ecosystems.

Looking For Migrants

On this chilly, autumn morning, amongst a total satelite balanced on the foothills to our west, I went downwards to South Platte Park, hoping to come across autumn migrants.  The early on morning time chill had brought out the songbirds, flitting together with twittering amid the shrubs together with trees, simply all was relatively tranquility on the lakes together with river.

During my i sixty minutes visit, I did expose 2 flocks of blue-winged teal, passing overhead, a handful of pied-billed grebes together with a brace of Wilson's warblers, downwards from the mountains.  That was the extent of the autumn migration, a tide that has non nevertheless gained momentum.  I did consider plenty of permanent together with some summertime residents, including an osprey, a non bad horned owl, gray catbirds, double-crested cormorants together with woods ducks, simply the migrants accept been deadening to appear.

Nevertheless, it was a pleasant walk roughly Eaglewatch Lake.  I got my exercise, enjoyed the fresh, cool air together with appreciated the companionship of the resident wildlife.  The migrants volition plough upwardly shortly enough.

Addendum:  My ongoing search for migrants was rewarded early on this afternoon, when a flock of five sandhill cranes circled southward inward a higher house our Littleton farm.

Cormorant Exodus

Yesterday morning, beneath a clear bluish heaven together with enveloped inward cool spill air, I visited South Platte Park.  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 steady, southeast air current kept many of the songbirds nether comprehend together with the waterfowl numbers remained good below par for early on October.  Fortunately, a massive parade of double-crested cormorants made the view peculiarly memorable.

Beginning nearly viii AM, modest flocks of cormorants appeared overhead, flight southward through the South Platte Valley.  They were followed past times a steady line of piece of job of cohorts, numbering 87 birds inward all.  I tin alone assume that these "fish crows" are commencement their exodus to southern lakes or the Gulf Coast, perchance stopping past times Chatfield Reservoir for a hateful solar daytime or 2 of angling earlier moving on.

Their exodus is certainly triggered past times the waning sunlight hours simply they mightiness too feel a alter inward the atmospheric delineate per unit of measurement area equally a mutual depression temperature front end gradually approaches from the northwest.  We await cooler, rainy conditions inward the coming days together with possible snowfall showers past times early on adjacent week.  While that would non threaten the welfare of these hardy fishermen, their lives are governed past times instinct together with they "know" it's fourth dimension to go south.

Harriman Lake Park

Harriman Lake is a 67 acre H2O storage reservoir inward southwest Metro Denver, fed yesteryear an irrigation canal; a 1.7 mile graveled trail leads or together with then the lake together with yesteryear several wetland areas, offering wide views of the opened upwards H2O together with of the Front Range foothills to the west.  Access to the Park is via a parking lot on the northward side of Kipling Parkway, a brusk distance southward of West Quincy Ave.

Though pocket-size inward size, Harriman Lake is a magnet for resident together with migrant waterfowl together with is i of the region's best locations for viewing together with photographing those species.  Last week, every bit a mutual frigidity front end loomed to the northwest, my married adult woman together with I visited this Park; on our walk or together with then the lake nosotros saw an first-class multifariousness of waterfowl, including the root American coot, ruddy ducks together with redheads that I had observed this season.  H5N1 lonely American white pelican lounged on the shore, double-crested cormorants fished on the lake together with pied-billed grebes pigeon amongst the coot inward the marshy shallows.

While naturalists together with birders commonly prefer to a greater extent than secluded nature preserves, far from the trappings of human civilization, wild creatures are oftentimes content to utilise less pristine habitat; every bit long every bit they experience prophylactic together with their preferred nutrient is abundant, they volition stick around.  Harriman Lake, but southwest of a busy intersection, offers an first-class example; it sure enough appeals to waterfowl.

Tourism Together With Our National Parks

Anyone who has visited our National Parks inward recent years has certainly noticed a dramatic growth inward the tourist population.  The massive crowds detract from the tranquillity and, to a greater extent than importantly, bring a pregnant touching on on the natural ecology.  As a result, around Parks bring begun to bound access as well as others volition for certain locomote forced to create the same.

Some powerfulness combat that tax-paying citizens ain these natural preserves as well as that whatever limits placed on access is inappropriate if non un-Constitutional.  Of course, other citizens resent the protection of Federal lands altogether, favoring access for grazing, mining, drilling as well as "development."  In the end, nosotros Americans volition bring to determine what should locomote protected for the create goodness of futurity generations as well as for the welfare of our planet as well as its ecosystems.

Those seeking natural retreats without the tourist throngs should consider visiting our National Wildlife Refuges.  Relatively unknown to the full general populace as well as frequently devoid of the "comfort facilities" that nearly tourists seek, they offering around of the greatest wild animals glasses on the planet.  Some of the to a greater extent than pop refuges tin grade notice piece of job past times away a flake congested during altitude viewing seasons only it's nix similar the urbanization of our National Parks.

First Goldeneye, End Osprey?

On this cool, sunny morning time along the Colorado Front Range, I visited South Platte Park.  There I encountered a skillful diversity of waterfowl, including the showtime mutual goldeneye of the season; the attractive manful somebody was line-fishing past times himself on the clear waters of Eaglewatch Lake.  I was likewise fortunate to detect a solitary osprey, peradventure the final 1 I volition reckon at the Park this year.

Common goldeneyes breed across Alaska in addition to Canada in addition to wintertime primarily inwards coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest, the Canadian Maritimes, New England in addition to the mid Atlantic Region.  Though less common, others wintertime on lakes across nearly of the United States in addition to at to the lowest degree a few dozen pass the colder months at South Platte Park, feasting on a broad diversity of aquatic creatures, from invertebrates to crustaceans in addition to modest fish.

Ospreys, on the other hand, are summertime residents hither in addition to a dyad accept been nesting at the Park inwards recent years.  More mutual along the North American coasts, inwards the Pacific Northwest in addition to inwards the Great Lakes Region, these "fish hawks" caput for southern shores during the colder months in addition to I suspect that this morning's visitor was on his way.

Chaos At The Refuge

On this cloudy, mutual depression temperature morning, ducks were abundant at South Platte Park.  Northern shovelers, gadwalls too American wigeon dominated the scene, joined yesteryear smaller flocks of mallards, hooded mergansers, buffleheads too American coot; a few northern pintails, redheads, green-winged teal too pied-billed grebes were every bit good observed.

The tranquillity of these flocks was all of a abrupt disrupted yesteryear a couple of bald eagles, 1 adult too 1 immature, that circled higher upwards the lakes, sending clouds of ducks into the air.  Despite their reaction, virtually of the waterfowl postulate non fearfulness the eagles, which tend to focus on old, sick or injured birds that are tedious to response or cannot proceed upwards amongst their cohorts.

While our National Birds are powerful raptors, particularly proficient at snaring fish from the surface, they every bit good pocket fish from ospreys or gulls too oft congregate along salmon runs to feed on dying fish inwards the shallows.  At other times they may endure constitute far from water, feasting on the carcasses of deer or elk that were killed yesteryear predators or succumbed to harsh wintertime weather.  

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.

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.