Lark Sparrows

Lark sparrows are summer residents of the American Midwest, Great Plains and Great Basin; found primarily west of the Mississippi River, their range extends into southern Canada, across eastern portions of the Pacific Northwest and throughout lower elevations of California.  During the colder months, they head for the Desert Southwest, South Texas, the Gulf Coast region, Mexico and Central America.

The only member of their Genus, lark sparrows sport a striking facial pattern of white, black and chestnut-brown stripes, a white breast with a central black spot and a white edge at the end of their long tail; the latter edge, thicker laterally than centrally, is a good field mark for novice birders.  These handsome sparrows favor open grasslands with scattered shrubs or trees and are often found along country roads where they scour the gravel for insects and seeds.  When threatened, they often escape to dense vegetation rather than taking flight.

Lark sparrows seem to be more abundant at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area (in central Missouri) this year but this may merely reflect a personal familiarity with these grassland birds that inhabit both of my home States.  Regardless, it's always good to see them as spring turns to summer.

A Stranded Duckling

Over the past two decades, I have made hundreds of visits to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, in Central Missouri, and have never failed to be inspired by its beautiful landscape and superb diversity of wildlife.  But nature offers both beauty and tragedy and, this morning, I was dismayed to observe a stranded duckling, swimming along the marshy edge of a floodplain pool.

The young wood duck may have prematurely left its nest box; however, he appeared well-developed and his siblings would surely have followed.  Perhaps he became separated from his mother and her brood but wood duck moms are very attentive.  This leaves the possibility that his mother was killed and that he is the sole survivor of her brood, the others picked off by water snakes, snapping turtles, great blue herons, mink, coyotes or bald eagles.

Few animals are as cute as a duckling and many humans would be inclined to rescue this youngster.  Naturalists, however, understand that it is best to minimize our impact on nature and that her cycle of life includes the death of young creatures.  A stranded duckling, sure to die without the guidance of his mother, is vital to this fabulous ecosystem, as important as the majestic eagles that survey its realm.

The Other Oriole

On this cool, sunny morning, an excellent variety of birds were moving about Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain; within 2 hours, I had observed 43 species.  Among these were a fair number of orchard orioles, the first I have seen this year.

Unlike their well-known Baltimore cousin, the male orchard oriole sports dark, rust-colored plumage, set off by a black head, chest, tail and wings.  Though a fairly common summer resident throughout the central and eastern U.S., it does not generally arrive until late spring and often leaves for wintering grounds (in Central and northern South America) by August.  Like most orioles, orchard orioles build a pouch-like nest that is suspended from a forked, distal limb of a shade tree; unlike most species, it is a colonial nester, often tolerating the close presence of other birds as well.

Orchard orioles prefer open woodlands, especially along streams.  While their name suggests a fondness for fruit, they feed primarily on insects during the summer months, snaring prey from vegetation or directing from the ground.  They do supplement their diet with berries, however, and, on their wintering grounds, consume the flowers and nectar of some tropical plants, playing a significant role in their pollination.

Dickcissel Days at Eagle Bluffs

Driving through Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, it was clear that the transition from spring migrants to summer residents is well advanced.  Waterfowl were limited to Canada geese, wood ducks, a small flock of blue-winged teal and a few mallards; shorebirds, recently represented by large, mixed flocks are now limited to killdeer and spotted sandpipers.

With the exception of great blue herons, indigo buntings and the ubiquitous red-winged blackbirds, dickcissels were the most conspicuous birds this morning, delivering their distinctive song from the tops of reeds or shrubs; favoring open grasslands, pastures and weedy fields, these vocal, sparrow-like birds have recently arrived from wintering grounds in Central and South America.  They feast on both insects and seeds and will soon pair off and build a nest in the tall grass; 4-6 eggs are generally laid.

As the summer heat builds, dickcissels and other open country birds will dominate the scene as woodland species retreat to the cool shade of forests or riparian groves; already, these tree-dwelling birds are heard more than seen, active behind a dense canopy of leaves.  Throughout the summer months, those hoping to see these birds must arrive early or late in the day, when solar radiation is less intense and cool air settles across the floodplain.

Mammatus Clouds

As a line of thunderstorms approached Columbia this evening, our daughter called our attention to mammatus clouds above the city.  Indeed, a broad area of dipping lobes was observed overhead, the product of sinking air beneath the advancing cummulonimbus clouds.

Often associated with severe thunderstorms, mammatus clouds (named for their breast-like shape) have long been rumored to predict the development of tornadoes.  However, though their development indicates a potent updraft within the thunderstorm, mammatus clouds are actually most commonly associated with weakening storms.  Nevertheless, they do indicate the presence of wind shear, ice crystals and potent temperature gradients and weather-savvy pilots know to avoid these cloud formations.

For those of us on the ground, mammatus clouds offer a beautiful sight, especially when illuminated by a rising or setting sun; my thanks to Ally for the heads-up!  Fortunately (or unfortunately) we should have more opportunities to observe these clouds this weekend as a potent storm system moves in from the west.

Avocets at Eagle Bluffs

A dozen American avocets graced Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, feeding in a shallow pool with blue-winged teal, American coot and a host of shorebirds.  Having wintered along the Gulf Coast or in Florida, they are headed for ephemeral wetlands, alkaline lakes and prairie ponds across the High Plains.  Many of those that winter in Mexico breed in the Intermountain West while permanent populations reside in the Central Valley of California.

These elegant birds, equipped with a long, up-curved bill, feed on aquatic invertebrates, sweeping the shallows to locate their prey.  Monogamous for the breeding season, avocets are highly territorial, aggressively defending their offspring from intruders and predators.  Following elaborate mating displays, the nest is placed on the ground, generally within a shallow scrape near the edge of a lake or pond; 3-4 eggs are normally laid though avocets sometimes parasitize the nests of black-necked stilts (and vice versa).

American avocets are most abundant across the Western U.S. and are relatively uncommon migrants in the Midwest and Eastern U.S.  Today's flock was thus a special treat for those of us who visited the Missouri River floodplain on this cool and breezy morning.

A Grove of Warblers

On my tour of Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, the expected mix of birds was found.  Blue-winged teal were abundant, joined by lesser numbers of northern shovelers, American coot, gadwall, wood ducks and mallards.  Shorebirds included greater and lesser yellowlegs, common snipe, spotted sandpipers, pectoral sandpipers and a small flock of dowitchers.  The resident bald eagles (2 pair) were present and I encountered the first green herons of the season.

The highlight of my visit occurred on my way out when I noticed two small birds flitting about a grove of trees that line the central channel.  Pulling over for a closer look, I soon discovered that the grove was alive with small insectivores; yellow-rumped warblers were most abundant, joined by palm warblers, Tennessee warblers, prothonotary warblers, a northern waterthrush and a pair of blue-gray gnatcatchers.  Among these relatively common species was a lone male blackpoll warbler.

This collection of small, colorful songbirds, less than ten feet from my pickup, reminded me of past visits to Cane Creek and Magee Marsh on the southern shore of Lake Erie, were spring migrants congregate to rest and feed before crossing the open waters.  No doubt, the activity of one flock attracted the others, creating a warbler spectacle amidst the vast landscape of Eagle Bluffs.

Beautiful but Deadly

Over the past week, several clumps of star-of-bethlehem have appeared in our flower beds and along our wood border.  Also known as grass lilies, these beautiful immigrants are native to Eurasia; they escaped cultivation in North America and are now widely dispersed in moist, Temperate regions of the Continent.

Characterized by showy, white, star-shaped flowers and grass-like leaves, star-of-bethlehem produces small seeds but reproduces primarily by division of their bulbs; like daylilies, these geophytes are thus often found in dense clumps.  Botanists have long argued whether this wildflower should be grouped with lilies, hyacinths or members of the asparagus family; depending on latitude, they bloom from April to early June.

As is often the case in the plant world, the beauty of grass lilies comes with a price.  All portions of the plant are toxic to mammals (humans included) and this wildflower, which often adorns pastures, has been known to kill livestock.

Mid-Day Nature Walk

In general, mid-day nature walks are not very productive during the warmer months, especially if you hope to encounter a good variety of wildlife.  But when you're locked out of the house and your spouse is not due home for two hours, what's a guy to do?

So I headed down to Forum Nature Area, in Columbia, and sauntered along the two-mile loop; fortunately, my decision was rewarded.  Chipping sparrows, the first I have encountered this season, were abundant along the tree line while eastern bluebirds and eastern phoebes hunted on the central meadow; northern cardinals, red-bellied woodpeckers and white-throated sparrows were especially noisy in the floodplain woodlands.  Cricket frogs and leopard frogs called from the shallows of the seasonal lake and American toads trilled from an adjacent pond.  Blue-winged teal, mallards, song sparrows and turkey vultures were also encountered but the highlight of my visit was a yellow-throated warbler feeding in a grove of sycamores; close enough for easy identification, he didn't seem to mind my presence and I watched him for at least ten minutes.

Completing the loop, I headed home, having burned most of my penalty period.  As I discovered today, many animals, fueled by reproductive hormones, are less selective about their activity schedule in spring and, when opportunity strikes, a mid-day nature walk is not a bad choice.

First Warbler!

Attempting to read on the back deck this afternoon, I looked up to see the first migrant warbler of the season, flitting about, high in a neighbor's tree.  Don't ask me what it was.

I immediately knew it was not one of the yellow-rumped warblers that winter in our area; they are somewhat larger and more methodical in their feeding habits.  It seemed to have a yellowish breast with no streaking and I think it had a faint wing-bar or two; from some angles, it seemed to have a narrow eye ring.  I know it had a brownish-green back or maybe it was a dark shade of olive.  Watching from a distance with my binoculars, I am reluctant to be more precise, especially since the bird never sat still for more than a second.  I'm guessing it might have been a female pine warbler or maybe an immature female bay-breasted warbler.  Such is the joy and challenge of warbler watching!

One might think that after 40 years of birding I would be embarrassed to admit my confusion but I've never mastered the art of identifying warblers at a distance; I'm satisfied to just call it a warbler, the first of the season.  Its visit offers reassurance that the parade of migrants and summer residents is well underway and that the threat of more winter weather, though not out of the question, is fading with each day.  Listening to the homesick tune of the white-throated sparrows, anxious to return to Canada, I know they share my sentiment.

The Homewreckers Arrive

As color explodes and birdsong intensifies across central Missouri, the first pair of brown-headed cowbirds arrived on our property.  Moving about the yard, the male engaged in his courtship display, anxious to mate with his bride; unfortunately, neither is willing to accept parental responsibilities.

Throughout the warmer months, the female will lay eggs in the nests of other songbirds; once they hatch, the young cowbirds, often larger and more aggressive than their nest mates, are raised by the adoptive parents, who may lose some of their own offspring in the process.  By turning over parental duties to other birds, cowbirds augment their breeding efficiency and boost the population of their own species.

Birders thus tend to despise these homewreckers, empathizing with the exploited parents.  But nature is neither fair nor sentimental and her web of life is festooned with unpleasant and seemingly cruel forms of animal behavior.  In the case of cowbirds, their instinctual disruption of other families has proved to be a very effective survival technique.

A Morning for Snipe

On this stormy morning at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, a dense cloud deck blocked out the April sun, extending the dim light of dawn.  Such conditions are favored by common snipe, chunky, long-billed "shorebirds" that inhabit inland swamps and wetlands of North America and Eurasia.  Breeding in Alaska, Canada and the Pacific Northwest, these reclusive birds winter across central and southern latitudes of our Continent.

A fair number were observed at Eagle Bluffs this morning, probing mudflats and flooded fields for a wide variety of invertebrates.  Drawn from the cover of cattails and marsh grass by the relative darkness (they generally feed at dawn and dusk), the snipe mingled in the shallows with lesser yellowlegs, American golden plovers, killdeer and blue-winged teal.  The latter ducks were abundant at the refuge, outnumbering American coot, northern shovelers, green-winged teal and lesser scaup on the lakes and pools.  A few dozen American white pelicans were present, as were double-crested cormorants, pied-billed grebes and two pairs of wood ducks; nesting bald eagles, great blue herons, tree swallows and a lone great egret rounded out the major sightings.

 As the mild weather of spring intensifies, the common snipe will move on to their northern breeding areas, relishing the cool, damp seclusion of bogs and dense riverine marshlands.  During the fervor of that season, males will emerge to perform nocturnal mating flights, their wings and tail vibrating to produce eerie sounds that echo across the wetlands.

Pelicans at Sunrise

Arriving at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area just before sunrise, my friend and I encountered a large flock of American white pelicans, lounging on a sandbar and illuminated by the glow of a nearly full moon.  As the sun crept above the river hills to our east, the pelicans began to stir, leaving in groups to flap and glide above the refuge pools.

During our two hour visit, more pelicans were encountered (at least 300) and flocks of these magnificent birds continuously moved above the floodplain, their wings reflecting the bright morning sun.  Joined by bald eagles, double-crested cormorants, Canada geese, various ducks, pied-billed grebes, great blue herons and a mix of shorebirds, the pelicans were certainly the highlight of our visit.

On their way up the Missouri River, American white pelicans attract birders to Eagle Bluffs every spring; they generally stop at the refuge from mid February through April though non-breeding birds may be encountered throughout the warmer months.  Headed for breeding lakes across the Northern Plains, the pelicans will return to the Heartland in autumn as they fly toward wintering bays along the Gulf Coast; during that season, they tend to use a limited number of staging areas and do not usually appear at Eagle Bluffs in large numbers.

American Golden Plovers

Six American golden plovers fed on a mudflat at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, having stopped to rest and feed on the Missouri River floodplain as they head for the Arctic tundra of Alaska and Canada.  These long-distance migrants leave their Arctic breeding grounds by late summer, traveling to grasslands of Patagonia (in southern South America) for the northern winter; this journey is achieved without rest stops as the plovers travel off the East Coast of the Americas.

Come spring, American golden plovers migrate northward through the heart of North America; it is then (primarily in late March or early April) that they may be encountered on fields or mudflats, often in large flocks.  After feeding on invertebrates and seeds, they continue their journey to the north and will be nesting on the tundra by late spring.

This morning's visitors had not yet molted to their summer plumage but they were nevertheless attractive birds.  Of course, their beauty is magnified by our knowledge of their stamina; seasonal residents of two Hemispheres, they grace the Heartland for but a few weeks each year.  My friend and I were fortunate to enjoy their presence.

New Arrivals at Eagle Bluffs

Greeted by brilliant sunshine, warm air and the purple haze of henbit on many of the barren fields, I made a quick trip through Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning.  Bird sightings were generally unremarkable, including the usual mix of bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers and common species of waterfowl; red-winged blackbirds, killdeer and upland chorus frogs provided a steady background chorus.

A flock of female buffleheads was a bit unusual for mid March and a pair of pied-billed grebes fed with the ducks and Canada geese.  New to the crowd were a few double-crested cormorants, the first that I have encountered in Missouri this season; some will be seen at Eagle Bluffs throughout the warmer months but most will move on to more northern breeding grounds.  The other new arrival was an eastern phoebe, hunting in woodlands near the Missouri River; always the first flycatchers to arrive from the south, eastern phoebes favor riparian habitats where their prey is especially abundant.

Unfortunately, no American white pelicans or sandhill cranes were observed during my brief visit and, despite finding dowitchers earlier in the month, no migrant shorebirds were encountered today.  As usual, the bird sightings at this fabulous floodplain refuge were unpredictable yet rewarding.

First Tide of Blue Wings

On this cool, misty morning in central Missouri, the first tide of blue-winged teal had arrived at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, on the Missouri River floodplain.  Common summer residents across much of North America, these small, attractive ducks winter along the Gulf Coast, in Central America and in northern South America.

Since most migrate long distances, blue wings are among the last species of waterfowl to arrive in the spring and among the first to depart in autumn; their numbers generally peak at Eagle Bluffs in late September and mid April.  The great majority breed in the prairie pothole region of the Northern Plains (from the Dakotas into Canada) but smaller numbers nest throughout Temperate latitudes of the Continent, favoring shallow lakes and riverine wetlands.

Their appearance at Eagle Bluffs this morning is just the latest sign that spring is unfolding across the American Heartland, an erratic and uneven process that will take two months to complete.  By then, these blue-winged teal, already paired off, will have settled into their summer quarters.

Prelude to Storms

As the storm system that brought rain and mountain snows to California dips southeastward, a deep atmospheric trough and upper level low are developing across the Western U.S.  Ahead of this system, warm, moist air is moving northward from the Gulf of Mexico, priming the Southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley for thunderstorms and flooding rains.

Here in Missouri, we expect an afternoon high of 70 degrees F under cloudy skies.  Thunderstorms are forecast to arrive overnight though severe weather will likely remain to our south; indeed, a tornado watch has been posted for much of Texas and States to its north and east.

In addition to the severe weather, copious rainfall is expected in the south-central U.S. over the next few days as the upper level low stalls over Texas, directing a plume of Gulf moisture and imbedded thunderstorms across the region.  Up to a foot of rain is forecast for Louisiana and Arkansas before the system breaks down and moves off to the east.  Flood season is certainly progressing with a vengeance.

First Spring Shorebirds

Here in Missouri, killdeer are permanent residents, upland sandpipers, spotted sandpipers and American woodcocks are summer residents and common snipe are winter residents.  Other shorebirds are migrants, passing through the State on their way between northern (often Arctic) breeding grounds and wintering grounds on southern beaches, on Caribbean islands or in Central or South America.

This morning, at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on the Missouri River floodplain, I encountered flocks of short-billed dowitchers, the first migrant shorebirds that I have observed this season and among the earliest that I have ever encountered in Missouri; indeed, the spring shorebird migration generally begins in late March in our region, peaks during April and tapers off through the first half of May.  Of course, there are always exceptions and these dowitchers, headed for taiga lakes and wetlands across Alaska and Canada, may have to endure some nasty March weather.

Then again, birds that breed across the Arctic or Subarctic are not likely to be discouraged by a round or two of cold rain and light snow; as long as they encounter flooded fields and open shallows, they'll continue to push northward.  On this mild, sunny morning, central Missouri must have seemed inviting enough, accompanied as they were by American white pelicans, ring-billed gulls, American coot and a wide assortment of ducks (not to mention the many bald eagles, mostly immature, that patrolled the refuge).

Carolinas on my Mind

Attempting to read outside yesterday morning, my efforts failed once again.  While the sunny, cool weather had coaxed me onto the deck, it also invigorated our local avian residents.  Most conspicuous were the Carolina wrens.

As if dueling for attention, several of these vocal birds repeatedly called from various corners of the property.  Two others intermittently hopped across the deck, disappearing into the adjacent shrubbery.  Needless to say, my adventures with Alexander Humboldt were placed on hold.

Though not well known to non-birders, Carolina wrens provide much of the background noise in suburbs of the Eastern U.S.  Their loud, ringing calls and melodies, heard in all seasons, become intense in early spring as their breeding season approaches.  Easily identified by their white-eye stripe, thin, curved bill and raised tail, these small reddish-brown and buff-breasted birds are aggressive for their stature and especially noisy for their size.  When they are about, outside reading is reserved for those oblivious of nature.

Spectacles of Early Spring

Arriving at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning, a friend and I encountered six flocks of American white pelicans, totaling at least 250 individuals; they had stopped to rest and feed at this floodplain refuge on their way to breeding grounds across the Northern Plains and Intermountain West.  Indeed, by the time we left the area, two hours later, most of the pelicans had already departed up the Missouri River Valley.

Other sightings at Eagle Bluffs included a half dozen bald eagles (one of which was on the massive nest), a large number of northern shovelers and green-winged teal and an exceptionally large congregation of northern pintails; we also observed American coot, mallards, gadwalls, great blue herons and a lone mink.

Later in the day, my wife and I visited Forum Nature Area, in Columbia.  Though bird sightings were limited at that refuge, were were treated to the din of chorus frogs, awakened from their winter slumber by the recent thaw.  These tiny tree frogs, difficult to observe even at close range, are among the earliest harbingers of spring, often delivering their mating calls while chunks of ice still rim the shallows.