Two days after torrents of rain lashed the Missouri River Valley, life on the floodplain has been reinvigorated; this morning, noticeably cooler and drier air enveloped Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. The greenery was more vibrant, floral colors were more intense and the resident wildlife were far more active.
Water within the pools and channels had returned to near normal levels and shallows covered low swaths in the fields. Indigo buntings, dickcissels and common yellowthroats were especially vocal, energized by the milder conditions; butterflies were numerous along the roadways, moving among the shrubs and wildflowers. By contrast, waders and shorebirds had spread out across the recovering refuge and were less conspicuous than they were before the rains.
A lone bald eagle and two Cooper's hawks patrolled the peaceful scene, minks raced across the levees and a host of swallows skimmed the inviting pools, no longer stagnant and shrinking. No doubt, hot, humid weather will return to central Missouri but, for now, an early taste of autumn is certainly welcome in the Valley.
