This morning, a friend and I visited Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area where large flocks of American white pelicans moved above the floodplain, congregating at a single pool. We had counted 740 of those magnificent birds when other flocks began to arrive from the north, gliding southward above the Missouri River Valley. We estimated that a total of 1100 pelicans visited the refuge on this sunny, cool morning, stopping to rest and feed on their journey to the Gulf Coast.
Were it not for the pelicans, our visit to Eagle Bluffs would have been disappointing. The southern half of the refuge was chained off (reason uncertain) and other bird species were relatively limited in number and variety; only large flocks of red-winged blackbirds rivaled the pelicans. Several double-crested cormorants dove for breakfast in the central channel, a couple dozen great-blue herons stalked the shallow pools and thirty-five great egrets moved about the refuge. Shorebirds were limited to a dozen greater yellowlegs and a lone killdeer and raptors were represented only by kestrels and turkey vultures. Canada geese and mallards were the only waterfowl that we observed, a rare lack of diversity for mid October; as discussed in an earlier post, I suspect that the extensive floodwaters upstream are disrupting the usual schedule of waterfowl migration this autumn.
Perhaps the large number of migrant pelicans will prove to be the vanguard of waterfowl migrations to follow. Regardless, the sight of these graceful birds, flapping and gliding above the floodplain, was both welcome and inspiring.
Were it not for the pelicans, our visit to Eagle Bluffs would have been disappointing. The southern half of the refuge was chained off (reason uncertain) and other bird species were relatively limited in number and variety; only large flocks of red-winged blackbirds rivaled the pelicans. Several double-crested cormorants dove for breakfast in the central channel, a couple dozen great-blue herons stalked the shallow pools and thirty-five great egrets moved about the refuge. Shorebirds were limited to a dozen greater yellowlegs and a lone killdeer and raptors were represented only by kestrels and turkey vultures. Canada geese and mallards were the only waterfowl that we observed, a rare lack of diversity for mid October; as discussed in an earlier post, I suspect that the extensive floodwaters upstream are disrupting the usual schedule of waterfowl migration this autumn.
Perhaps the large number of migrant pelicans will prove to be the vanguard of waterfowl migrations to follow. Regardless, the sight of these graceful birds, flapping and gliding above the floodplain, was both welcome and inspiring.
