On this beautiful spring morning in Central Missouri, I visited Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area on the Missouri River floodplain. Following my two hour visit, I came away with mixed emotions.
As always, it was good to see an interesting mix of birds, dominated by blue-winged teal, tree swallows and lesser yellowlegs. An influx of summer residents was led by great egrets and I was fortunate to encounter a flock of white-faced ibis and an immature little blue heron (the first I have ever seen at this refuge).
On the other hand, most of the floodplain continues to dry out and groves of trees have been removed; it appears that more space for crop fields is fueling the change. Humans can't seem to let nature take care of herself, even in Conservation Areas as spectacular as Eagle Bluffs.
