For our latest social-distancing adventure, my wife and I visited Prairie Home Conservation Area, about 25 miles WSW of Columbia. Established in 1963 and enlarged since, the 1461 acre refuge is a mosaic of grasslands, remnant prairie, cropfields and woodlands, accessed by an extensive network of hiking trails, horse paths and graveled roads; drained primarily by Schaaf Creek and its tributaries, the area harbors three small lakes.
During most of our visit, we enjoyed a shady spot along Johnson Lake. There we were serenaded by indigo buntings, mourning doves and northern bobwhites while a variety of frogs called from the marshy shores, mixed flocks of swallows zoomed above the lake and turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks soared overhead. Our only human encounter was a man and his daughter who were fishing far down the shore.
Of interest, we crossed Clark Fork Creek en route to Prairie Home. A tributary of the Missouri River, it is (I suspect) one of many streams named by or for Lewis & Clark as they explored the vast watershed of our country's longest river. Social-distancing was especially easy in their day.
During most of our visit, we enjoyed a shady spot along Johnson Lake. There we were serenaded by indigo buntings, mourning doves and northern bobwhites while a variety of frogs called from the marshy shores, mixed flocks of swallows zoomed above the lake and turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks soared overhead. Our only human encounter was a man and his daughter who were fishing far down the shore.
Of interest, we crossed Clark Fork Creek en route to Prairie Home. A tributary of the Missouri River, it is (I suspect) one of many streams named by or for Lewis & Clark as they explored the vast watershed of our country's longest river. Social-distancing was especially easy in their day.
