Though the heart of the Arctic air has not yet reached central Missouri, it was plenty cold at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area this morning. And while most of the pools and a good portion of the central channel were frozen over, a friend and I encountered a good variety of waterfowl.
Mallards dominated the scene with at least 2500 observed. A large flock of ring-necked ducks also graced the floodplain, joined by smaller flocks of gadwall, Canada geese, redheads and lesser scaup, not to mention a lone American coot. Two adult bald eagles and a red-tailed hawk patrolled the refuge while songbirds were mostly sheltered in the thickets; only white-crowned sparrows and northern cardinals foraged along the roadway. As usual, multiple flocks of red-winged blackbirds moved across the valley, oblivious of the frigid air.
Once the Polar Express fully envelops the refuge, open water will all but disappear and the resident waterfowl will likely disperse to the Missouri River and other large streams in the area. If they only "knew" that a flight to Arkansas would offer a comfortable escape, they might just start this afternoon.
