Though it was cloudy and cool on the Missouri River floodplain this morning, Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area was beautiful to behold. The reason? Water was once again flowing through its channels and pools, nourishing the parched landscape.
In response, a small flock of mallards joined the coot and pied-billed grebes that have recently endured the shrinking shallows. Better yet, flocks of blue-winged teal raced overhead, reminding one of the good old days when the refuge teemed with waterfowl. Other sightings this morning, among 24 avian species, included an adult bald eagle, a female northern harrier, two red-tailed hawks and an increasing assortment of grassland sparrows.
But the flowing water was the highlight of my visit. How long it will persist is unknown to this reporter but one hopes that the spigots were opened for ecologic reasons, not just to improve the duck hunting experience.
