Birds rest, feed at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

Originally published on March 23, 2011 in the Omaha World Herald
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by Mike Brownlee

photo - Mike Davis, Omaha World Herald

MISSOURI VALLEY, Iowa — Waterfowl and other migratory birds are making a brief stop on the 7,500 acres of wetlands, forest, lakes and ponds at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge on the Missouri River north of Omaha.

“The Missouri River valley, historically, has been a migration corridor,” said Tom Cox, refuge manager. “I liken it to a family vacation trip. And we're like a hotel and restaurant for migration.

“We provide an area for them to rest and replenish fat reserves. So when they hit their nesting spot up north they're ready for breeding. They need to be healthy for breeding and hatching.”

Bald eagles usually migrate along with the geese, feasting on the frail, and Cox said many have been seen on the refuge.

The waterfowl northern migration season began toward the end of February, Cox said, and ends in early April. During the peak days in early March, there were about 50,000 ducks and geese at the refuge.