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.



“We've broken records for white-fronted geese this year,” Cox said.

In 2010, DeSoto restored 500 acres of wetlands, giving waterfowl more area to inhabit during their stay.

On a bird-seeking drive at the refuge this week, the sounds and sights of nature abounded.

Red-tail hawks flew overhead often, while whitetail deer sprinted out of the thickets, crossed the road and headed back into the cover. The rustling of turkeys passing through tall grass in the woods was heard nearby, while above a woodpecker intermittently tapped away and sang.

Flocks of ducks and other water birds rested on DeSoto Lake and other small- to medium-sized bodies of water at the refuge. Geese, which had stayed in large groups early on, were seen in groups of two.

“They're pairing up and staking out their territory,” Cox said, noting that Canada geese, along with wood ducks, often nest at DeSoto.

“Two geese we saw sounded like trumpets,” said Caiden Brown, who stopped by DeSoto with his mother, Jennifer, and sister Bailey. “And I never realized how many different ducks were here.”

The family hails from just across the Missouri River in Blair, Neb., and decided to take in the migration.

“It's so nice down here because it's quiet,” Bailey said. “I like that the animals can roam free and we get to see them in their world.”

Out at Bullhead Pond at DeSoto, Cox pointed out a muskrat nest, which is a rounded hut made of cattails and tall grass. Canada geese prefer to make their nest on top of the muskrat dwelling.

“You'll see the geese up on their nest,” Cox said. “Then after that you'll see little yellow fluff balls following them around.”

A flying V of snow geese passed by above. Cox said about 10,000 snow geese have stopped at the refuge this year. They had around that number during the fall migration, too, but for about a decade before that their numbers were smaller.

At one time, he said, 500,000 to 700,000 snow geese stopped by DeSoto during migration.

“It's nice to see some stop here for refuge again,” Cox said.

The waterfowl migration will end soon, with wading birds — such as herons, egrets and bitterns — the next scheduled visitors to DeSoto. Other types will follow.

“During the fall the birds stay longer, the migration is more drawn out,” Cox said. “Spring migration is fast. They're in and out in a week or so. The biological clock is ticking.”