Diversity of Avifauna at Missouri River Oxbows Revealed by Local Bird-watcher

In decades long past, the Missouri River flowed along in a dynamic and haphazard way as the mighty waters rendered a powerful influence upon the flat floodplain. The river channel shifted shifted and changed in regular alterations, causing change and creating new features and habitats for local flora and fauna.

A prominent feature of those riverine lowlands in the past were naturally-created oxbows of one sort or another, cut-off from the main channel of the river and left behind by great forces during high-water or periods of great floods. In the early history of this plains river, when the course changed, it was a natural force that created oxbow lakes aside the river.

View of Lake Contrary and other oxbows along the Missouri River below St. Joseph, as showing on the 1893 maps issued by the Missouri River Commission.

Several decades ago in the 1940s, when the Missouri River was channelized by legislative decree to allow barge navigation and for other "authorized purposes," some oxbows were established when a portion of the river channel was intentionally cutoff by mechanical means.

Several of these places occur in northwest Missouri, where there are a number of cutoff lakes created in distinctive ways.

These places are a haven for wildlife where Larry Lade - a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri - has spent uncountable hours observing the birds. Oxbow lakes he has visited and surveyed include:

• Big Lake State Park,
• Bob Brown Conservation Area,
• Browning Lake near the Roscrans Airport at St. Joseph,
• Horseshoe Lake south of St. Joseph,
• Lake Contrary,
• Mud Lake near Atchison (which is mostly silted in),
• Muskrat Lake, and
• Sugar Lake at Lewis and Clark State Park near Atchison.

Lade's efforts are a distinctive view of the value of these habitats for a variety of bird-life, derived from "quite extensive records going back to around 1992," he said. He keeps "daily records and also saves aggregate records for various venues," to document what species occur where and when.

Following many outings, Lade may report his observations to the Missouri Bird forum (mobirds-l), ebird, surfbirds or at birdforum.net, an international website where he is also a moderator.

Some notes from recent years of his ornithological history, readily indicate bird species' occurrence at some oxbow lakes, with some autumn 2003 notations indicative of what was seen at the oxbows:

September 24, 2003

"I was pleasantly surprised to see quite a few water birds on Mud Lake. The first birds I noticed were 28 Cattle Egrets on a low island in the middle of the lake (some of them were still sporting their brownish tinged breeding plumage), one Snowy Egret was in their midst and two more snowies were away from the flock of resting egrets and attempting to catch breakfast. There were six American White Pelicans, one Double-crested Cormorant, 20 Canada Geese, 32 Blue-winged Teal and seven Pied-billed Grebes in the same general area. On Lake Contrary proper I found one White-faced Ibis feeding in the watery vegetation at lake side and a few ducks hiding in the vegetation. This year we have unsuitable habitat for shorebirds (waders) and the only ones I saw were a couple of Killdeer and one Pectoral Sandpiper. Ring-necked Ducks usually do not show up until November, so the one adult male I saw on Lake Contrary was also a surprise.

"Away from the water I observed five Yellow-rumped Warblers, five Eastern Bluebirds and a late departing Lark Sparrow (most of his/her kin left three or four weeks ago). All in all a pretty good day to be out birding!"

October 21, 2003

"I have been birding Big Lake area which is 45 minutes north of Saint Joseph, Missouri. It is still currently about the only shorebird habitat in our vicinity. The birds always seem to concentrate on "the far side" of the lake. The bigger birds are readily identifiable, but the smaller ones are a definite challenge!

"The fall migrants are still coming through the area. Some of the birds observed are: Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Pectoral Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Long-billed Dowitchers, Stilt Sandpipers and the ubiquitous Killdeer. Duck species include: Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shovelers, Gadwall, Canada Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese. Yesterday I saw the first Redhead of the season (the duck, not a woman). Also present were some American White Pelicans. It should not be too long before we begin to see some scoters, loons and grebes!"

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

"I guess you could call 'my local patch' the oxbow lakes area just to the south of Saint Joseph, Missouri, U.S.A. I bird there two or three times a week, year round. When I am not birding there, I am usually going to places a little further afield, usually about 30 to 90 miles away.

"Today I birded my local patch (Lake Contrary/oxbows). The first bird I encountered was a Surf Scoter. This is a pretty good bird for our area as they are not seen every year. Also present were two American Avocets, also a good find for our area. Other birds of particular interest were seven Horned Grebes, two Eared Grebes (Black-necked grebes), many Dunlin, Wilson's Snipe, and an array of waterfowl, Red-Breasted Mergansers, Hooded Mergansers, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Mallard, Green-Winged Teal, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Northern Shoveler, with a great many Bufflehead and Ruddy Ducks. In the heavy vegetation edging the lake were many native sparrows: Song, Harris's, Fox, American Tree, White-Crowned, Swamp and Dark-Eyed Junco (slate-colored). A couple other birds of note were Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle race) and Northern Mockingbird."

The Surf Scoter was number 266 for his 2003 year list for the state of Missouri.

In a blog entry he wrote about the Missouri River area in the northwest region of the state, Lade mentioned what was involved in being able to bird watch at the river oxbows:

"There are houses, trailers and some rather 'humble abodes' all around Lake Contrary so birding the continuous shoreline is somewhat restricted," Lade wrote early in March 2005. "I have contacted several of the property owners in the area and have received permission to bird from/on their holdings. The best viewing is from the boat dock/swimming area parking lot and from the road on the far northwestern part of the lake." He primarily birds from his vehicle but on occasion would get out and hike about certain places, and also mentioned getting permission from land owners at the other oxbow lakes, to facilitate bird watching.

A summary of the bird life around Lake Contrary indicates features associated of this lake which Lade has visited quite extensively and has accumulated many thousands of records.

There is quite a variety of waterfowl, he indicates, including the Trumpeter Swan, and several species of geese and ducks, as well as many types of other waterbirds.

"Lake Contrary has been, in most years, an important spot for the shorebirds to stop in for a rest and feeding area as the travel between breeding and wintering areas." Lade describes in some written comments about the lake. "The list is rather impressive," he said. There are also several types of terns, including the rare, interior Least Tern.

Some of the permanent residents around the lake, include the: Canada Goose, Mallard, Red-tailed Hawk, Ring-necked Pheasant, Wild Turkey, Northern Bobwhite, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Great Horned Owl, Barred Owl and Eastern Screech-Owl.

"Most of the wood warblers pass through the area, but many stop around the lake to rest and feed enroute to their breeding grounds up north. There are probably some 30+ warblers which are possible around the lake. The ones which I usually observe in the area when they are passing through are: Tennesse Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler (the woods near the lake seems to me, to be one of the better locations in northwest Missouri to see this species!), Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Kentucky Warbler and Wilson's Warbler."

Overall, Lade has noted 250 different species "in, on and around" Lake Contrary.

Representative Oxbow Birdlife

A compilation of some of Lade's observations indicates more than 70 species that have been noted during recent years at a few of the oxbow lakes.

A representative sample of the species known to occur at oxbow lakes in northwest Missouri.
Common Name	Big Lake State Park	Bob Brown CA	Lake Contrary	Mud Lake at Atchison
Snow Goose	-	**	-	-
Canada Goose	-	-	**	-
Trumpeter Swan	-	-	**	-
Wood Duck	-	-	**	-
Gadwall	-	-	**	-
American Wigeon	-	-	**	-
Mallard	-	-	**	-
Blue-winged Teal	-	-	**	-
Northern Shoveler	-	-	**	-
Northern Pintail	-	-	**	-
Green-winged Teal	-	-	**	-
Ring-necked Duck	-	-	**	-
Lesser Scaup	**	-	**	-
Black Scoter	-	-	**	-
Bufflehead	-	-	**	-
Common Goldeneye	-	-	**	-
Hooded Merganser	-	**	**	-
Ruddy Duck	-	-	**	-
Pied-billed Grebe	-	**	-	-
American White Pelican	-	-	**	-
Great Blue Heron	-	**	-	-
Great Egret	-	**	-	**
White-faced Ibis	-	-	**	-
Northern Harrier	-	**	-	-
Peregrine Falcon	-	**	-	-
American Golden-Plover	**	-	-	-
Semipalmated Plover	-	**	-	-
Killdeer	**	**	**	-
Spotted Sandpiper	-	**	**	-
Greater Yellowlegs	**	**	**	-
Lesser Yellowlegs	**	**	**	-
Hudsonian Godwit	-	**	**	-
Sanderling	-	-	**	-
Semipalmated Sandpiper	**	**	-	-
Western Sandpiper	**	**	-	-
Least Sandpiper	**	**	**	-
White-rumped Sandpiper	-	**	**	-
Baird's Sandpiper	**	**	-	-
Pectoral Sandpiper	**	**	**	-
Dunlin	**	**	-	-
Stilt Sandpiper	**	**	-	-
Long-billed Dowitcher	-	**	-	-
Wilson's Snipe	-	**	**	-
Wilson's Phalarope	-	**	-	-
Red-necked Phalarope	-	**	-	-
Franklin's Gull	-	-	**	-
Bonaparte's Gull	-	-	**	-
Ring-billed Gull	**	-	**	-
Black Tern	-	-	**	-
Mourning Dove	-	**	-	-
Western Kingbird	-	-	**	-
Eastern Kingbird	-	-	**	-
Loggerhead Shrike	**	-	-	-
Horned Lark	-	**	-	-
Purple Martin	-	-	**	-
Barn Swallow	-	**	-	-
Northern Mockingbird	-	-	**	-
European Starling	-	**	-	-
American Tree Sparrow	-	-	**	-
Lark Sparrow	-	**	-	-
Song Sparrow	-	-	**	-
Swamp Sparrow	-	-	**	-
Harris's Sparrow	-	-	**	-
Red-winged Blackbird	**	**	-	-
Yellow-headed Blackbird	-	-	**	-
Brewer's Blackbird	**	-	-	-
Common Grackle	**	**	-	-
Great-tailed Grackle	-	**	-	-
Orchard Oriole	-	**	-	-
Baltimore Oriole	-	**	-	-

This list indicates the general occurrence and distribution of some of the avifauna, while it also conveys the types of birds which benefit from the wetland habitats at different oxbow lakes associated with the Missouri River valley.

The tally also presents those species which can be expected to occur as additional habitats might be created along the river, as a result of efforts associated with the Missouri River mitigation program. Lade has visited one mitigation site, the recently established Lower Hamburg Bend CA, and has developed a list of 63 species which have occurred at this locality.

Recent Birding Activities

On June 28, 2009, "between berry picking, yard work, attempting to repair our lawn mower," Lade drove off to check the status of some nesting Pied-billed Grebes at Horseshoe Lake. There were three different nests seen, as well as Canada geese, Wood Ducks, Mallards, Snowy Egrets, Cattle Egrets, an American Coot, Killdeer, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a Belted Kingfisher, Barn Swallows, European Starlings, a Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and American Goldfinch. His note provided the number of each seen, and also provided a short list of species present at Mud Lake and Muskrat Lake.

Lade has participated in the annual "Big Sit" event during mid-October, in particular at Squaw Creek NWR, the "best wetland area we have in northwest Missouri" though the "only thing it lacks is some area of deeper water, favored by the diving ducks, scoters, loons, and grebes." The group's name is "Eagle Eyes" and for Lade, it was a volunteer effort back in 2001, and for several subsequent years, including 2006 and 2007.

During the most recent Big Sit in 2009, a Merlin noted on the day of the event on October 11, 2009, was the 256th species seen during the year for this bird-watcher.

Since Lade is retired, time is regularly given to birdly endeavors, including providing help with banding 14 different species of birds on the campus of Missouri Western State University at St. Joseph, on September 29, 2009.

On October 21, 2009, number 259 on his yearly list was a Horned Grebe observed at Lake Contrary, still one of his most regular destinations.

In Buchanan County, Lade has recorded nearly 300 species. In Holt County, Missouri, which includes Bob Brown Conservation Area and Squaw Creek NWR, his personal tally is 213 species. He also keeps a list of the species noted at his home in St. Joseph, where some well-cared for feeders are a helpful, seasonal attraction for wild birds.

In part, because of his documentary efforts, Big Lake State Park and Bob Brown Conservation Area in Holt County, Missouri, are designated as Important Birding Areas in Missouri, with each site having different reasons for this accolade.

Big Lake State Park: "provides wetland habitat for breeding, migrating, and wintering waterbirds. Large concentrations of waterfowl and shorebirds" occur during spring and autumn migration. Notable breeding season residents include the Bald Eagle, Least Bittern, Pied-billed Grebe, Marsh Wren and Yellow-headed Blackbird, in addition to a myriad of other species. This site is the "largest natural oxbow lake" in Missouri, and is managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Bob Brown CA: currently a "matrix of marshland, cropland, old-field, grassland and forest," according to the IBA site summary. It "currently provides wetland habitat for breeding, migrating and wintering waterbirds. ... Tracts of emergent marsh which have been established, notably provide habitat for the Least Bittern, American Bittern, Marsh Wren, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Representative upland species include the Willow Flycatcher, Bell's Vireo, Loggerhead Shrike, and Sedge Wren.

Lade continues to pursue birds in his territory, including field trips when other bird enthusiasts are taken to one or another of his favorite places. A pending outing on November 7, 2009 is a field trip to the oxbow lakes, especially for members of the Burroughs Audubon Chapter of Kansas City. Lade is a contributing member of the Midland Empire Audubon Society, located in northwest Missouri.

---

Burroughs Audubon Field Trip to the Oxbow Lakes Just South of Saint Joseph

Saturday, November 7.

Larry Lade, the field trip leader provided this report on MO-Birds-L of the observations made during this outing.

"Visits to the Saint Joseph Stockyards, Lake Contrary, Horseshoe Lake, Muskrat Lake, Mud Lake and areas around the adjoining roads yielded some 40 plus bird species. There were twenty (20) participants who enjoyed the perfect weather and the birds encountered in the various areas visited."

This is a list of the birds observed.

"Snow Goose, Canada Goose, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Hooded Merganser and Red-breasted Merganser.

"Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebe, American White Pelican, Double- crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Cooper's Hawk and lots of Red-tailed Hawks in all kinds of various plumages.

"American Coot, Killdeer, Long-billed Dowitcher, some "peeps" to distant to ID, Franklin's Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Red-bellied Woodpecker and Downing Woodpecker.

"Blue Jay, American Crow, Horned Lark, Carolina Wren, American Robin, European Starling, American Pipit, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Eastern Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, Common Grackle and Great-tailed Grackle.

"The 'hoped for' Prairie Falcon and Lapland Longspurs failed to put in an appearance."