Comparing Big Sit Results From Two Missouri River Refuges

The annual "Big Sit" was held nationwide on October 10th, and two participating sites were along the lower Missouri River.

The "Eagle Eyes Big Sit" was done at Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge by Mound City, Missouri, and the "DeSoto's Gooseless Wonders" team was at Desoto NWR, west of Missouri Valley, Iowa.

There were four participants in "Desoto's Gooseless Wonders" team, with about 40 casual visitors watching for about ten minutes, with 120 additional visitors inquiring about the count, according to the report submitted by Jim Hartman, team captain and a biologist at the refuge. The Fish and Wildlife Service was the sponsor for the count which lasted from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for this circle placed at the north end of the visitor's center, on an oxbow of the river.

At Squaw Creek, five miles eastward of the Missouri River channel, the eight members of the "Eagle Eyes," comprised of eight members of the local Audubon Society Chapter kept the vigil, according to the submitted report. There were 17 visitors to the sit spot - the refuge look-out tower. The survey period was from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. James Voltz was the team captain.

The observation spot is "near the entrance to the refuge and is the first and primary stopping point for visitors," said Ron Bell, refuge manager. "It also overlooks Eagle Pool yet there are woodlands fairly close. Therefore, that is probably why we are able to see different birds than the DeSoto group. I like our location because it provides the primary location to get visitors to stop. However, during this time of the year, there usually isn't too much moving through as far as marsh, water birds and waterfowl and we don't get that many visitors that early in the fall. They usually come in large numbers when more ducks show up and the snow geese and bald eagles arrive."

There were calm conditions at both localities.

Missouri Valley Avifauna

There were 66 species noted at the two sites.

Common Name	Desoto NWR	Squaw Creek NWR
Canada Goose	**	**
Wood Duck	**	**
Mallard	**	**
Northern Shoveler	**	-
Northern Pintail	**	-
Green-winged Teal	**	-
Canvasback	**	-
Common Goldeneye	**	-
Common Merganser	**	-
Ring-necked Pheasant	**	-
Wild Turkey	**	-
Pied-billed Grebe	**	**
Horned Grebe	**	-
American White Pelican	**	-
Double-crested Cormorant	**	-
Great Blue Heron	**	**
Snowy Egret	**	-
Green Heron	**	-
Turkey Vulture	**	**
Osprey	-	**
Bald Eagle	**	**
Northern Harrier	**	**
Sharp-shinned Hawk	**	-
Broad-winged Hawk	**	-
Swainson's Hawk	**	-
Red-tailed Hawk	**	-
Merlin	-	**
Peregrine Falcon	-	**
Sora	-	**
American Coot	**	**
Sandhill Crane	-	**
Killdeer	**	**
Greater Yellowlegs	**	-
Ring-billed Gull	**	-
Rock Pigeon	**	-
Mourning Dove	**	**
Great Horned Owl	**	-
Belted Kingfisher	**	-
Red-bellied Woodpecker	**	**
Downy Woodpecker	-	**
Northern Flicker	**	**
Blue Jay	**	**
American Crow	**	**
Tree Swallow	**	-
Cliff Swallow	**	-
Barn Swallow	**	-
Black-capped Chickadee	**	-
White-breasted Nuthatch	-	**
House Wren	**	-
American Robin	-	**
Gray Catbird	-	**
Northern Mockingbird	**	-
European Starling	**	**
Yellow-rumped Warbler	**	**
American Redstart	**	-
Common Yellowthroat	-	**
American Tree Sparrow	-	**
Song Sparrow	-	**
Swamp Sparrow	-	**
White-throated Sparrow	-	**
Northern Cardinal	**	**
Red-winged Blackbird	-	**
Common Grackle	**	**
Brown-headed Cowbird	-	**
American Goldfinch	**	**
House Sparrow	**	-

There were 20 common species of the Missouri River Valley which were noted at both localities.

There were 50 species noted in the tally for the Desoto sit. This tally was notable for the number of water birds denoted. Surprising was the lack of any blackbirds being present.

The Eagle Eyes noted 36 species. Two highlights of the day were a Sora and Sandhill Crane, according to a report on the vent posted on the Missouri Birds forum by Larry Lade. Raptors were also appreciated. A summary statement was: "The lack of open water and no adjacent wooded area contributes to low counts at this time of year." There was a comment made that perhaps a different spot will be considered next time.

"A new spot could be on the west side at Snow Goose Pool B or near the Davis Creek moist soil unit #1," said Bell. The quality of the site would depend on "whether we are able to provide mudflats, shallow water or able to accomplish any habitat work. Some years it is either too wet or too dry to get any good habitat close to the auto tour route."

A greater variety of sparrows was noted at Squaw Creek, probably because their observation point was outdoors. There were some surprising omissions, including the Ring-necked Pheasant, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, no swallows, and not even the House Sparrow.

Counts are not kept during this survey, with information derived solely from the presence of an observed species.

During the days surrounding the Big Sit, there were 25,000 ducks on this refuge and numerous Bald Eagles, according to Bell. There were few geese, because it is still early in the season.

Squaw Creek NWR is recognized as a globally important bird habitat, as designated by the Western Shorebird Reserve Network, as established in 2007.

The Fish and Wildlife Services manages the refuge for the benefit of waterfowl and shorebirds, including active water management, prescribed burning to retain habitats and discing, Bell said.

Squaw Creek NWR "is a perfect location for birding enthusiasts to watch the migration," Bell said.

This event provides another opportunity to survey birds present in a unique manner. With its national scope, results can be compared for many regions to provide a snap-shot of bird life present in different place in mid-October. With its organized focus, it is also a valuable educational opportunity, as indicated for the number of inquisitive people at Desoto NWR.

A "Big Sit" count is a count of the total number of species observed from within a 17-foot circle on a particular day. The event is sponsored by Bird Watcher's Digest. Additional details on all the results are available online.