Birds follow call of refuge
Bald eagle is top attraction at haven of Squaw Creek
By Anne Sutherland Special to the Kansan
The only sounds are the eerie creaking and moaning of the ice on the lake. The wind blows cold and harsh off the frozen lake.
But then, on the horizon, a small brown dot appears and draws closer. Binoculars reveal the dot to be one of the birds that Squaw Creek is best known for - the bald eagle.
Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge, just west of Mound City, Mo., at first seems silent and abandoned. It could feel like the loneliest place on earth from atop the lookout tower near the refuge entrance.
KU students going on a day trip won't feel alone at the refuge. Squaw Creek is home to dozens of different species of wildlife despite its barren first appearance.
Primarily a waterfowl refuge, Squaw Creek boasts more than 268 breeds of birds. The bald eagle is the refuge's feature
attraction. In early December, an estimated 300 eagles inhabit the refuge, drawing hundreds of birdwatchers to the annual Eagle Days at Squaw Creek, said Mike Callow, assistant refuge manager. Currently there are approximately 30 eagles at the refuge.
Besides the bald eagles, Squaw Creek houses an extensive mallard preservation in its western-most marsh. The marsh is a combined effort of many different organizations including the U.S. Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited and several private sponsors.
The marsh provides a haven for migrating ducks. Dozens of muskrat houses, made from reeds, dot the frozen marsh. The houses are a favorite roosting place for many of the birds at Squaw Creek.
Spring migration promises to bring several different types of birds on their return north, Callow said. Unlike fall migrators, birds migrating in the spring spend fewer days at the refuge because they are eager to return home. Bird-watching in the spring is sometimes better because the birds are in brighter plumage due to the mating season.
Other birds, such as the pelican, use the refuge as a place to stop and rest during migration in the fall and spring. Because of the different times of migrations,the inhabitants of Squaw Creek are constantly changing.
Among the many types of birds that stop briefly at the refuge in the spring are Canadian and snow geese. White pelicans, which spend the winter in Texas, are also at the refuge in April.
Winter viewing of the wildlife is done most comfortably from the auto-tour route that extends around the boundary of the refuge. Eagles, deer and muskrats are some of the more easily spotted animals on the route.
The refuge also has many nature trails on which people can hike, weather permitting. The trail that divides the pelican pool from the eagle pool at the southern end of the refuge offers a clear view of the lake. An occasional spotting of one of the refuge's many muskrats is likely on the trail because the western side of the narrow trail is lined with muskrat houses and partially chewed tree trunks.
The northern and eastern sections of the auto-tour route were recently reopened after being closed since July because of flood damage, Callow said. He estimated damage to the refuge to be approximately $1 million. Repairs have cost $200,000 so far.
Though the refuge has reopened, it still shows effects from the flood, Callow said. The south end of the refuge sustained damage to vegetation that helps feed the large
Over the river...
Micah Leaker/KANBAK
waterfowl population.
Big Lake State Park, which is five miles west of Squaw Creek, has also been undergoing flood repairs to its motel and dining lodge. Big Lake will reopen its campground and outdoor areas in April.
Squaw Creek opens for public fishing April 1, and the refuge headquarters will be staffed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends beginning March 19.
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GUIDE TO GOING OUT • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • February 11, 1994