Squaw Creek
National Wildlife Refuge
"The
nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must
turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value"
-- Theodore Roosevelt
The
time is late September. Whitetail bucks, heavy into the rut, patrol the tree
lines for a receptive doe. The skies and water are filled with snow geese, as many as 400,000 of them. An eagle, perched in the top of a
cottonwood tree, suddenly takes flight and soars across the refuge.
The geese, panicked at the invasion of this intruder, erupt from the water in
a spectacle of sight and sound unmatched in its natural splendor. This is Squaw
Creek, one of my favorite spots.
Located in the far northwest corner of
Missouri near the town of Mound City, this refuge draws birding
enthusiasts, photographers, and naturalists from miles around. A ten mile
loop road provides visual access to nearly all areas. A visitor center keeps a
weekly update on the wildlife.
Click on arrows to scroll through
photos. Click on thumbnails for larger image.
A setting sun provides a stunning background for the waterfowl.
Some of the whitetail bucks on the refuge grow to be positively HUGE with a plentiful food supply of corn and beans.
This buck had been chasing a doe when he stopped in front of camera to catch his breath.
A dead snow goose on a muskrat mound attracted the attention of these scavengers.
An eagle challenges another for a meal.
The refuge is a good place to practice your flight shots. Todays cameras make this type of image a lot easier but it still takes practice.
Every so often, something spooks the geese as they rest and feed. Sometimes it's just a muskrat or more often, an eagle. But when it happens, have your camera ready.
A setting sun provides a stunning background for the waterfowl.
Ding Darling | Rocky Mtn.
NP| Squaw Creek
|
Glacier N.P. | Texas Birding Trail
| Salt Plains NWR |
Grand Teton N.P. |
Tallgrass Prairie Preserve |
Wichita Mtns. NWR |
Bosque del Apache NWR | Venice Rookery |
Kenya |
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