Dengler Images

A wild grouse chase — the search for greater and lesser prairie-chickens

by

KANSAS is home to two main species of prairie-chickens, lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) and greater prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus cupido), and some hybrids thrown in. The differences are subtle but easy to spot once you know what to look for. Recently, I accompanied my photography buddy and grouse expert, Noppadol Paothong, on a trip to Kansas to research lek locations (also known as booming grounds) for his future photography workshops. 

The first stop was in western Kansas, where we met up with Stacy Hoeme. Stacy, a generous, easy-going, positive-attitude rancher, is an example of the modern cutting-edge farmer/rancher who has recognized the benefits of a strong land ethic. Stacy and his son Chasten approach land management with strategies that exceed those suggested by state and federal conservation programs. Their use of limited tillage and crop rotation has resulted in their pastures supporting some of the lesser prairie-chicken’s largest known populations and densities. For their efforts, the Hoemes were awarded the prestigious Leopold Award in 2018.

A male lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) takes flight from a lek on the Hoeme Family Farm and Ranch in Gove County, Kansas. Prairie chickens return to the same lek year after year to mate. Males attempt to entice female lesser prairie-chickens with a showy mating display on a lek During courtship on a lek, males inflate their red esophageal air sacs and hold erect pinnae on each side of the neck. They rapidly stomp their feet making a drumming-like sound. The booming call of lesser-prairie chickens, amplified by the air sacs, can be heard as far as a mile away. Lesser prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on. As of early 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has placed a status of proposed threatened or proposed endangered species. A ruling is expected in the summer of 2022. Lesser prairie-chickens are found in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas with about half of the current population living in western Kansas.
A male lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) takes flight from a lek on the Hoeme Ranch in Gove County, Kansas. Prairie chickens return to the same lek year after year to mate. The ranch’s landscape is spectacular with the sedimentary limestone Niobrara Chalk outcroppings of rock similar to the nearby Monument Rocks, a National Landmark. 
Storm clouds begin to obscure a colorful sunset on the Home Family Farm and Ranch near Healy, Kansas. EDITORS NOTE: Image is a panorama composite of multiple overlapping images.
Storm clouds begin to obscure a colorful sunset on the Home Family Farm and Ranch near Healy, Kansas.

The evening sky on the first night with its encroaching ominous skies, foretold the upcoming dramatic storms that would come the following day. Much of the next day was a literal washout. While the rain put a damper on shooting, ranchers like Stacy welcomed the much-needed rain. Until this rain, the soil there had been seriously parched. I witnessed the effects of the drought a few weeks earlier when I drove back from Wyoming and my Columbian sharp-tailed grouse trip. Highway traffic along I-70 had to significantly drop speed due to the blowing dust and soil that eveloped the highway like a thick fog. It reminded me of the dust bowl photos from the 1930s.

A male lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) races across a lek to protect his spot from other males on the Hoeme Family Farm and Ranch Ranch in Gove County, Kansas. Prairie chickens return to the same lek year after year to mate. Males attempt to entice female lesser prairie-chickens with a showy mating display on a lek During courtship on a lek, males inflate their red esophageal air sacs and hold erect pinnae on each side of the neck. They rapidly stomp their feet making a drumming-like sound. The booming call of lesser-prairie chickens, amplified by the air sacs, can be heard as far as a mile away. Lesser prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on. As of early 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has placed a status of proposed threatened or proposed endangered species. A ruling is expected in the summer of 2022. Lesser prairie-chickens are found in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas with about half of the current population living in western Kansas.
A male lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) races across a lek to protect his spot from other males.

Like other lekking birds (including greater sage-grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, and prairie chickens), lesser prairie chickens gather at spots known as leks (aka booming ground) to mate. Males perform a mating dance to entice females to mate. As part of that ritual, males also will fight for the best position on the lek. Males will fiercely protect their position. In the above photo, a lesser prairie chicken rushes to chase an intruding lesser prairie chicken out of its space. The photo also shows one of the ways to identify the difference between the lesser prairie chicken and the greater prairie-chicken. Note the size of the eye comb. Later, in this blog posting, you will see that the eye comb of the greater prairie chicken is smaller. Another difference is that the air sack of the lesser prairie chicken is redder, with the greater prairie-chicken being more orange-like.

A male lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) flutter jumps in an attempt to attract the attention of a female on a lek located on the Hoeme Family Farm and Ranch Ranch in Gove County, Kansas. Prairie chickens return to the same lek year after year to mate. Males attempt to entice female lesser prairie-chickens with a showy mating display on a lek During courtship on a lek, males inflate their red esophageal air sacs and hold erect pinnae on each side of the neck. They rapidly stomp their feet making a drumming-like sound. The booming call of lesser-prairie chickens, amplified by the air sacs, can be heard as far as a mile away. Lesser prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on. As of early 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has placed a status of proposed threatened or proposed endangered species. A ruling is expected in the summer of 2022. Lesser prairie-chickens are found in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas with about half of the current population living in western Kansas.
A male lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) flutter jumps in an attempt to attract the attention of a female.
The uplifting flute-like vocalization of Western Meadowlark is a common sound to hear on the prairies of western and central Kansas. A colorful member of the blackbird family, the Western Meadowlark uses a feeding method that relies on its strong muscles that open its bill. They can insert their bill into soil, bark, etc., and then force it open to make a larger hole. This gives them an advantage over other birds to reach insects that most other birds can’t get to. This Western Meadowlark was photographed on the Hoeme Family Farm and Ranch Ranch in Gove County, Kansas.
Western meadowlarks are a common sight and sound on the prairie

One of my favorite things about hanging out on the prairie is listening to the uplifting flute-like vocalization of meadowlarks. In this case, it was a western meadowlark that I was hearing. A colorful member of the blackbird family, the western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) uses a feeding method that relies on strong muscles that open its bill very wide. They can insert their bill into soil, bark, etc., and then force their bill open to making a larger hole. This ability gives them an advantage over other birds to reach insects that most other birds can’t. 

A burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), lands next to another burrowing owl at the opening to an underground burrow.

Another bonus from the trip to the Hoeme Ranch was the opportunity to observe burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia). In the above photo, a burrowing owl lands next to another burrowing owl at the opening of an underground burrow. Burrowing owls live in underground tunnels, often that they have taken over from prairie dogs, tortoises, and ground squirrels. While most owls are active at night, borrowing owls are active during the day, doing most of their hunting in the early morning or early evening. When threatened by a predator, the burrowing owl will retreat to the borrow and produce hissing and rattling sounds similar to that of a rattlesnake. Burrowing owls are often seen with just their eyes poking above the burrow hole. Control programs to limit or eradicate prairie dogs and ground squirrels have led to a sharp decline of burrowing owls who depend on the burrows dug by prairie doge and ground squirrels.

Male greater prairie-chickens boom and dance to impress the girls

From western Kansas, we headed east to a greater prairie-chicken lek near Tipton in north-central Kansas. Before we arrived, a friend of Noppadol’s was able to triangulate a booming ground location using sound monitoring equipment, so we had a good idea of where to look.  

Two male greater prairie-chickens perform their mating display for a female prairie-chicken on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
I don’t think she is impressed. Talk about a cold shoulder!

While rain and a late season visit to the lesser prairie-chicken lek didn’t afford much activity, there was plenty of action at the greater prairie-chicken lek, notably when a female showed up. It was somewhat comical to see the female strut across the various territories of the males on the lek. It looked like she was shopping for a boyfriend. During her ‘shopping trip,’ male greater prairie-chickens would perform their mating dance. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac. In the end, though, she ignored all the efforts of the males with a cold shoulder. Guess she didn’t care for what she saw.

The booming-like sound emitted from the orange air sac of the male greater prairie-chicken can be heard up to a mile away. The bird inflates the sack during its courtship ritual when wooing females. This male greater prairie-chicken was photographed on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
The booming-like sound emitted from the orange air sac of the male greater prairie-chicken during their mating dance display can be heard up to a mile away. The bird inflates the sack during its courtship ritual when wooing females. Also, note the smaller eye comb compared to the lesser prairie chicken in the photos earlier in this blog post.

Battling to protect lek position

Two male greater prairie-chickens faceoff on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.

Staredown face-offs are the first stage of the battle to protect or overtake a position on the lek. It is always interesting to see who makes the first move. When one does, all hell erupts with some serious biting and pulling of feathers occurring. Feathers fly everywhere, much like in an animated cartoon.

Two male greater prairie-chickens faceoff on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright reddish-orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
Two male greater prairie-chickens fight on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
Two male greater prairie-chickens fight on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
Two male greater prairie-chickens fight on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
Two male greater prairie-chickens fight on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
Two male greater prairie-chickens pause during fighting on a lek in Mitchell County, Kansas. The prairie-chickens will bite, and pull at the other's feathers during the battle for their position on the lek. The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (Tympanuchus cupido) is known for its mating ritual by males called booming. In the spring, males gather on leks, also known as booming grounds, in which they defend small areas on the lek to perform their mating displays for visiting females. This display includes extending their orange eye combs, lowering the head, raising two tufts of feathers on the neck, and pointing the tail slightly forward while stamping their feet rapidly. They also expand their bright orange air sac to produce a booming-like sound that can be heard up to a mile away. In addition, males will vigorously defend their territory on the lek by chasing, leaping in the air, and dramatic fighting. Greater prairie-chickens are threatened by climate changes (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.
Feathers floating in the air as a result of the fighting.

While these battles are dramatic, there are more significant dangers to greater prairie-chickens and lesser prairie-chickens. All prairie-chickens are threatened by climate change (drought or too much rain) and habitat loss. In particular, habitat loss caused by wind energy development. Prairie-chickens need large expanses of open grassland without tall objects (like wind turbines or power lines and power poles) that provide a raptor to perch on.

PHOTO GALLERY of all my greater prairie-chicken photos
PHOTO GALLERY of all my lesser prairie-chicken photos
PHOTO GALLERY of all my burrowing owl photos

Be the first to know ‘Follow’ Dengler Images on Instagram @DenglerImages or follow my Twitter feed to know when I post iPhone reports from the field.

Sights and sounds from a Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek

by

This two-minute video from a Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) lek is made up of mostly slow-motion footage to see the detail in the movement of the fast-moving grouse. Sharp-tailed grouse gather at the same exact spot (called a lek) in the spring to mate. Males will face off and battle each other for dominance and attract the attention of females. Things to pay attention to: near the end of the video you can see the fast-moving mating dance that the males perform to attract females. I love how the males flick the tip of their tails back and forth, something that can only be seen in slow motion. The same goes for the stomping of their fur-like covered feet. In the final clip, a group of males tries to catch the attention of a female, but she’s not interested in any of the suitors and runs away. EDITOR’S NOTE: sound is not sound at time of image capture due to the use of slow-motion filming.

Be sure to click the full-screen button!
BLOG POST Columbian sharp-tailed grouse dance to impress
PHOTO GALLERY of all my Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse photos

Be the first to know ‘Follow’ Dengler Images on Instagram @DenglerImages or follow my Twitter feed to know when I post iPhone reports from the field.

Columbian sharp-tailed grouse dance to impress

by

Two male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse faceoff each other on a lek in southern Wyoming.
Two Columbian sharp-tailed grouse dance on a lek in southern Wyoming.

I HAVE MADE occasional trips to photograph Columbian sharp-tailed grouse on a lek in southern Wyoming for almost a decade. The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) is one of the seven recognized subspecies of North American sharp-tailed grouse. It is also the rarest and smallest of the subspecies of sharp-tailed grouse. Columbian sharp-tailed grouse have experienced declines in distribution and population due to overuse and development of the mountain shrub and grasslands that it favors. It is native to the sagebrush steppe of the western United States and British Columbia. First described by the Lewis & Clark expedition, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse were once the most abundant grouse in the West. Today, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse no occupy less than 10 percent of its historic range. It is currently considered a Species of Concern in several U.S. states

Male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse perform their mating dance on a lek during the pre-dawn in southern Wyoming.

Like other grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse congregate year after year in the spring on a small area known as a lek. Males perform highly animated dancing courtship displays to impress females to mate. These displays consist of rapidly stomping their feet at blur-like speed while keeping with their wings extended, often rotating in a circle. It always makes me smile when they synchronize their dance with each other, turning and freezing in position simultaneously as their neighbor. I also always enjoy hearing them approach in the pre-dawn darkness as they approach the lek. Their weird hooting, cackling, gobbling sounds, and loud foot-stomping are memorable.

Photographing these fast and erratic moving grouse is always a challenge. The birds dart across the lek at high speed, with males stopping suddenly to perform their mating dance. Trying to shoot video is even a more significant challenge. I joke with my shooting buddy Noppadol Paothong that photographing sharp-tail grouse is the ultimate test of camera technology and a photographer’s skill.

Two male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse faceoff each other on a lek in southern Wyoming.
Columbian sharp-tailed grouse males will stare each other down as they try to protect their personal space position on the lek.
Two male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse fight on a lek in southern Wyoming.
Two male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse fight on a lek in southern Wyoming.
The birds seriously fight each other, pulling at each other’s feathers or using their sharp talons.
A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is chased by other males on a lek in southern Wyoming.
A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse takes flight from a lek in southern Wyoming.
Ultimately, the staredown results in a fight with one of the males being chased from the space on the lek.
A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse performs a mating dance on a lek in southern Wyoming.
Males try to impress females with their crazy foot-stomping dance, rapidly stamping their feet at blur-like speed while keeping their wings extended, often rotating in a circle.
A female Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is chased by a male on a lek in southern Wyoming. The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) is one of the seven recognized subspecies of North American sharp-tailed grouse. It is also the rarest and smallest of the subspecies of sharp-tailed grouse. Columbian sharp-tailed grouse have experienced declines in distribution and population due to overuse and development of the mountain shrub and grasslands that it favors. It is native to the sagebrush steppe of the western United States and British Columbia. First described by the Lewis & Clark expedition, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse were once the most abundant grouse in the West. Today, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse no occupy less than 10 percent of its historic range. It is currently considered a Species of Concern in several U.S. states. Like other grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse congregate year after year in the spring on a small area known as a lek. Males perform highly animated dancing courtship displays to impress females to mate. These displays consist of rapidly stamping their feet at blur-like speed while keeping with their wings extended, often rotating in a circle.
Females are picky on their choice of male to mate with. Males will chase a female back and forth across the lek in an attempt to mate. Here, a female makes her escape from a male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.
A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse struts across a lek in southern Wyoming.
This photo shows a male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse with its distinctive orange comb and the purple air sacks that they inflate to amplify the courtship call and display their health. Also, note on the down-like feet the fleshy projections on their toes called pectinae. These help distribute the bird’s weight when walking on snow as snowshoes do.
A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse performs a mating dance on a lek in southern Wyoming.
This photo is a favorite from my most recent visit. I like the “tiger-like” stripes on the bird’s body caused by the shadow of its extended mating dance wing position.
A male Columbian sharp-tailed grouse rests on a lek in southern Wyoming.
A male takes a break from protecting his position and trying to impress the females with his dancing on the lek.
VIDEO Sights and sounds from a Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek in southern Wyoming
PHOTO GALLERY of all my Columbian Sharp-tailed grouse photos

Be the first to know ‘Follow’ Dengler Images on Instagram @DenglerImages or follow my Twitter feed to know when I post iPhone reports from the field.

After a million visiting birds, quiet time at Loess Bluffs

by

A juvenile bald eagle feeds on the remains of waterfowl in the Pelican Pool at the Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
A juvenile bald eagle feeds on the remains of waterfowl in the Pelican Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR.

A few weeks ago, I made a scouting trip to the Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Missouri near the Nebraska/Iowa/Missouri border. I use the word “scouting” trip as I knew I was traveling there long after the big migration of waterfowl (and the accompanying bald eagles) had passed through. Still, I wanted to make the trip because I have wanted to check the area out for over a decade so I knew what to expect when I would return during the height of the massive migration of millions, yes millions of birds.

Sunset over the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
Sunset over the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR.
Snow and ice on the Snow Goose Pool Complex at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
Snow and ice on the Snow Goose Pool Complex.
Sunset over the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
Sunset over the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek).

I found the refuge (formally known as Squaw Creek) largely deserted, not only of people but of waterfowl. Outside of a few waterfowl stragglers, a few bald eagles (likely resident), and a coyote or two. Of the 7,440 acres of the frozen landscape, I found only one small pool of water that wasn’t frozen over. It was quite a distance, and any attempt of trying to get closer to the waterfowl would have caused them to take flight and expend their much-needed energy. As the saying goes, if all you have are lemons, you make lemonade, which is what I did. The results are nothing to shout about, but it allowed me to get a feel for the possibilities for future trips to the refuge.

I look forward to returning.

A juvenile bald eagle swoops down on trumpeter swans and other waterfowl in the Snow Goose Pond Complex at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
A juvenile bald eagle swoops down on trumpeter swans and other waterfowl in the Snow Goose Pond Complex.
An injured coyote makes his way across the frozen and snow covered pond of the Snow Goose Complex at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
An injured coyote makes his way across the frozen and snow covered pond of the Snow Goose Complex at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
An injured coyote makes his way across the frozen and snow covered pond of the Snow Goose Complex.
A bald eagle awaits sunrise as the moon sets at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
A bald eagle awaits sunrise as the moon sets.

Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of snow geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes is a great way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.

VIEWER’S TIP: Eagles are less likely to fly away if you view from inside your car. Your car is a great “mobile” blind.
A pair of bald eagles perched in a tree overlooking the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR (formerly known as Squaw Creek). Loess Bluffs is a wildlife refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The 700-acre refuge, located in northwest Missouri is known for the migrating waterfowl, particularly Snow Geese. Fall and Spring migration can bring millions of Snow Geese to the refuge. Also, bald eagles and an occasional golden eagle pass through the area during the fall and winter months. The 10-mile auto tour around the waterways and marshes of the refuge is an excellent way to spot birds of prey, waterfowl, beavers, otters, and muskrats.
A pair of bald eagles perched in a tree overlooking the Cattail Pool at Loess Bluffs NWR as the moon sets on a chilly January morning.
VIEW PHOTO GALLERY of all my Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge photos

Be the first to know ‘Follow’ Dengler Images on Instagram @DenglerImages or follow my Twitter feed to know when I post iPhone reports from the field.

Contact

Phone:
+1.417.849.5642
Email:
[email protected]

Copyright Information

All photographs and text within DenglerImages.com are copyright John L. Dengler and/or the stated publication and are presented for web browser viewing only. Nothing contained within this site may be reproduced, downloaded, stored, copied, manipulated, altered, or used in any form without prior written permission from John L. Dengler and/or the stated publication. Do not "pin" images on pinning sites (Pinterest, Tumblr, etc.). Using any image as the base for another illustration or graphic content, including photography, is a violation of copyright and intellectual property laws. Violation of copyright will be actively prosecuted.

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our free email newsletter to keep updated on recent work, new products, or coupon specials. Simply enter your details, and confirm your address with the confirmation email that we send. It's easy and safe. We never share our newsletter list.

CLICK HERE to sign-up to receive newsletter and new blog post alerts.