Because January weather can be both unpredictable and unbearable, our January outing will be to DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, near Missouri Valley, IA, where both indoor and outdoor attractions are maintained. Many of our December birds have continued southward to open water or less snow cover and are difficult to find here, but the DeSoto NWR Christmas Bird Count held on Dec. 28th counted Trumpeter Swans, a Red-shouldered Hawk, Pileated Woodpeckers and Short-eared Owls, so perhaps we will still find such uncommon birds present there. In addition to outdoor birding, the Refuge’s visitor center offers indoor viewing of bird feeders and perhaps open water. Also, in addition to birding, the Refuge visitor center houses the steamboat Bertrand Museum, which recounts the history of riverboat traffic on the Missouri River and exhibits details of the Bertrand’s last voyage and its cargo. Not only that, but the story of the boat’s disappearance, the 20th Century detective work to relocate it and the recovery of the boat and its preserved contents is told. All in all, the museum holds nearly 250,000 artifacts from this ill-fated riverboat.
Join the group for this adventure on Saturday, January 14, 2023 by meeting us at the NW corner of the Singing Hills Walmart parking lot at 7:00 AM to caravan to the Refuge. Those wishing to meet us there can expect us to arrive shortly after 8:00 AM and may join our caravan as we tour the Refuge roads. After driving the area, we will head to the visitor center which will have opened at 8:30 AM to continue birding and to visit the exhibits.
A daily entrance fee of $3 per vehicle is charged. However, admission to the Refuge is free by the carload if one of the occupants holds a Federal Recreational Land Pass such as America the Beautiful Interagency passes for senior citizens, military or others. Also, holding a Federal Duck Stamp entitles the holder to free admission.
All LHAS outings are open to the public and offer an inviting way to begin birding and meet others with similar interests.
For more information, contact Bill Huser at 712-574-3107 or billfhuser@gmail.com.