Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge

Coming in for the landing! Photo: Drake bufflehead landing in the water at the refuge by Dave Hoffman

Double-crested cormorants are dark waterbirds with long necks and hooked bills. They frequently dive completely underwater and feed primarily on fish. Photo: Double-crested cormorant by Dave Hoffman

March 30, 2021 Waterfowl and Bald Eagle Survey: Amount of Wetlands Flooded: 3,500 Acres Habitat Conditions: Good Percent Wetlands Frozen: 0% ... Greater White-fronted Goose: 0 Snow Goose: 127 Ross's Goose: 6 Canada Goose: 140 Trumpeter Swan: 5 Wood Duck: 109 Gadwall: 1610 American Wigeon: 70 Mallard: 2,696 Blue-winged Teal: 5,805 Northern Shoveler: 9,445 Northern Pintail: 349 Green-winged Teal: 1,460 Redhead: 25 Ring-necked Duck: 1,290 Scaup: 6,525 Bufflehead: 93 Common Goldeneye: 1 Ruddy Duck: 167 Pied-billed Grebe: 67 American Coot: 10,990 Total Geese: 273 Dabblers: 21,544 Divers: 8,209 Total Ducks: 29,753 Shorebirds: 20 Bald Eagles: 4 (Immature 0, Adult 4) Find the detailed survey and more information on our website at https://www.fws.gov//wildlife_and_hab/waterfowl_count.html Photo: Drake mallard by Ryan Wertz

We have babies! Eaglets are hatching in active bald eagle nests on the refuge. Check out this curious young eaglet in the west nest with one parent keeping close watch. Photo by Dan Staples

Red-bellied woodpeckers are common in mature forests. You might find these woodpeckers in a woodland near you or even your birdfeeder throughout the Midwest, southern and eastern United States. They have uniformly barred backs, a brown underside, and a conspicuous red nape. A faint wash of red on the belly is barely visible. Photo: Red-bellied woodpecker by Carole Graphman

March 23, 2021 Waterfowl and Bald Eagle Survey: Amount of Wetlands Flooded: 3,500 Acres Habitat Conditions: Good Percent Wetlands Frozen: 0% ... Greater White-fronted Goose: 0 Snow Goose: 185 Ross's Goose: 12 Canada Goose: 117 Trumpeter Swan: 25 Wood Duck: 103 Gadwall: 755 American Wigeon: 5 American Black Duck: 0 Mallard: 5,970 Blue-winged Teal: 2,109 Cinnamon Teal: 2 Northern Shoveler: 7,145 Northern Pintail: 135 Green-winged Teal: 2,075 Redhead: 45 Ring-necked Duck: 1,787 Scaup: 280 Bufflehead: 188 Common Goldeneye: 1 Hooded Merganser: 111 Ruddy Duck: 650 Pied-billed Grebe: 36 Eared Grebe: 2 American Coot: 10,470 Total Geese: 314 Dabblers: 18,299 Divers: 3,062 Total Ducks: 21,361 Shorebirds: 100 Bald Eagles: 7 (Immature 2, Adult 5) Find the detailed survey and more information on our website at https://www.fws.gov//wildlife_and_hab/waterfowl_count.html Photo: Eagle returning to the nest by John Bachman

December 7, 2020 Waterfowl and Bald Eagle Survey Amount of Flooded Wetlands: 3,450 Acres Habitat Conditions: Good Percent Wetlands Frozen: 35%... Greater White-Fronted Goose: 6,545 Snow Goose: 37,105 Ross's Goose: Present Canada Goose: 1,023 Trumpeter Swan: 1,588 Tundra Swan: 11 Wood Duck: 0 Gadwall: 55 American Wigeon: 50 American Black Duck: 1 Mallard: 56,960 Blue-winged Teal: 0 Cinnamon Teal: 0 Northern Shoveler: 1,840 Northern Pintail: 2,315 Green-winged Teal: 725 Canvasback: 0 Redhead: 0 Ring-necked Duck: 930 Scaup: 25 Bufflehead: 0 Common Goldeneye: 0 Hooded Merganser: 45 Common Merganser: 0 Ruddy Duck: 35 Pied-billed Grebe: 5 American Coot: 1,000 Total Geese: 44,673 Dabblers: 61,946 Divers: 1,035 Total Ducks: 62,981 Shorebirds: 0 Bald Eagles: 388 (Immature 245, Adult 143) Bird numbers on the refuge fluctuate daily. Visit our webpage for more information: https://www.fws.gov/.../wildlife_and.../waterfowl_count.html Photo: Snow geese in flight at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge by Brian O'Halloran

**Temporary Two-Way Traffic Allowed** Due to construction on the refuge, the one-way auto tour drive will be temporarily open to two-way traffic on Wednesday, December 9th from sunrise until the afternoon. The road will be closed on the south side of the loop, as indicated by the red X on the map. Cars may still drive any part of the gravel auto tour, but will have to turn around at the red X as it will be impassable during this time.

We got a full house! How many eagles can you count in these trees?? Photo: Unspecified number of eagles perched in adjacent trees with snow goose flock in the background at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge by Dan Staples

What do you suppose this bald eagle is looking at? Photo: Mature bald eagle perched at the top of a tree and looking down at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge by Jim Russel

As the first weekend in December approaches, we would like to remind everyone that our 42nd Annual Eagle Days event has been cancelled. The celebration was originally planned for December 5th and 6th. We did not come to this decision lightly, but we feel it is the right one. Our number one priority is the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved, including staff, volunteers, partners, visitors, and the local community. While the event has been cancelled and the headquarter...s building is temporarily closed, the refuge hiking trails, auto tour, and restrooms remain open. Even without a scheduled event, the refuge is an incredible place to view wildlife and enjoy the outdoors. Take your family for a drive this weekend to celebrate Eagle Days your way! Thank you for your support, understanding, and flexibility as we navigate a global pandemic together. Be well and stay safe, folks! Photo: Puddles the Blue Goose, the National Wildlife Refuge System mascot, walking with a visitor at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge during the 2018 Eagle Days celebration by USFWS

Wow....362 bald eagles! If you haven't visited the refuge yet during migration, now is the time. Here are the most recent waterfowl and bald eagle counts: November 30, 2020 Waterfowl and Bald Eagle Survey Amount of Flooded Wetlands: 3,450 Acres... Habitat Conditions: Good Percent Wetlands Frozen: 45% Greater White-Fronted Goose: 14,470 Snow Goose: 69,905 Ross's Goose: Present Canada Goose: 1,129 Trumpeter Swan: 1,438 Tundra Swan: 13 Wood Duck: 0 Gadwall: 80 American Wigeon: 15 American Black Duck: 0 Mallard: 96,625 Blue-winged Teal: 0 Cinnamon Teal: 0 Northern Shoveler: 930 Northern Pintail: 3,240 Green-winged Teal: 2,140 Canvasback: 0 Redhead: 0 Ring-necked Duck: 840 Scaup: 5 Bufflehead: 0 Common Goldeneye: 1 Hooded Merganser: 124 Common Merganser: 0 Ruddy Duck: 37 Pied-billed Grebe: 9 American Coot: 590 Total Geese: 85,504 Dabblers: 103,030 Divers: 1,007 Total Ducks: 104,037 Shorebirds: 0 Bald Eagles: 362 (Immature 221, Adult 141) Bird numbers on the refuge fluctuate daily. Visit our webpage for more information: https://www.fws.gov/.../wildlife_and.../waterfowl_count.html Photo: Adult bald eagle perched on a muskrat mound at Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge by Gretchen Staples