July 2007

Master naturalists get their hands on nature

Boone's Lick Master Naturalists President Suzanne Wright kept a male cardinal's powerful beak occupied with a stick while placing a band on its leg. She and six other members of the Columbia-based group learned bird-banding techniques as part of their training. Master Naturalists share their knowledge through school programs and other public service. For more information, call 573/522-4115, ext. 3370, or visit www.monaturalist.org. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)

This program, cosponsored by the Conservation Department and the University of Missouri Extension, has something for every nature lover.

COLUMBIA, Mo.-It is 9 a.m., and the birds in Brad Jacobs' front yard in rural Boone County are singing as if there were no tomorrow. Towhees in the bushes are urging everyone in earshot to "Drink your Tea!" On the margins of a nearby pond, red-winged blackbirds defend their nesting territories with fluid, ascending whinnies.

However, the big excitement in the feathered world is unfolding around a mist net strung between two bushes. Seven members of the Missouri Master Naturalists, Boone's Lick Chapter, are painstakingly disentangling the wings and tiny feet of blackbirds, juncos, towhees, cardinals, sparrows and other birds from the net's gossamer threads.

Chapter President Suzanne Wright is having a tough time extricating a male cardinal, which does not appreciate her attention and is not shy about letting her know it. The bird's stout beak is capable of cracking woody seed shells. To avoid painful bites, Wright has given it a small stick to bite. This is good for a few seconds at a time; then the feisty bird spits the stick out and grabs a mouthful of tender flesh.

"Ouch! Don't do that," Wright entreats the bird, giving it another of the half-dozen sticks she keeps ready for this purpose. Once the bird is freed, she slips it into a muslin drawstring bag and moves to a banding station manned by Missouri Department of Conservation Ornithologist Andy Forbes. There it is fitted with a tiny colored anklet.

Forbes' mission this morning is twofold. One goal is to increase the number of banded birds. Recording vital statistics now and when the birds are recaptured will increase scientific knowledge about their lifespan, growth and travels. The other goal is to train more bird banders.

Although the scientific aspect of the work is not lost on the naturalists in training, it is tempered with a healthy dose of childlike wonder.

"You know, they look so different in hand," observes one of the neophyte bird-banders, cradling a delicate song sparrow. Seeing the birds closer than ever before, feeling the pulses and quivers of their tiny bodies against human skin is an unprecedented sensory experience. The workers' delight finds expression in frequent outbursts of child-like laughter.

One by one, the birds are slipped out of their bags and gently enclosed in the palm of one hand, with heads protruding between index and ring fingers and feet extending out over the bander's wrist. This puts their legs in position to receive bands, which are crimped in place with special pliers.

The volunteers take turns setting birds free after banding. Wonder fills their eyes at the flutter of wings against open hands.

Bird banding is just one of many activities Missourians can experience through the Master Naturalist Program. Master naturalists are organized into local chapters started by members of a community who want to play an active role in conservation. They take a 40-hour course that covers Missouri plants, animals and habitats.

Courses are usually offered once a year by chapters. Fees vary, but usually are $75 to $100. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis and usually fill quickly.

After completing the basic course, master naturalists determine the emphasis and activities of each chapter. They can continue, with help from professional naturalists, to extend their knowledge on a wide range of topics or focus on a particular subject area. Some chapters are active in conservation advocacy. Others work to increase public awareness of nature or conservation issues.

Master naturalists commit to perform at least 40 hours of nature-related community service annually. Examples include conducting inventories of plants or wildlife, giving nature talks at schools, youth camps or civic clubs and advising landowners on wildlife management. Some chapters tackle hands-on projects, such as restoring marshes or prairies, controlling exotic species and working on hiking trails.

Missouri Master Naturalists is a cooperative effort of the Conservation Department and the University of Missouri Extension. It has seven chapters, with an eighth in the process of organizing in St. Louis. To start a chapter or locate an existing chapter near you, call (573) 522-4115, ext. 3370, or visit www.monaturalist.org. Further information is available at www.missouriconservation.org/15241.

-Jim Low-

Start now preparing equipment for hunting season

Checking rifle sights and honing shooting skills are among dozens of useful things hunters can do before hunting seasons open. The Missouri Department of Conservation has more than 80 public shooting ranges around the state where hunters can keep their skills sharp. For more information about public shooting ranges, call the nearest Conservation Department office or visit www.missouriconservation.org/12359. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)

The dog-days of summer are the perfect time to get hunting equipment ready and hone shooting skills.

JEFFERSON CITY-Dove season opens September 1, followed closely by the early teal season, then archery deer and turkey hunting. After that, season openers become a blur of opportunity. But for avid hunters, August is the longest month of the year. The Missouri Department of Conservation suggests that passionate sportsmen and women put the dog days of summer to good use, ensuring a safe and productive autumn.

"If they go through their gear this time of year, most hunters discover they have a lot of work to do," says Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator Bryan Bethel. "Most of us would be lucky to accomplish all the things we need to in a month."

As examples, Bethel cites:
--Cleaning firearms and checking their function
--Verifying rifle sight alignment
--Inventorying and restocking ammunition
--Inspecting bolts, nuts, cables and moving parts of tree stands
--Checking bow strings, cams and cables
--Repairing arrow fletching
--Sharpening broadhead blades
--Mending holes in decoy bags
--Touching up decoy paint
--Replacing worn or lost decoy cords and weights
--Checking for and repairing wader leaks
--Checking boat electronics, mechanical systems and hulls
--Renewing camouflage on boats and blinds
--Taking outboard motors for tune-ups and inspecting trailers
--Setting up tents and other gear to ensure good repair
--Filling tanks with fresh marine fuel
--Sharpening knives and saws

"A lot of this has as much to do with staying safe as it does with having fun," said Bethel, "and that barely scratches the surface. This is also the time to be scouting out hunting spots, conditioning your dogs, renewing relationships with landowners and sharpening up your shooting skills."

The Conservation Department can help with this last item. The agency maintains more than 80 staffed and unstaffed firearms and archery shooting facilities at conservation areas, shooting ranges and outdoor education centers around the state. There is no reason to miss a shot at a dove, duck or deer because you are out of practice.

"If I can't be hunting, the next best thing is to be target shooting or fiddling with my hunting gear," said Bethel. "Now is the time to do it, so you don't waste time on maintenance when you could be hunting. Besides, ethical hunting involves being prepared to make quick, clean kills. Even experienced hunters need a tune-up before they go hunting, and the best shooting coach you can get is a case of ammunition."

For more information about public shooting ranges, call the nearest Conservation Department office or visit www.missouriconservation.org/12359.

-Jim Low-

Conservation displays a refreshing break at State Fair

Take time to gaze at fish in aquariums or cool off in the air-conditioned Discovery Room at the Conservation Pavilion at the south end of the fairgrounds.

SEDALIA, Mo.-Missouri State Fairgoers are invited to take a rest from the heat and glare of the midway Aug. 9 through 19 by visiting the Conservation Pavilion at the south end of the fairgrounds. There they will find air conditioning and soothing views of the underwater world in several large aquariums.

The Missouri Department of Conservation's area includes activities designed to be fun for young visitors and old. Puppet shows, games, a life-size Smokey Bear and a huge "Stream Table" sandbox are just a few attractions in the air-conditioned Discovery Room. Cool offerings in this space will include a close-up look at live amphibians and reptiles and bluebird house construction.

Outside are fish aquariums, live reptile and amphibian displays and a demonstration garden showing how beautiful, hardy native plants can be used in home landscaping. Novice anglers will benefit from fish cleaning and cooking demonstrations at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Aug. 15 and 16.

The Operation Game Thief (OGT) traveling exhibit will let fairgoers see trophy taxidermy mounts and other items seized from poachers. Visitors will get to see how citizens are using the toll-free OGT hotline to turn in game-law violators.

The Conservation Department pavilion also is a convenient place to pick up landowner deer and turkey hunting permits or buy other permits. Conservation agents and other experts can answer questions about wildlife problems and opportunities, such as how to avoid infesting your favorite spots with exotic plants and animals, such as purple loosestrife and zebra mussels.

For more information about the State Fair, call (800) 422-3247 or visit www.mostatefair.com/.

-Jim Low-

Wildlife refuge is a window on Missouri Bootheel's history

Towering cypress trees at Mingo National Wildlife Refuge are a reminder of the 2.4 million acre swamp that once covered southeastern Missouri's Bootheel region. The refuge preserves this natural heritage for recreational use. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)

Preservation and recreation are top management goals at Missouri's largest national wildlife refuge.

JEFFERSON CITY-The sun has not risen yet on Stoddard County this day in mid-May. Thunderstorms washed the air clean last night, and fields are shrouded with mist. A dozen deer heads float above the bluish veil, watching the passage of two pickup trucks carrying canoes and visitors.

The canoe cavalcade stops at a concrete boat ramp. Four men slide their slender craft quietly into steaming waters. A few paddle strokes, barely heard amid a Babel of birdsong, propel the canoes beyond sight of the trucks and other works of man.

The party disappears into the primeval grandeur of Mingo National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). They will take photographs and catch fish, but at day's end nothing will burn so brightly in their memories as the image of broad, cinnamon-brown cypress columns soaring out of the morning mist like the columns of an ancient temple.

Driving through the rice and soybean fields of southeast Missouri's Bootheel region today, you would never guess that 2.4 million acres of majestic cypress-tupelo swamp once blanketed the area. Maintaining a window on that historical landscape is the purpose of Missouri's largest federal wildlife refuge. Many Missourians are not content to look through the windows of this particular storehouse, however. They open the doors and step back into the past.

Most of the more than 110,000 people who visit this Class I wilderness area annually come to see the rich diversity of wildlife. Another large block of visitors hunt, fish, pick berries and mushrooms or simply prowl the trackless interior.

Leroy Romine is one of Mingo's frequent visitors. A native of the area, he began exploring the area as a child. As one of the guides for the outing described above, he demonstrated his knowledge of the refuge's geography, its hydrology and its history. He also demonstrated his mastery of the vanishing art of "sculling" - propelling a canoe without removing the paddle from the water and with so little movement that fish and wildlife are caught unawares.

The other guide for the day was amateur artist and photographer Aaron Horrell, who hails from Scott County. Though he has not been coming to Mingo NWR for as long as Romine, he has acquired a keen appreciation for the area's beauty, not to mention its angling opportunities. Unlike Romine, Horrell prowls the area on foot, usually carrying a camera.

"You see an awful lot of wildlife if you just take your time and walk," he says.

Wildlife spied that May morning included prothonotary warblers patrolling the log-strewn water's edge in search of insects for their nestlings, wood duck hens shepherding their fuzzy broods through the maze of fallen trees and a pair of Mississippi Kites wheeling in the sky overhead.

Though not a frequent paddler, Horrell nevertheless has a keen appreciation of Mingo's waters, because he is a fisherman. He says the refuge's lifeblood is Stanley Creek, a clear, cool Ozark stream that flows into the refuge's west side like a living pulse, eventually merging with the swamp's tannin-stained waters to form a system of ditches, oxbows, pools and lakes that supports largemouth bass, chain pickerel, crappie, bluegill, bullheads and bowfin. The bowfin, also known by "dogfish," "grinnel," "cypress trout" and other colorful nicknames, is a hefty, toothy, prehistoric-looking fish that seem perfectly suited to Mingo's primeval character.

Mingo NWR is an amateur naturalist's paradise. Species seen here include great and snowy egrets, yellow-crowned night herons, white ibis, tundra and trumpeter swans, king rails, purple gallinules, sandhill cranes, American golden plovers, American avocets, Wilson's phalaropes and 17 birds of prey, including bald and golden eagles, ospreys, goshawks, merlins and seven species of owls. Annual Christmas Bird Counts by Audubon Society members show that the area is home to at least 200 bird species. Mink, muskrat, beavers and otters roam the area, along with a stunning array of reptiles and amphibians.

The 21,592 acre refuge is the scene of several seasonal spectacles. Waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds gather here in staggering numbers each spring. They wait for clues that humans cannot see or hear to send them winging north to their nesting grounds. This annual tide reverses a few months later, and as the feathered flood ebbs south, hundreds of thousands of birds funnel into Mingo's woods and wetlands again.

A lesser-known and appreciated migration is the movement of cottonmouths, rattlesnakes, copperheads and non-venomous snakes into the swamp from surrounding uplands in late March or early April and their return to high ground in October. During these periods, visitors witness thousands of snakes sunning on and slithering across the refuge's interior roads. Not the average person's cup of tea, perhaps, but a spectacle worth making a pilgrimage to Mingo for those who are fascinated by serpents.

Mingo NWR owes its unusual biological diversity in part to its location at the junction of three distinct ecological regions. The refuge's toes dip into the Mississippi Embayment, whose southern end harbors alligators and Cajuns. Its northern end bumps up against the Middle Mississippi River Valley, and the Mingo Basin's back nestles against the Ozark Escarpment.

Mingo NWR is the largest and least-disturbed tract of bottomland hardwood forest remnant in the region. It would have been drained, cleared and turned to agriculture long ago, were it not the swampy region's wettest part. By the time the federal government decided to establish a refuge there in the 1940s, many of the area's landowners were glad to sell their flood-prone farmland.

Today, the Mingo Basin's unique characteristics make it the focus of several conservation initiatives, including the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners in Flight, the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and the Missouri Natural Area Program.

In spite of all the attention Mingo NWR garners from professional conservationists, Refuge Manager Kathy Burchett says one of her biggest challenges is building awareness of the area's recreational resources. When she succeeds in this effort, she must work to balance public interest with wildlife interests.

An example is the need to close parts of the refuge from Oct. 1 through March 15 to protect resting waterfowl. That limits access to the very resources the Fish and Wildlife Service has been working to encourage people to value and use.

"Our number-one mission is to provide fish and wildlife resources for future generations," says Burchett. "Luckily, we are also able to provide a lot of recreational opportunity, so people can appreciate the outcome of our primary mission."

Burchett says the best way to build support for policies that benefit wildlife but limit recreation is to involve people who love the refuge, such as Horrell and Romine, in its management. When refuge users "get it," they become the Fish and Wildlife Service's strongest allies.

To build local public involvement, Burchett encouraged area residents to form the Mingo Swamp Friends. Romine is president of the group, which now has approximately 135 members and is incorporated as a nonprofit organization. The "Friends" contribute to Mingo NWR in several ways.

One is active, hands-on management. The group maintains supplemental food plots that help draw deer and turkey to places where visitors can see them. Mingo Friends conduct trail maintenance work, and they have applied for a grant to develop a wheelchair accessible fishing pond. The group also is working on an oral history of the refuge, drawing on area residents whose memories go back nearly a century.

Burchett says the Mingo Friends are priceless and strong advocates for the Fish and Wildlife Service. Friends members offer great support and independently address funding issues of the National Wildlife Refuge System with members of Congress.

"It is very inspiring to see how much our volunteers care," said Burchett. "They are out there on their own time working to make the refuge better. They help staff the front desk at the visitor center, which is a huge help when we are short-staffed. They are part of the family. I can't tell you how much we appreciate the support that grows out of their true love and interest in the refuge."

The highlight of Burchett's career has been solving a problem first identified by area users. Anglers were among the first to call attention to long-term problems caused by some of the area's original water-control structures. Traditionally productive fishing areas were filling in with mud. The negative effects went far beyond fish, threatening the survival of the forest that defines Mingo NWR. Armed with these warnings, Burchett and her staff confirmed the problem, then found solutions.

"It has taken time, but through the work of our staff and the Mingo Swamp Friends, it is turning around," said Burchett. "The most rewarding thing of my 16 years with the Fish and Wildlife Service has been to watch this take place, where you see people working, you see the habitat improve, you see the forest get healthy, and you see the fishing improve. You hear people say, 'Hey, things are starting to change around here; this is great.'"

One thing not likely to change is the wide variety of recreational opportunities available at Mingo NWR. Waterfowl hunting is allowed on Mingo's Pool No. 8, a 1,191 acre green-tree reservoir on the area's northeast side, adjacent to Duck Creek Conservation Area. An 8,960-acre portion of the refuge is open to archery deer and turkey hunting and squirrel hunting. Muzzleloader hunters have access to a 6,891-acre area on the refuge's west side through a managed hunt conducted by random drawing.

Several trails provide access to the area's wild interior. The elevated Boardwalk Nature Trail gives visitors a safe, dry 1-mile route through a swampy area. The 19-mile Auto Tour has five overlooks. A brochure turns this drive into a self-guided tour.

Other facilities include five boat ramps, six observation decks, seven picnic areas and 12 informational kiosks. Wheelchair-accessible facilities include the visitor center, Highway 51 Observation Deck and Rockhouse Observation Deck.

For more information about Mingo, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Mingo/, or contact Mingo NWR, 24279 State Highway 51, Puxico, MO 63960, (573) 222-3589, Mingo@fws.gov.

-Jim Low-

Missouri contributes to bald eagle's recovery

Show-Me State has enough habitat to support hundreds of nesting pairs of the national symbol, and bald eagle numbers are increasing rapidly.

JEFFERSON CITY-With the removal of the bald eagle from the federal endangered species list, Missourians might wonder how the nation's living symbol is doing in their home state. The answer, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation, is "fantastic." Conservation Department Ornithologist Andy Forbes conducts regular counts of bald eagle nests to track the once-troubled species' progress. As recently as 1981, Missouri did not have a single productive bald eagle nest. This year's count topped 150.

"That is a minimum," said Forbes. "We can't find all the nests in a particular year, and the number just keeps growing. Last year's count showed 120."

Forbes said state officials no longer attempt to find all bald eagle nests. Instead, they track the success of those already known and those reported by citizens or discovered in the course of other wildlife management activities. This gives the Conservation Department a way of discovering nesting problems or a decline in nest numbers.

"At one time, eagles were rare enough that it was important to keep track of every nest," said Forbes. "But it is not practical today to comb every square mile from the air or on the ground trying to ferret out every nest. At this point it is enough to track the bald eagle population generally and react if we see evidence of a problem."

The bald eagle's recovery in Missouri, as in the rest of the nation, is the result of two main factors. One is the banning of DDT, a broad-spectrum insecticide that reduced nesting success of birds of prey. The other factor is a reduction in the illegal killing of eagles.

"People used to shoot bald eagles on sight because they thought they killed livestock," said Forbes. "That was not true. Bald eagles are primarily scavengers and thieves. They feed on carrion or steal food from other birds of prey, but for the most part they are not interested in tackling any moderately large, live animal."

Social pressure and hefty fines also have helped stop the illegal killing of eagles.

Forbes said Missouri has ample habitat for several hundred nesting pairs of bald eagles. They build massive nests in tall trees, almost always within a few hundred yards of large lakes or rivers. Every region of Missouri has at least some of this habitat, and eagles are known to nest statewide.

Bald eagles sometimes build their nests as little as a mile from other active eagle nests. With thousands of miles of shoreline along rivers and lakes in Missouri, the potential for bald eagle population growth is huge.

"I would never expect bald eagles to be as common in Missouri as turkey vultures are," said Forbes. "But if we continue on the course we are on now, the day will come when anyone can see an eagle almost anywhere in the state."

This raises the question of whether the bald eagle should remain on Missouri's endangered list. Conservation Department Endangered Species Coordinator Peggy Horner said the agency is considering several species - including the bald eagle - for delisting.

"We are in the initial stages of considering whether the bald eagle should be a candidate for delisting," said Horner, "When that happens, the public and other government agencies will have opportunities to comment."

-Jim Low-

Early teal season finalized

Blue-winged teal numbers are high enough to justify a 16-day season.

JEFFERSON CITY-The results are in from annual nesting teal counts, and the news is good - for birds and for hunters.

Federal officials determine the frameworks within which states can set hunting seasons. The framework for early teal hunting season is based on the number of blue-winged teal counted on nesting grounds in the northern United States and in Canada. If the population index is below 3.3 million birds, the season is be closed. An index of 3.3 million to 4.7 million blue-winged teal dictates a nine-day season. If 4.7 or greater, the season can be as long as 16 days.

This year's index was 6.7 million, allowing Missouri to lock in its planned 16-day teal season Sept. 8 through 23. Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.

Blue-winged teal begin migrating sooner than the smaller green-winged teal, and so are present in much greater numbers for the early teal season. Both species are legal to take during the September season, however, and bag limits include both species in the aggregate. The daily and possession limits are four and eight, respectively.

The blue-winged teal population index was 5.9 million in 2006, 4.6 million in 2005 and 4.1 million in 2004. Favorable conditions - primarily adequate precipitation to create small wetlands - are responsible for the 63 percent increase in blue-winged teal numbers over three years.

-Jim Low-

Citizen conservation leader joins Missouri Conservation Commission

JEFFERSON CITY-Festus businessman Don Johnson is Gov. Matt Blunt's latest appointee to the Missouri Conservation Commission. In announcing the appointment, Gov. Blunt emphasized Johnson's commitment to public service and to the next generation of Missourians.

Johnson, 60, an enthusiastic hunter and angler, is president of the Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM). In addition to serving as CFM's president, he has held the posts of second and first vice president, has chaired the Ways and Means and Executive committees and has served on the waterways resources, deer, turkey and ruffed grouse committees. He also is a member of the National Wildlife Federation and the National Rifle Association and is active in archery education. He helped launch Missouri's Archery in the Schools Program.

"I got involved in the national Archery in the Schools Program because it not only helps young people learn about archery, it also helps them reconnect with school and with society," said Johnson. "Youngsters who may be about to drop out of school and get started in that program find they can succeed at archery. Almost anybody can if they try, and once they have that success, it leads to other success, and we have been able to get people to move on to other things and not only graduate from high schools but to earn college scholarships."

Johnson traces his interest in the outdoors to fishing trips with father starting at the age of 3. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Jefferson County, where they manage their land to enhance fish and wildlife.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. He served as a pilot in the United States Air Force, flying 130 combat missions in Vietnam and earning four Air Medals and two Distinguished Flying Crosses.

His civilian career has focused on human resources and workplace environmental control. He currently is Human Resources Vice President for Cequel III Communications headquartered in St. Louis. Asked if he has any special goals for his tenure on the Conservation Commission, Johnson said, "More than anything, I would like to make sure the agency is relevant to the citizens of Missouri and that we serve people."

Conservation Department Director John Hoskins praised Johnson for his past service to conservation and for his new commitment to guiding the state's conservation programs. He said citizen activists like Johnson have laid the foundations for all Missouri's conservation achievements.

"His passion for hunting and fishing give him a strong personal stake in the outdoors that has led him to devote thousands of hours of time and immense personal energy to conservation. On top of this, he has tremendous business experience that will help ensure our Department of Conservation remains one of the best in the nation," said Hoskins.

CFM Executive Director David Murphy said Johnson's appointment is "great news for Missouri forests, fish and wildlife." He said the appointee is a passionate conservationist, an avid sportsman and a team-builder.

"Mr. Johnson has a proven commitment to conservation and the full range of recreation activities our state's natural resources support," said Murphy.

The CFM is Missouri's oldest and largest citizen conservation group, with 80,000 members and 80 affiliated conservation and sporting groups. Its efforts brought the Conservation Department into existence in 1936 and secured a dedicated one-eighth of 1 percent sales tax for the agency in 1976.

If confirmed by the Missouri Senate, Johnson's term will run until June 30, 2013. He replaces one of two commissioners - Cynthia Metcalfe, St. Louis, and Stephen Bradford, Cape Girardeau - whose terms expired June 30.

The current commissioners are William F. "Chip" McGeehan, Marshfield, and Lowell Mohler, Jefferson City. One seat on the Conservation Commission remains vacant.

Missouri voters established the Conservation Commission with Constitutional Amendment 4 through the initiative petition process in 1936. Under that amendment, the governor appoints commissioners to six-year terms. No more than two commissioners may be from the same political party. The commission has exclusive authority for the control, management, restoration, conservation and regulation of the bird, fish, game, forestry and all wildlife resources of the state.

-end-

Event for mobility-impaired hunters Sept. 2

Hunters who use wheelchairs are invited to a dove hunt Sept. 2 at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area in Mississippi County. Volunteers from the National Wild Turkey Federation will help hunters to and from the field and retrieve downed birds. For more information, call Larry Neal, (573) 334-8881, or Tim Hendershott, (573) 335-9350. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)

The National Wild Turkey Federation and the Missouri Department of Conservation once again will team up to provide a safe, high-quality hunt.

SIKESTON-Missourians who want to hunt doves but hesitate because of mobility impairments can put aside their reservations and pick up their shotguns. The Conservation Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) are sponsoring a special event for disabled hunters Sept. 2 at Ten Mile Pond Conservation Area in Mississippi County.

Event organizer Larry Neal said the event draws participants from all over the state. Typically scheduled on the first weekend of dove season, the hunt provides fast shooting for participants. Up to 15 hunters can take part in the event, shooting in an area reserved for their use. Members of the NWTF serve as guides, helping hunters get to and from the field and retrieving downed birds. Participating hunters are enrolled as members in the NWTF's Wheelin' Sportsmen Program.

Participants should plan to arrive at Ten Mile Pond CA headquarters before 6 a.m. They need small-game and migratory-bird hunting permits and hunter education certification cards. For reservations, call Neal, (573) 334-8881, or Tim Hendershott, (573) 335-9350.

-Jim Low-

Feeder maintenance helps keep summer hummers healthy

Hot weather promotes the growth of harmful bacteria.

JEFFERSON CITY--Ruby-throated hummingbirds are Missouri's smallest migratory visitors. They come to feed on our nectar-rich gardens and sugar-water feeders. However, neglecting artificial feeders can cause hummingbirds to fly elsewhere, or worse.

Installing outdoor feeders filled with sugar water is a great way to bring the tiny, fascinating birds close enough for easy viewing. A solution made with one part sugar to four parts water is all that is needed. Food coloring is not necessary, since nectar feeders always include a bit of red or yellow to catch hummers' sharp eyes.

While attracting hummingbirds is simple, keeping them coming back takes a little work. Summer heat turns sugar water sour after a few days. Warm weather also promotes bacterial and fungal growth that can harm hummingbirds. Another common problem is ants or other insects crawling inside feeders and drowning. This quickly makes nectar unpalatable to hummers.

Weekly cleaning prevents these problems. Boiling water is best for cleaning glass containers. Plastic feeders, which may be damaged by heat, can be sterilized with a dilute solution of chlorine bleach. A small bottle brush helps remove mildew and other built-up residue.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds fly to Missouri in April from winter homes as far away as South America. They come north to nest and stay until autumn. The ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummer that visits Missouri regularly. Males have iridescent red throats and are easy to distinguish from females and young birds, which have white throats.

Hummingbirds weigh only a tenth of an ounce but will defend their territory fearlessly. They are attracted to red and prefer tube-shaped flowers. Planting flowers such as salvia, petunias and snapdragons or trumpet creeper is a natural way to attract hummers.\

Hummingbirds sometimes take several days to discover a new feeder. They are always scouting for food, however, and will find your offering within a few weeks.

-Jim Low-

For more information about hummingbirds, write to MDC, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or e-mail pubstaff@mdc.mo.gov. You also can find information at www.missouriconservation.org/8177.

-Jim Low-

Some summer fish kills are avoidable

A little help from pond owners can increase fish survival.

JEFFERSON CITY-Pond owners who want to maintain good fishing should be alert for conditions that could lead to summer fish kills, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. Vigilance and timely action could save fish's lives.

Conservation Department fisheries biologists say three conditions can cause fish die-offs in ponds: shallow water, excessive aquatic vegetation and too many fish. In all cases, the ultimate culprit is lack of oxygen.

Ponds should be at least 8 feet deep to enable fish to survive hot weather. Some ponds have ample depth when built, but they lose depth over the years as rains wash sediment from surrounding land. Shallow ponds heat up faster than deep ones, reducing the ability of water to hold oxygen. So, regardless of how deep your pond once was, it is a good idea to check its depth annually. If the depth is approaching 8 feet, dredging could be in order.

Overabundant vegetation also can make things tough for fish. Plants need oxygen to live, and although they normally produce more oxygen than they use, this condition is reversed on cloudy days. Several cloudy days in a row can cause a die-off of vegetation, and the decay of dead plants saps oxygen from the water. If the amount of dead vegetation is large enough, fish can suffocate.

If pond owners see fish gulping air at the surface, it is time for action. One remedy is to spray a fan of water across the surface from a high-pressure hose or mix air and water by running an outboard motor tilted up to produce a "rooster tail" of spray.

Much better, however, is to head off the problem before it occurs. Remove algae and other excessive vegetation with a rake, and dispose of it below the dam, where nutrients from the decaying plant material will not run back into the pond.

The number of fish in a pond also determines how they are affected by low oxygen levels. The biggest fish - those most prized by anglers - usually are the first to die in summer fish kills. Anglers can help prevent this problem by taking smaller fish home and eating them.

A Conservation Department biologist can help determine whether your pond's fish population is in balance and offer advice about how to restore balance, if necessary. For more information, contact a Conservation Department office near you or visit www.missouriconservation.org/n119.

-Jim Low-

Anglers invited to public meetings on catfish management

The Missouri Department of Conservation plans to hold four meetings July 31 through Aug. 16 in central Missouri to get anglers' thoughts about how to manage catfish in parts of the Lamine and Missouri Rivers. For more information, call (573) 884-6861 or visit www.missouriconservation.org. (Missouri Dept. of Conservation photo)

Come and tell the Conservation Department your desires for catfish management in the Missouri River and one of its tributaries.

JEFFERSON CITY- If you are a Missouri River angler and like chasing monster blue cats or enjoy a meal of fresh flathead catfish, the Missouri Department of Conservation wants to know your thoughts on the statewide catfish management plan's proposed management strategy for these catfish. You can express your preferences at one of four meetings in central Missouri or send your ideas by mail or e-mail.

The Conservation Department has been conducting field research for several years to lay the foundation for effective, science-based catfish management. With much of the needed data in hand, the agency is nearly ready to launch a pilot study of new catfishing regulations on an 82-mile section of the Missouri River from Glasgow to Jefferson City and on the Lamine River from its confluence with the Missouri River to Hwy. 50 in Morgan County. Also included in tentative plans is the 6.2-mile section of the Blackwater River from Blackwater Access downstream to its confluence with the Lamine River.

First, however, the agency wants to let anglers know what experimental regulations are under consideration and find out what anglers think of them.

Fisheries Field Operations Chief Rich Wehnes said the agency wants to hear from anglers To involve anglers in the process, the Conservation Department has scheduled the following meetings, each to run from 7 to 9 p.m.
--July 31 at Boone Electric Cooperative, Columbia.
--Aug. 7 at Laura Speed Elliott Middle School, Boonville.
--Aug. 9 at Glasgow High School, Glasgow.
--Aug. 16 at Marshall High School in Marshall.

"Our statewide catfish plan called for investigating the potential for improving the size of catfish in the Missouri River and its tributaries," said Wehnes. "As a result of the first round of catfish plan meetings four years ago, we've focused on a 82-mile reach of the Missouri and its tributary, the Lamine River. Some portions of the catfish population here are getting hit pretty hard."

Wehnes said the Conservation Department is particularly interested to learn angler reactions to the kinds of fishing regulations that might be possible to improve the population and maybe even develop a trophy fishery. Two options under consideration are limiting the harvest by reducing the daily limit or imposing a minimum length limit.

He said the Conservation Department's experience with other fish species, such as largemouth bass and crappie, provide strong evidence that catfish populations can be improved "Anglers have an important role to play in the success of such a project," Wehnes said.

For a meeting agenda or a copy of the statewide Catfish Management Plan, contact the Missouri Department of Conservation, Central Regional Office at (573) 884-6861 or visit www.missouriconservation.org. Anglers who are unable to attend the meetings can call the same phone number to comment or use the online comment form at www.mdc.mo.gov/contact/.

-Jim Low-

Field day to feature quail-management demos

The Conservation Department is partnering with the Missouri Soybean Association and Missouri University to show how to blend farming and bobwhites.

COLUMBIA-Landowners who want to encourage bobwhite quail and other wildlife can gain insights about meeting this challenge at the Integrating Bobwhite Quail Management with Agriculture Field Day Aug. 25.

The event at the MU Bradford Research and Extension Center near Columbia will include demonstrations of:
--Basic quail habitat needs.
--Native grass management options.
--Next-door neighbors' quail management efforts.
--Alternative planting mixes for erosion control.
--Trailing soybean and native wildflower food plots.
--Native shrub plantings. --Annual crop food plots.
--Sprayer and drill calibration techniques.
--Buffers and edge-feathering.
--Invasive species eradication.

The event will run from 8 a.m. until noon. For more information and directions to the field-day site, contact Tim Reinbott, (573) 884-7945, or Bob Pierce, (573) 882-4337.

Sponsors include the Missouri Soybean Association, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the University of Missouri.

-Jim Low-