08/26/2026
It’s Watch Wildlife Wednesday! Learn about birding and how to spot wildlife at MNRR from our Fish and Feathers intern Genevieve!
Birding can not only connect individuals with the present moment and bring them peace, but can also protect wildlife! Anyone can be a birder, and expensive gear is not required. With binoculars or the naked eye, in a backyard or trail, birds can be spotted. The Missouri National Recreational River acts as a hotspot for hundreds of migratory birds over the summer, from the colorful Baltimore Oriole to the shorebird the Least Interior Tern. Pay attention to color, patterns, wingspan, body size, and beak size/color. Even calls of birds may help to identify them. Apps and field guides may be beneficial to identifying various species.
One bird that can be spotted during the summer months at Missouri National Recreational River, is the migratory bird, the Piping Plover. This bird creates nests along sandbars on the Missouri River during the summer months. In late August to early September, these birds migrate all the way down to the Atlantic Coast. While similar in appearance to another shorebird, the Killdeer, Piping Plovers vary in simple ways. Their bodies have one ring around their chest and they are slightly smaller than the Killdeer. Also, the Piping Plover makes a chipping sound, and a Killdeer makes a distinct loud kill-DEER call. It’s important that if you spot a band on them, to report it. Local wildlife can be protected by practicing leaving no trace, avoiding marked sandbars, leaving cats indoors, and planting native plant species.
For more information about trails and bird species access our website https://www.nps.gov/mnrr/learn/nature/birds.htm.
