When the marsh freezes, it certainly changes character. There is no open water right now. There are no geese or ducks on the frozen surfaces. Creatures thrive and survive, and those who have to travel hit the road. Who goes where? 

The biggest question is where do the thousands of geese go, and how do they manage? I have followed these geese inadvertently on my travels to Wichita each week. These geese go only as far as necessary to find open water and food sources. This week they essentially stopped in Hutchinson and Wichita. There is a climate or temperature margin in that area. The number of birds around Hutch was just amazing. They are focused on conserving energy and don’t go any further than is necessary. There is a bit of open water in the Arkansas River and tributaries. Ducks follow these pockets of open water. Their survival instincts are amazing! When the Bottoms open up, the majority of all these birds return to the Bottoms and Quivira.

The main bird of prey that stays around the marsh is the Northern Harrier. There are more this year than I can recall. Recognize them by the white patch at the base of their tail. They swoop and hover and dive onto their prey with laser precision. I see them hunting together and single. They are fierce hunters and protective of their territory. The eagles seem to follow the geese. I’m not seeing very many right now.

Two of my favorite birds are usually here. The Snowy Owl and the Short-eared Owl should be in our marsh. When Marsh Musings first started with Eric Geising, we toured the Bottoms together and he wrote and I photographed. One of our early editions involved a Snowy Owl in Pool 2 that had been shot. I’m sure someone thought it was a snow goose and made a mistake. It was still alive, so Eric retrieved the bird and we took it to the Raptor Center in Great Bend. An X-ray confirmed the pellets, and the bird expired. I have always cherished this image of Eric bringing out the bird  – it fits with our mission statement of conservation when writing this piece. It continues to be a privilege every day.

The Snowy Owls that come down are usually young birds and very few survive. They haven’t developed hunting skills, and they are harassed mercilessly by the Northern Harriers. I have seen Harriers knock a Snowy Owl to the ground and then attack it viciously. They have a hard life.

The Short-eared Owls are fascinating! They stay in the thick part of the marsh until about sunset and then emerge to hunt into the dark. It is a gift to sit in total silence (except for the occasional coyote)and listen to the sound of the wind in the wings of these birds as they patrol the edges of the marsh where the mice and ground critters they eat are hiding and feeding. They are beautiful additions to the bounty of our marsh. Add a spectacular Kansas sunset to this picture and you will know the awesome power of the creator and the magnificence of this marsh in Barton County Kansas. Give thanks and be uplifted.

Doc

Doctor Dan Witt is a retired physician and nature enthusiast. He can be reached at danwitt01@gmail.com.