Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Holt County, Missouri.
Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge is a federally managed wildlife refuge in Holt County, Missouri, covering wetlands, forests, and grasslands in the Missouri River floodplain. The land was once drained for farming and has since been restored to natural habitat.
The refuge was established in 1935 by a presidential order, after the land had been drained for agriculture over many decades. Returning the area to wetland allowed wildlife populations that had declined from habitat loss to recover.
Each autumn, large flocks of snow geese and other migratory birds gather above the wetlands, drawing birdwatchers from many states. Displays at the visitor center explain why this corridor along the Missouri River matters so much to species passing through.
A gravel loop road runs through the refuge and can be driven or walked, letting you explore at your own pace. Birds are most active in the early morning, so an early start gives the best chance of seeing wildlife.
Trumpeter swans, once nearly gone from North America, now stop here regularly during migration. Seeing these large birds up close along the road is something many visitors do not expect when they first arrive.
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