We always focus on waterfowl and shorebirds when we go to the Bottoms. I just looked at my Lightroom catalog and I have 54,000 images saved in there. It is an amazing program – I can store and edit the images as I choose, and can usually find any pictures that I want. It is a tremendous asset for any photographer.  

Some other birds deserve to be noticed and are usually around the Bottoms as their migration dictates. Here are a few of my favorites.  

Black Terns are reasonably common. They are so graceful and quick – and I take lots of shots to get a decent image. They tend to stay in flocks and swoop the water for an instant to pick up a meal. I’ve spent a lot of time watching these little guys do their thing.

The American Coot is a constant presence. They have red eyes and a white bill and are quite handsome in their own way. They are also called “mud hens” and I think they are in the rail family. I’ve never understood how they migrate – they take a running start to get into the air and don’t look like they can fly very well. I’ve heard some folks say they put them in a gumbo – I’m not sure they are edible. But – you can put anything in a gumbo. Some say Robins add flavor to the dish...  

Baltimore and Orchard Orioles roam around parts of the Bottoms. They are beautiful and will come to visit you in town if you have orange peels and grape jelly. Rick and Kim Tutak have the best oriole feeders that I have seen. Their yard is full of black and orange birds during the season. I was grateful for the invitation to get some nice pictures.

The Common Moorhen is a relative of the Coot. It got a name change to Common Gallinule and sneaks around the edges of the marsh. The Big red patch on its forehead is spectacular! I saw some babies in the Bottoms a few years ago.

The American Bittern is just a great bird. It stands still with its bill in the air and believes that it is invisible when standing in the cattails. I’m sure that I miss seeing a lot of them because what they believe is true. They are hard to see in the cattails.

Cormorants are not welcome in most reservoirs and wetlands. They are deadly hunters and can spear or dig out a piece of meat from almost any fish. They can damage a lot of fish by digging out a bite in their back. They can also swallow a bullhead and I don’t know what they do with the lateral fins.  

Blackbird flocks are amazing to watch at the Bottoms. They fly in waves and formations that are breathtaking in their complexity and grace. They sure are noisy.

I always include the American Avocet. “Avocet” is my license tag and I never tire of watching these beautiful birds. We had a complete bust of a duck hunt last week (sat over decoys for a couple of hours) except for watching a lone Avocet work the far bank and then fly across to a new spot. They are usually in flocks and wade to stir the bottom with their upturned bill. I think he felt sorry for us and just put on a show.

There are lots of other relatively unknown heroes flying around the Bottoms. We need to be vigilant and intense in protecting our Bottoms and Quivira from the solar panel threat. Encourage our wonderful county commissioners and planning committee and the Governor and Brad Loveless of Wildlife and Parks. They can all help us move this project to a place that doesn’t threaten our marshes, birds, and flyways. Thanks to everyone who has participated in the process of protecting these treasures. Don’t let up!

Doc

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