Thanks Jeff for the previous post about today's field trip to Neal Smith
NWR, and for helping direct traffic with 28 people. It was a great day
to be out, and everyone who stuck around to the end got great looks at
the very cooperative Smith's Longspurs, several of them in beautiful
plumage. I would like to clarify directions to the Smith's Longspur
area and emphasize PLEASE DO NOT TRESPASS ON PRIVATE LAND adjacent to
the refuge.
Directions to Smith's Longspurs location :
From Hwy. 163, take Pacific Street (entry road), turn left (east) at
the first stop sign, which is 88th St. Go a little more than 1/2 mile
and park along 88th at the corner of the refuge where the parking sign
is, before the bean stubble field on the south. The area with the
longspurs is an area west of the bean field that was planted with
prairie species last spring and kept mowed, so it has short, dry
vegetation throughout the field. This is the area the Smith's Longspurs
were seen last fall, and where we saw most of the birds today. There is
a green strip of grass along the east edge of the refuge between the
prairie planting and the bean field, with refuge boundary signs in the
middle of it. Please do not go east of the signs, even if the birds
move into the bean field or the grass to the east of the boundary. I do
not anticipate any problems, but want everyone to be clear that THE
BOUNDARY IS WHERE THE SIGNS ARE, NOT AT THE EDGE OF THE BEAN FIELD.
Thanks for your cooperation!
Karen Viste-Sparkman
Des Moines
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