View Bald Eagles at Missouri Department of Conservation Eagle Days

In a general conservation opinion survey, over 93 percent of Missourians said they were interested in viewing a bald eagle in the outdoors.

When my wife and I were dating nearly 30 years ago, we drove to Swan Lake in north Missouri to watch dozens of eagles perch in trees on the waterfowl refuge. It was a great way to spend the day together. Today, there are even more eagles in Missouri. And most Missourians won't have to travel very far to see bald eagles, especially in the winter.

You can attend an Eagle Days event sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Or read about the many places where eagles gather in the winter and plan your own trip to see both eagles and more of the great outdoors in Missouri.

More information on eagles and hawks is available online and a great article on eagles, hawks, falcons, and vultures is in the January, 2009 issue of the Missouri Conservationist magazine.

Thinking Halloween? Look at Critter Rock "Hairy, Not Scary" Music Video About Bats from the Missouri Department of Conservation

Thinking about the halloween spirit? Or just the great fall weather in Missouri, with crisp cool temperatures, a remarkably clear sky with stars, and a few amazing flying mammals, like bats? Here is a cool music video that's "hairy, not scary" about bats from the Missouri Department of Conservation.



You can buy a CD of the music from the Missouri Department of Conservation Nature Shop, your own copy of the video on a DVD, or more music from Wild Heart, which is songwriter Jan Syrigos and her husband George Syrigos.

Bats are definitely hairy, not scary! You can learn more about bats from the Missouri Department of Conservation Web pages.

What if There Are No Students of Conservation or Nature in Missouri, or Anywhere?

What if there are no students interested in conservation? What if the general public has no interest in fish, forests, and wildlife? I attended the public meeting of the Missouri Conservation Commission on Friday, April 25 that was held on the University of Missouri campus in the Monsanto Auditorium of the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center.

I did not see any students in the audience.

YES, there are students interested in conservation. I know there are students of conservation in Missouri. I visited with some outstanding students just last month at the University of Missouri, both in the School of Natural Resources and in the Department of Biological Sciences. On Friday, I waited in the lobby after the meeting was over and saw hundreds of students coming and going from the buildings, especially from the School of Natural Resources building next door.

I visited at the meeting on Friday with Dr. Mark Ryan, Director of the School of Natural Resources.

And within the last month, I met with two new faculty members at the University of Missouri to learn about their research interests and how their work might help fish, forests, and wildlife in Missouri. Dr. Carla Barbieri is working in the area of agri-tourism and Dr. Franciso Aguilar works in the area of forest economics.

YES, Missourians are interested in fish, forests, and wildlife. Surveys, focus groups, and public meetings all have information that shows that Missourians are very interested in the outdoors. The information also indicates they simply don't have time to learn about some things and are not as aware as they'd like to be about the outdoor world.

For specific issues, Missourians are extremely interested. A recent series of surveys and public meetings with Missourians provided over 8,000 comments about proposed changes to deer management regulations.

Nature programs, fishing and hunting programs, public school programs, and volunteer opportunities for adults. The Missouri Department of Conservation has many staff dedicated to producing materials, programs, and support for schools in Missouri, school teachers, and for adults that are interested in the outdoors, nature, and conservation. There are listing of events, places to go, and things to do.

Each one of us can make a difference by telling others about conservation.

Everyone in Missouri can make a difference for both conservation and to help brighten the day of others. Just tell someone else about something interesting you saw today in the outdoors.

• The redbud trees in Missouri have bloomed almost all at once this year and are incredibly purple.


• I told several people yesterday that Wood Duck boxes can mounted with the nest box hole about six feet off the ground when using a cone guard under the box. This makes the box easy to monitor, protects the chicks from being eaten, and the ducks still like it.


• I can tell you that conservation efforts in Missouri have an over $10 billion dollar economic impact, and that just counts the direct recreation spending and forest products industry. There are billions of dollars of economic benefits that we each receive each day from clean water, a healthy environment to live and work in, and the products we use.

Learn one new thing every day about nature. It can be fun to be a life-long student of conservation. You just have to be curious and ask a question about something you don't know.

Take action. Conservation improvements happen because people take action, even if it's learning one new thing about fish, forests, and wildlife. It can happen in your own home or backyard.

You can learn about conservation without going to a meeting. I always learn something new when I attend a meeting of the Conservation Commission. But you don't have to go a meeting to learn something new. Check out the Department's Web pages or look outside!

Individuals Make A Difference for Conservation and Nature in Missouri

One of the value statements of the Missouri Department of Conservation is "Employees are the Department’s most important resource." I see people demonstrate this every day. It's inspiring.

On Friday evening, I helped a co-worker edit a letter and the text of their resume as they apply for a different job that is open in the Department. As I looked over their experience and skills, and read about how much they had accomplished for a variety of conservation tasks, I was reminded about how important their contributions have been to the success of conservation. As an individual, they've made a difference. But few folks will ever read that resume and most will never know how many lives they have touched with their efforts.

Also on Friday, I listened in a public meeting where Dennis Steward, the Department's Protection Division Chief, complimented one of the Department's scientists who was presenting information at the meeting. Most fish, forest, and wildlife decisions must be made using a wide variety of biological research and knowledge of public opinions. The information presented was clear, to the point, and comprehensive, exactly what should be expected of a conservation professional.

The compliment from Dennis was noteworthy, because Dennis is within weeks of his own retirement, and rather than make a comment about his own experiences, he chose to compliment someone who has made a difference in Department programs and management efforts over many years. For me, this demonstrates the depth of leadership ability and integrity of Dennis. Dennis has made a difference for nature and conservation in Missouri over his career. He continued his success on Friday, by encouraging and inspiring employees.

In the past, I've watched in the public meetings of the Missouri Conservation Commission where Department employees have received service awards for 20, 25, 30, or more years of service, sometimes in jobs as focused as moving fish from a hatchery to a stream. These people quietly provided outstanding public service. They made a difference for nature, for conservation, and the future of Missouri. Most Missourians will never know about their individual efforts.

Individuals do make a difference. My co-workers make a difference every day. It might sound corny or melodramatic, but there are some days I nearly weep as I leave my office when I have witnessed something as simple and powerful as a compliment that is truly deserving, like the compliment of Dennis for another conservation professional. Or when I've seen the success of others in their own conservation tasks. The work of others often deserves complimenting. And the compliment itself makes a difference.

Employees are the Department's most important resource to make a difference for conservation and nature in Missouri.