I know if you are a regular reader, you know I talk about birding at Weston Bend a lot. I don’t think I have ever explained how important that area is for our birds.

When you look at the Missouri river from Kansas City to St. Joseph, the land is quite open and flat. If you can imagine yourself a small bird flying from Central America to Northern Canada each spring, your life depends on places that you can take time to safely find lots of food and clean water. By far the lushest tract of forest along your important travel way is the area on both sides of the river near Weston/Leavenworth.

The combined areas of land protected by Ft. Leavenwoth and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources is beautiful. Weston Bend is a fairly young park. It was established in 1980 and protects 1,180 acres of habitat and has several wonderful trails and an overlook platform that shouldn’t be missed. Located on 45 Hwy just south of Weston, I highly recommend visiting (and birding) this and many other of our fine state parks often.

By Mark McKellar

SPRING 2009