Passing through

The warmer weather has been bringing out the birds. And where there are birds, birdwatchers follow.

"It's really neat. This is the time of year that an influx of birds that you only see towards springtime starts coming," said Bob Gillespie, natural history biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation's Southeast Region. Gillespie keeps track of migratory movements and the numbers of birds moving through the area.

"Lots of pelicans are moving through right now," he said. "It's really exciting. I saw about 200 yesterday."

While David and Linda Hathaway of Cape Girardeau went to Cape Rock to watch the towboats push barges Thursday, they tried to capture a picture of a bald eagle as a bonus.

"I'm determined to get a picture of those eagles," said David Hathaway. He missed his photo opportunity earlier in the week when the bird flew away. "The eagle knew I was coming at it. I'm going to catch it some time."

The Hathaways, a retired couple, have been noticing lots of sea gulls throughout the week, including ring-billed sea gulls and herring gulls.

Sea gulls have been in the area throughout the winter and have a tendency to hang around boats for free food, according to Dr. William Eddleman, professor and chairman of the biology department at Southeast Missouri State University and chairman of the Missouri Bird Records Committee.

April Dozier, manager of the Cape Girardeau Nature Center, said identifying birds can be challenging. The key is noticing the details.

"If bird watchers have good field notes, they can use the basics to come up with a bird in a good field guide," she said. Those basics to look for when birdwatching are size, shape, habitat, behavior, flight, sound and field marking.

The Nature Center is celebrating migratory bird day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 12. It is free and open to the public. Handouts and brochures on bird migration will be available, and people can watch the bird feeders to see what kinds of birds are in the area.

"We're always looking for an opportunity to bring people to the nature center," Dozier said. "And we always encourage people to go along the river around this time."

And people do.

"I love the Mississippi. I'm a Mark Twain man," David Hathaway said. "I told my wife, Linda, when I die, just go ahead and sprinkle my ashes on the river."

tkrakowiak@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133