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Article: Spatial ecology of breeding Least Bitterns in northwest Missouri.(Report)
- Article from:
- The Wilson Journal of Ornithology
- Article date:
- September 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Wilson Ornithological Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) is currently classified as vulnerable in Missouri (Missouri Natural Heritage Program 2006) and a Region 3 priority species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USDI 2002). Much of this species' wetland habitat has been lost over the past 80 years as a result of dmining and filling wetlands across the state, yet Least Bitterns still occur in relatively large numbers in the floodplain marshes of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers (Robbins and Easterla 1992). Least Bittern research has been limited due to the highly secretive nature of the species; however, previous research on Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge provided a basic ...