Date: 8/24/25 8:22 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: NOWA not LOWA
During yesterday’s (August 23, 2025) trip to Prairie State Park, north of Joplin, Missouri, we had great looks at a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (NOWA). It was foraging in a shady, mostly dried-up campground stream bed. The first job we had was to make sure it wasn’t a Louisiana Waterthrush (LOWA).
LOWAs nest widely in the Ozarks. Judy Griffith at Ninestone Land Trust has recorded last LOWAs on Piney Creek as late as September 9, but often around mid-August. So you can see why we had to be careful yesterday. Fortunately, at Prairie SP we saw NOWA and photographed it. So no doubt. https://ebird.org/checklist/S269205819 Earliest I’ve seen Northern Waterthrush in Northwest Arkansas City is August 11. Previous records like this have also come from upper reaches of Sager Creek in Chesney Prairie Natural Area.
One thing I find pretty interesting is absolute minimal travel distance for our NOWA migrant visitors. Cornell’s Birds of the World shows the closest breeding range is likely around the Great Lakes, but could be from much farther away, basically all across Canada and Alaska. Migration here could be, for them at minimum, 1000 miles, give or take. For a creature 6 inches long, weighing in at 18 grams (less than an ounce).
Something well worth thinking about, overall. Especially as we have increasingly negative impacts on our planetary environment. Should be a big issue. Please ask your local LOWA or NOWA before casting next ballot.
