By Alex Reed
After a cold dark winter, we finally have longer and warmer days! As much as I enjoy the slow pace and restful days of the hard freeze, I enjoy springtime and regrowth along the river valley even more! The sound of redwing black birds singing in an oak tree and Virginia blue bells covering the forest floor are some of my favorite signs that the thaw is here! Big April thunderstorms have our beloved Kickapoo creek swollen out of its banks, flushing out debris and downfall from the last few months, and exposing minor changes within the creek from all the erosion.
Though it is muddy and flowing heavily, many fish have begun their yearly migration to the headwaters in search of cleaner water and gravel bars to begin their spawn. From channel catfish to tiny creek chubs and longnose gar to small mouth bass, you can sometimes see these fish in water that’s only knee deep! You can also see many migrating songbirds and waterfowl making their way back from the southern tropics; as well as mink, muskrat, and the occasional river otter splashing around and tending to their dens and young.
I believe the “new year” should be on the spring equinox, as this time of year I feel more recharged and inspired to spend as much time as I can outside hiking, fishing, birding, and foraging! Like many folks around here, morel mushrooms are one of my favorite springtime delicacies. They can be found throughout the county as they thrive in our rich, well-draining, loamy soil. My favorite time to search is after big rains near dead/dying elm and ash trees as well as sycamore and cottonwoods trees near rivers and flood plains. It’s an exciting time this time of year as an outdoorsman! All the flora and fauna are budding, blooming, and thriving! Looking forward to another year spent outside!
Be sure to stay up to date on our website for upcoming clean ups, floats, and events. We love meeting new people and showing them how beautiful our creek is. It’s a great feeling driving over any bridge or down Kickapoo Creek Road thinking that we are making an impact on keeping the watershed clean and preserving it for future generations. Think I’ll wrap up my first of many blog posts with one of my favorite quotes by John Muir:
“Keep close to natures heart and break clear away once in awhile and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods, wash your spirit clean.”
See y’all on the creek!
-Alex
Well done Alex. Thank you for your passion for the great outdoors and keeping it clean and preserved for future generations. Proud of you. 😁
Amazing post Alex!
I love your passion for the great outdoors. Can’t wait to hear all about your adventures this season!