by Joe Werner and Jim D. Wilson

When Lewis and Clark visited what is now Little Bean Marsh in June of 1804 they recorded an abundance of wildlife. The presence of a cygnet trumpeter swan so impressed them that they made special mention of it in their journals.

The broad expanse of marshland that then existed along the Missouri River has almost vanished, as has the elegant trumpeter swan. Little Bean Marsh is a 248-acre remnant (composed of field, forest, and shallow marsh) of what was once a vast habitat type in the Missouri River floodplain.

The complexion of Little Bean Marsh is transformed with each season and offers visitors a variety of experiences. Those that brave harsh winter winds will be rewarded with remarkable views of large predatory birds. Marsh hawks, rough-legged hawks and red-tailed hawks are evidence of the marsh's abundant prey. Even bald eagles perch in the larger trees near the water.

Warm spring breezes bring the courting ducks to the sloughs and songbirds to the woodlands. They awaken the many plants that are the basis of this area's natural diversity. A walk in the woods may reveal showy orchids. Or, you may spy a green heron though the buttonbush on Cottonwood Slough.

Out in the marsh the tiny carnivorous bladderwort plant traps the minute insects that are also food for a wide variety of animals. Sedges, rushes and lotus concentrate nutrients from the bottom's rich sludge. They in turn serve as shelter for a host of unseen birds and animals, including the many frogs whose concerts enliven the nighttime hours.

Marshes have been called "nature's cities" because of the abundance and activity of their animal life. This analogy is most apparent at Little Bean Marsh in summer. The hatching of baby birds coincides with the increased insect population that feeds them. You may see marsh wrens, yellowthroats, rails or bitterns among the reeds or prothonotary warblers along the wooded shoreline. The marsh, woods and fields each offer different experiences and everywhere nature's balance is in evidence.

The restlessness of fall is reflected throughout the marsh. Cattails provide muskrats material to fortify their dens for the coming winter. The energy of the tree leaves is deposited into the marsh to be revived next spring in a new form. Southward bound shorebirds stop momentarily to probe for morsels in the cool mud along the water's edge. The majestic white pelican with its immense nine-foot wingspan might even be seen soaring high above. At times the marsh literally teems with great blue and little blue herons. Then they are gone. Some birds, like the eagle, remain to forage for what the marsh holds for those with the patience to seek it out.

No matter which season you visit Little Bean Marsh, you will be afforded the opportunity for some unique experiences. Among them is the chance to view what remains as a vestige of our natural heritage--a vision of times past when life flourished throughout the lush Missouri River bottomlands.

SIZE: 151 acres.

DATE OF DESIGNATION: February 3, 1981.

LOCATION: Between Kansas City and St. Joseph off Missouri Highway 45 in Platte County. Sec. 10, 11, 14, 15, T54N, R37W; Atchison East and Oak Mills topograhic quadrangle.

NATURAL SIGNIFIGANCE: Natural marsh, slough and bottomland forest in the upper Missouri River section of the Big Rivers Natural Division. The area is a wintering site for bald eagles and many other birds of prey.

OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT: The Natural Area is part of the 248-acre Little Bean Marsh Wildlife Area, administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation. Questions about the Natural Area of the Wildlife Area may be directed to the wildlife area manager, St. Joseph, Missouri, the urban biologist at Burr Oak Woods, Blue Springs, Missouri, or to the local conservation agent.

SPECIAL REGULATIONS: As in all Natural Areas, the collecting of plants and animals is prohibited. Some types of hunting and fishing are permitted. For details consult the regulations posted at the entrance to the Wildlife Area.