It’s one thing to see beautiful species of birds in the books you may have read, but it’s another thing to see them live in person, eating and squabbling. Luckily, Kansas is home to two great areas where over 300 species of birds migrate, rest, and spend quite a bit of time in the spring and fall. Come see a sample of this wonder!
The shorebirds and waterfowl migrate through Kansas, going as north as western Alaska and as south as Louisiana, Central America, and South America. We have lost much of the original wetlands in Kansas, but hopefully with the preservation of these sites, we can keep them alive and thriving.
Justin M/Google
They eat, play in the water, and rest up before heading to the skies to make the next leg of the trip.
Mark Alexander/Google
The first beautiful location is Cheyenne Bottoms, where up to a quarter million waterfowl and thousands of shorebirds visit every year for a short rest.
Mark Alexander/Google
Over 400 species of birds have been documented in Kansas, but 346 of them have been observed here at Cheyenne Bottoms.
Amy Duke/Google
The second location is Quivira National Wildlife Refuge,
Mark Alexander/Google
Here, they’ve recorded 344 species at Quivira, and even have highlights of the most species available to view here. Even eagles have been spotted, though we’ve seen those at many of our state parks. It just shows how great of a location this is for birds of all kinds.
Steve Hartig/Google
Visiting in the morning or evening may be your best bet, though these birds will follow the weather. If it’s too cold, they’ll keep moving if they can.
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr
If the birds have already moved on by the time you arrive, make sure to enjoy the beautiful sunsets and even a star event.
Justin M/Google
Mark Alexander/Google
Amy Duke/Google
Steve Hartig/Google
USFWS Mountain-Prairie/Flickr
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