Note: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center will be closed to the public beginning March 17 indefinitely.  Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and Preserve are still open to the public as normal.

Spring migration is ongoing and ramping up.  Several “First of Season” (FOS) birds have been observed in the past 2 weeks.  Waterfowl numbers and diversity are dominating the bird communities currently; however, the first shorebirds have shown up and will increase in numbers and diversity over the next month.  Other winter residents, such as raptors and some songbirds remain prevalent.

Cheyenne Bottoms pools remain quite full.  All storage pools (Pool 1 complex) are full.  Pool 3a will remain very low/dry into the Spring for continued vegetation/silt management.  Pools 4a and 4b have been greatly lowered for additional work later this Spring and Summer.    All roads are currently open and driveable, but may be a little rough.  Water levels and waterfowl counts are updated at least weekly here:  https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Southwest/Cheyenne-Bottoms

Give us your reports.  We rely heavily on other birders to know what is being seen at Cheyenne Bottoms.  Submit reports to Ebird, or email your observations to wetlandscenter@fhsu.edu.

Here is a list birds that have been reported over the last couple weeks:

• Greater White-fronted Goose-only a few remain
• Snow Goose–less than 500 estimated on the area now
• Canada Goose–a few breeding pairs will remain through the summer
• Gadwall–very prevalent
• American Wigeon
• Mallard
• Blue-winged Teal
• Cinnamon Teal–a couple reports
• Northern Shoveler
• Northern Pintail
• Green-winged Teal
• Canvasback
• Redhead
• Ring-necked Duck
• Lesser Scaup
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Ruddy Duck
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Eared Grebe
• Double-crested Cormorant
• American White Pelican
• Great Blue Heron
• Bald Eagle
• Northern Harrier
• Red-tailed Hawk
• American Kestrel
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane–numbers seen flying over are greatly reduced
• Killdeer
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Lesser Yellowlegs
• Long-billed Dowitchers–a couple large groups seen in est side of pool 5
• Ring-billed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Eurasian Collared Dove
• Mourning Dove
• Great Horned Owl-a couple nests reported in the area
• Downy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Horned Lark
• Marsh Wren
• American Robin
• European Starling
• American Pipit
• American Tree Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Swamp Sparrow
• Harris’s Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Northern Cardinal
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Western Meadowlark
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• House Sparrow