Bird activity has been very slow for the last few weeks; however, warm temperatures this week have thawed out most of the pools.  Birds are returning.  And, the weather forecast looks favorable in the coming weeks for warming up.  Right now, it still appears to be mostly the winter resident birds that we’d expect in the area, but the early spring migrants will be showing up very soon.

Over the last week, waterfowl numbers have increased dramatically.  Snow Goose numbers are building nicely, and there has been a large flock in Pool 1a the last few afternoons.  The other goose species are also mixed in (Ross’s, Canada’s, Cacklers, and White-fronts).  Duck numbers have also increased recently.  Mallards and Northern Pintails are most abundant right now, but there are also a few Northern Shovelers and Green-winged Teal.  Other species will become common in the next couple weeks.  With the large waterfowl numbers, Bald Eagle numbers have also been good. More than 20 Bald Eagles were seen in one location this week. As the ice clears, they will be harder to find, but they are still in the area.  Look for them roosting in trees or soaring overhead.

Snowy Owls are still being seen at Cheyenne Bottoms.  1 and 2 owls have been reported this week.  Pool 3b is still the place to see them.

Other common birds being seen right now include Great Blue Herons, Gulls (Ring-billed and Herring), and some Coots.

All roads are currently open through Cheyenne Bottoms. KDWP is digging silt out of the East Hub near the Observation Tower.  However, there should not be any disruption to traffic flow.

Only one pools is currently dry in Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (Pool 3b).  All other pools have water in them, but water depths in these pools are lower than most years.  The permanent marshes on the Nature Conservancy property have been holding water and birds as well and is worth a drive through Crooked Rd (NE 100 Rd and NE 90 Rd).

There have been good birding reports from Quivira NWR over the last couple weeks.  800-1,000 Sandhill cranes have remained at Quivira NWR this Winter.  The most activity has been on the north end of the refuge around NE 170^th St and the Wildlife Driving Loop.  Check out http://fws.gov/refuge/Quivira.

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:

• Snow Goose
• Ross’s Goose
• Greater White-fronted Goose
• Cackling Goose
• Canada Goose
• Northern Shoveler
• Gadwall
• Mallard
• Northern Pintail
• Green-winged Teal
• Lesser Scaup
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Common Merganser
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Mourning Dove
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Ring-billed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Great Blue Heron
• Northern Harrier
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Bald Eagle
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Great Horned Owl
• Snowy Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Northern Flicker
• American Kestrel
• Prairie Falcon
• Horned Lark
• European Starling
• American Robin
• House Sparrow
• American Goldfinch
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Meadowlark Sp.
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Northern Cardinal