Unfortunately, the high temperatures, lack of precipitation over the last year, ongoing construction projects to the inlet canal system, and lack of water in the rivers to divert, has caused Cheyenne Bottoms to remain totally dry.  There is no water on the area.  It is going to take a significant rain event/events to produce any surface water in the wetlands. 

Due to the lack of water, bird activity has been extremely low.  At this time, the fall migration should be well on its way, with shorebirds passing through the area and waterfowl beginning to show up.  However, without water in the wetlands, these birds will bypass this area.  The fall migration bird watching and hunting seasons may be a total loss.

There are still some Summer resident birds that can be seen in and around Cheyenne Bottoms, including Great Blue Herons, blackbirds, doves, swallows, Red-tailed hawks, orioles, wrens, Blue jays, etc.

We have had a few reports that water conditions are a little better at Quivira NWR.  There are still some areas with shallow water in the Big Salt Marsh Area.  Where there is water, there will be shorebirds.  There have been some recent road closures due to construction on several areas of the refuge. Check out http://fws.gov/refuge/Quivira or call the Quivira NWR Headquarters at 620-410-4011.

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:

• Canada Goose
• Mallard
• Northern Bobwhite
• Wild Turkey
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Mourning Dove
• Common Nighthawk
• Killdeer
• Least Sandpiper
• Spotted Sandpiper
• Lesser Yellowlegs
• Black Tern
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Turkey Vulture
• Mississippi Kite
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Great-horned Owl
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Say’s Phoebe
• Eastern Kingbird
• Western Kingbird
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
• Tree Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Bank Swallow
• Cliff Swallow
• House Wren
• European Starling
• Gray Catbird
• American Robin
• House Sparrow
• American Goldfinch
• Lark Sparrow
• Yellow-headed Blackbird
• Western Meadowlark
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Baltimore Oriole
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Common Grackle
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Common Yellowthroat
• Northern Cardinal
• Dickcissel