We are quickly approaching the good time of year at Cheyenne Bottoms, where bird communities will be rapidly changing.  After a very cold January, February has been quite mild.  Warm temperatures the past couple of weeks have given us hints of spring, and the birds seem to think so too.  We have observed some northward movement and return of several early spring migrants, such as Sandhill cranes, Killdeer, many ducks, and American White Pelicans.  Goose numbers have varied, and there have been large numbers of Snow Geese hanging around and starting to stage for their northward departure.

The moisture received in January has helped put some sheet water in several pools that were previously dry.  There is some water being brought in to the Wildlife Area from Walnut Creek, but it is not significant.  KDWP staff are also moving water from several places back into the Pool 1a storage pool.  Currently, Pools 1a and 3a are still the pools holding the most significant water with 10” and 9” respectively.  Pools 1b, 1c, 2, and 5 also now have some sheet water in them.  The inlet canal and other low pockets have also accumulated some water currently.

Most of the winter species of birds, such as raptors and songbirds, are still plentiful, but spring migrants should start increasing in the coming weeks.  Whooping cranes could start showing up at our wetlands in the next couple of weeks.  Get out and enjoy the early spring birding.

Waterfowl seasons are now closed in Kansas, except for the Conservation Order season for Snow Geese.

Quivira NWR continues to have surface water available as well and is worth a view. Check out http://fws.gov/refuge/Quivira or call the Quivira NWR Headquarters at 620-410-4011 for updated conditions.

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
• Swan sp.
• Northern Shoveler
• Gadwall
• American Wigeon
• Mallard
• Northern Pintail
• Green-winged Teal
• Bufflehead
• Comon Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Northern Bobwhite
• Wild Turkey
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Killdeer
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Ring-billed Gull
• Great Blue Heron
• Northern Harrier
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Bald Eagle
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Great-horned Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• American Kestrel
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Blue Jay
• Horned Lark
• European Starling
• American Robin
• House Sparrow
• House Finch
• American Goldfinch
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Harris’s Sparrow
• Western Meadowlark
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• Northern Cardinal