Spring bird migration is soon to reach full force.  We have already seen some of the early migrants come and go.  It still seems like most species are a good 2 weeks early arriving this year.

Ducks are still the most abundant bird group to see at Cheyenne Bottoms, but we are starting to see a shift with more shorebirds arriving and ducks leaving.  But, right now, about all the species of ducks that can be seen at Cheyenne Bottoms are being accounted for.  However, it seems that from day to day, the locations that are best for seeing any particular species are changing.  We have already noticed habitats changing relatively quickly as water levels change or dry up.

Sandhill cranes have mostly come through the area now.  Whooping cranes could still be coming through.  This is typically the time of year that we see them in this area.  Quivira NWR has had several reported in the last couple weeks.

Water conditions at Cheyenne Bottoms should be very good for the Spring migration.  There is water in all pools except one, with Pool 1a holding quite a bit of stored water.  KDWP has dewatered several pools, which has created a good variety of water depths across the area, providing a diversity of habitats.  There is also water available in the permanent marshes on TNC’s Preserve. 

Waterfowl and water level reports are updated occasionally at https://ksoutdoors.gov/KDWP-Info/Locations/Wildlife-Areas/Public-Wildlife-Areas-in-Southwest-Kansas/Cheyenne-Bottoms

Quivira NWR water levels remain very good as well, and bird activity has been great.  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 of birds that have been reported over the last couple weeks:

• Snow Goose
• Ross’s Goose
• Greater White-fronted Goose
• Cackling Goose
• Canada Goose
• Wood Duck
• Blue-winged Teal
• Cinnamon Teal
• Norther Shoveler
• Gadwall
• American Wigeon
• Mallard
• Northern Pintail
• Green-winged Teal
• Canvasback
• Redhead
• Ring-necked Duck
• Greater Scaup
• Lesser Scaup
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser
• Common Merganser
• Ruddy Duck
• Northern Bobwhite
• Wild Turkey
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Rock Pigeon
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Mourning Dove
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Black-necked Stilt
• American Avocet
• American Golden Plover
• Killdeer
• Long-billed Curlew
• Short-billed Dowitcher
• Long-billed Dowitcher
• Wilson’s Snipe
• Lesser Yellowlegs
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Baird’s Sandpiper
• Least Sandpiper
• Pectoral Sandpiper
• Semipalmated Sandpiper
• Laughing Gull
• Franklin’s Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• American Herring Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Eared Grebe
• Western Grebe
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Neotropical Cormorant
• White-faced Ibis
• American Bittern
• Black-crowned Night Heron
• Western Cattle Egret
• Great Egret
• Great Blue Heron
• American White Pelican
• Turkey Vulture
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Northern Harrier
• Bald Eagle
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Ferruginous Hawk
• American Barn Owl
• Great Horned Owl
• Barred Owl
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• American Kestrel
• Peregrine Falcon
• Eastern Phoebe
• Say’s Phoebe
• American Crow
• Horned Lark
• Tree Swallow
• Cliff Swallow
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Marsh Wren
• European Starling
• American Robin
• House Sparrow
• House Finch
• American Goldfinch
• Chipping Sparrow
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Harris’s Sparrow
• Vesper Sparrow
• Savannah Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Swamp Sparrow
• Yellow-headed Blackbird
• Western Meadowlark
• Eastern Meadlowlark
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Common Grackle
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Northern Cardinal