Right now, the birding at the wetlands is in transition.  We have experienced recent cold temperatures and warm temperatures, resulting in dramatic changes in bird activity.  We also are right on the cusp of experiencing the early spring migration activity. 

Usually, during the late winter/early spring months, bird activity at Cheyenne Bottoms is directly tied to the amount of available liquid water.  If the wetlands freeze up, many waterfowl will move south to follow the freeze line.  However, some will return as soon as the wetlands open up.

Currently, the wetlands are open, and waterfowl are returning in good numbers.  Goose and duck numbers this time of year can reach 100’s of thousands as birds begin staging for the northward spring migration. A relatively mild winter so far has resulted in several unusual birds in the area for this time of year, such as Black-crowned Night Herons and White-faced Ibis.  Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, and Short-eared Owls have been quite numerous over the last couple of months.  Birdwatchers should expect to see mostly the winter resident birds right now, including ducks and geese, raptors, red-winged blackbirds, Great Blue Herons, and some of the other winter songbirds.

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

There have been some dead snow geese reported in the area, presumably due to Avian Influenza.  We are hopeful, the outbreak will not be too severe this year.  Visitors should stay away from any dead or sick birds encountered.

There is currently water in all pools of the state Wildlife Area, except for one. There is also water available in the permanent marshes on TNC’s Preserve.  We suspect the conditions of the wetlands to be good for the spring migration.

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
• Trumpeter Swan
• Tundra Swan
• Wood Duck
• Blue-winged 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
• Red-breasted Merganser
• Ruddy Duck
• Northern Bobwhite
• Wild Turkey
• Greater Prairie Chicken
• Ring-necked Pheasant
• Eurasian Collared-Dove
• Mourning Dove
• American Coot
• Sandhill Crane
• Killdeer
• Wilson’s Snipe
• Ring-billed Gull
• American Herring Gull
• Glaucous Gull
• Lesser Black-backed Gull
• California Gull
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Double-crested Cormorant
• White-faced Ibis
• Black-crowned Night Heron
• Great Egret
• Great Blue Heron
• American White Pelican
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Cooper’s Hawk
• Northern Harrier
• Bald Eagle
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Rough-legged Hawk
• Ferruginous Hawk
• American Barn Owl
• Great Horned Owl
• Short-eared Owl
• Belted Kingfisher
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• American Kestrel
• Merlin
• American Crow
• Horned Lark
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Golden-crowned Kinglet
• Winter Wren
• Marsh Wren
• European Starling
• Eastern Bluebird
• American Robin
• Cedar Waxwing
• House Sparrow
• House Finch
• American Goldfinch
• Lapland Longspur
• Field Sparrow
• American Tree Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Harris’s Sparrow
• Savannah Sparrow
• Song Sparrow
• Lincoln’s Sparrow
• Swamp Sparrow
• Western Meadowlark
• Eastern Meadlowlark
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Brewer’s Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Orange-crowned Warbler
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Northern Cardinal