Whooper Watch
Recent Whooper Updates: (Also check Quivira NWR website for Quivira Reports)
FALL 2024
November 13 - 17 Whooping Cranes present at Cheyenne Bottoms - Pool 2 and 3A
November 12 - 18 Whooping Cranes present at Cheyenne Bottoms - TNC Property
October 31 - 10 Whooping Cranes present at Big Salt Marsh at Quivira
October 27-28 - 5 Whooping Cranes present at Big Salt Marsh at Quivira
SPRING 2024
March 27 - 16 Whooping Cranes present in Little Salt Marsh (south end) at Quivira NWR, 3 reported morning of 3/28
March 14 - 10 Whooping Cranes present in Pool 2 - CBWA, left early March 15
FALL 2023
November 9 - 4 Whooping Cranes present at Big Salt Marsh at Quivira
November 8 - 8 Whooping Cranes present at Little Salt Marsh at Quivira - Two groups of 2 adults and 1 juvinile each that arrived at different times, plus another 2 adults.
November 4 - 8 Whooping Cranes present at Little Salt Marsh at Quivira - visible from tower
October 30 - 2 Whooping Cranes flew over dike between Cheyenne Bottoms Pool 1a and 5.
SPRING 2023
April 15 - 6 Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR Big Salt Marsh
FALL 2022
November 5-6 - Total of 25 Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR - 21 on Little Salt Marsh and 4 around Big Salt Marsh
SPRING 2022
March 26 - Group of 19 along NE 170th at Quivira NWR
March 17 - Whooping Cranes in Pool 3B, stayed in area several days
FALL 2021
November 9 -December 17 - Whoopers have been spotted in Pool 4A CBWA everyday since November 2. They have been easily seen from 100th Ave. Be sure to keep a distance, use your car as a blind, and do not approach the cranes or enter the pool.
November 8 - 13 Whooping Cranes at the Big Salt Marsh at Quivira NWR
November 6 - 5 Whooping Cranes in Pool 4A CBWA, 6 at the Big Salt Marsh at Quivira NWR
November 5 - 7 Whooping Cranes in Pool 4A CBWA, 6 at the Big Salt Marsh at Quivira NWR
November 4 - 3 Whooping Cranes in Pool 4A CBWA
November 2 - 2 Whooping Cranes in Pool 4A CBWA
November 2 - 2 Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR, 1/2 mile south of 170th St and 1/4 mile east of oil tanks.
November 1 - 8 Whooping Cranes (6 adults and 2 juveniles) in Pool 5 CBWA
SPRING 2021
April 4 - 35 Whooping Cranes at QNWR along 170th and 2 in Pool 3A at Cheyenne Bottoms
March 25-26 - 20 Whooping Cranes at QNWR evening of 3/25, 17 still at Big Marsh morning of 3/26. Wildlife Drive Loop closed due to flooding but can be seen from county road 170th.
March 23-24 - 3 adult Whooping Cranes north of Redwing (Cheyenne Bottoms) 1/4 mile on Beaver blacktop.
FALL 2020
October 30 - 8 Adult Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR Little Salt Marsh
October 26-27 - As many as 14 total Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR at various places in a few different groups around Big Salt Marsh
October 21 - 3 Adult Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR Big Salt Marsh
October 16 – 1 Adult Whooping Crane (in with a flock of Sandhill Cranes) in a field 2 miles S of Cheyenne Bottoms WA and KWEC, along K-156 Hwy at NE 40 Rd.
FALL 2019
October 31 – 2 Adult Whooping Cranes and 1 Juvenile in a field 2 miles S of Cheyenne Bottoms WA and KWEC, along K-156 Hwy at NE 40 Rd.
October 28-29 – 9 Adult Whooping Cranes at Cheyenne Bottoms WA in Pool 4b near Ridge Parking Lot. Visible from K-156 Hwy about 1.5 miles NE of KWEC.
FALL 2018
October 22 – 4 Whooping cranes at Cheyenne Bottoms (2 north of Redwing Parking Lot in Pool 3b, 2 on TNC property north of Brinkman Parking Lot)
FALL 2017
November 14 – 3 Whooping cranes at Quivira NWR north of NE 170th St. this morning at 7:45am
November 12 – Report of 12 Whooping cranes at Quivira this morning on north flats.
November 10 – 3 Whoopers reported at Quivira this morning on flats north of NE 170th St.
November 6 – 46 Whoopers reported at Quivira this morning spread out between Big Salt Marsh and Little Salt Marsh
November 4 – 14 Whooping cranes present at Cheyenne Bottoms on TNC property visible South of Hwy 4, 2 miles West of Redwing.
November 4 – 25 Whooping cranes present at QNWR in SW corner of Big Salt Marsh.
November 3 – 9:45am-18 Whoopers in field just south of Cheyenne Bottoms visible to the north of NE 40 Rd. 11:30am-4 Whoopers visible with many sandhills south of Highway 4 near Nature Conservancy property.
November 2 – Total of 18 Whoopers at Cheyenne Bottoms–11 in Pool 5 Refuge Area of Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, 7 mixed in with Sandhills on TNC Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve Area visible from Highway 4, 1.5-miles west of Redwing
November 2 – Total of 49 Whoopers at Quivira NWR, most north of NE 170th St or Big Salt Marsh area
November 1 – 8:30am-2 Adults and 1 Juvenile in private field just South of Cheyenne Bottoms flew off at 9:00am. Morning-KDWPT staff reports at least 10 Whoopers in Pool 5 Refuge Area. Morning-TNC reports 15 whoopers on TNC Preserve
November 1 – Total of 31 Whoopers at Quivira NWR in Big Salt Marsh area
October 31 – a high count of 31 Whooping Cranes at CBWA in Pool 5 in Refuge Area by afternoon; 1 Adult in alfalfa field S of Cheyenne Bottoms with large group of Sandhills around noon
October 31 – Morning: 9 Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR. Evening: Count of 28 total Whoopers at Quivira NWR all in Wildlife Drive area and Big Salt Marsh
October 25 – 1 Adult Whooping Crane at Quivira NWR at SW corner of Big Salt Marsh
October 19 – 2 Adult Whooping Cranes at Quivira NWR on interior of Wildlife Drive
SPRING 2017
April 10 – 3 adult Whooping cranes at Quivira on flats north of NE 170th St.
April 6 – 8 Whooping cranes (7 adults, 1 juvenile) SE of Quivira Headquarters in corn stubble field; 4 additional adults on flats north of NE 170th St.
April 5-6 – 6 Whooping Cranes on The Nature Conservancy Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve
April 3-4 – 4 Whooper adults at Quivira NWR on flats north of NE 170th St.
March 25-26 – 14 Whooping Cranes (12 adults, 2 juveniles) at Quivira NWR on flats north of NE 170th St.
FALL 2016
November 17 – Total of 18 Whoopers. 4 from previous report now in northeast part of Little Salt Marsh, plus 13 (12 adults, 1 juvenile) on flats north of NE 170th St., and 1 adult on west side of Big Salt Marsh.
November 15-17 – 4 whooping cranes (3 adults, 1 juvenile) on flats north of NE 170th St.
November 13-14 – 7 whooping cranes in 2 groups (2 adults, 1 juvenile seen on flats north of NE 170th St.)(4 adults seen in southeast corner of Big Salt Marsh)
November 12 – 40 whooping cranes (34 adults, 6 juveniles) in Big Salt Marsh. All seen flying South out of the marsh around 9:50a.m.
November 9 – 3 adults at Quivira NWR in southwest Big Salt Marsh. 6 (4 adult, 2 juvenile) whooping cranes in southeast corner of Big Salt Marsh
November 3 – 10 total (9 adults; 1 juvenile) whooping cranes in 2 groups around the Big Salt Marsh. Seen departing by 9:40a.m.
October 28 – 6 adults at Quivira NWR North of NE 17oth St. on flats
October 24 – 2 adults at Quivira NWR on west shore of Big Salt Marsh
SPRING 2016
April 8 (Last observed Apr. 9 in a.m.) – 10 Whooping cranes observed at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area in Pool 1C.
April 7 – 3 adults at Quivira NWR in Big Salt Marsh
April 5 – 1 adult at Quivira NWR in Big Salt Marsh
March 29 – 2 adults at Quivira NWR in Big Salt Marsh; AND 3 Whooping cranes observed in Unit 14a
March 24 – 6 adults at Quivira NWR south of North Lake seen that morning
March 22 (Last observed Mar. 23 in a.m.) – 4 adult Whooping cranes at Quivira NWR on flats north of 170th St.
March 1 – 7 Whooping cranes observed flying with Sandhills 2 miles East of Ellinwood, KS
FALL 2015
November 14 (Last observed Nov. 15 in a.m.) – 6 Whoopers (4 adults and 2 juveniles) at Quivira NWR in Big Salt Marsh
November 14 – 3 Adults-Quivira NWR in Little Salt Marsh
November 13 (Last observed Nov. 14 in a.m.) – 6 Whoopers (5 adults and 1 juvenile) at Quvira NWR in Big Salt Marsh
November 9 (Last observed Nov. 10 at 7:40a.m.) – 4 Adults-Quivira NWR Big Salt Marsh (probably the same 4 that were at CBWA yesterday)
November 9 (Last seen flying at 11:45am 11/10)- 4 Adults-Cheyenne Bottoms Pool 1c
November 6 – 2 Adults seen at Quivira NWR North end of Little Salt Marsh
November 1 – 3 Whooping Cranes (2 adults, 1 juvenile) Seen at Quivira NWR Big Salt Marsh morning of Nov 1.
October 31 (Last observed Sun, Nov. 1) – 6 Whooping Cranes (4 adults, joined by 2 other adults) first seen evening of Oct. 31 at Quivira NWR Big Salt Marsh. All seen morning of Nov. 1 flying
October 29 (Last observed Sat, Oct. 31) – 5 Whooping Cranes (4 adults, 1 juvenile) reported at 7:45am at Quivira NWR Big Salt Marsh.
October 16 (Last observed Sat, Oct. 24) – Two adult Whooping Cranes reported early this morning at Quivira NWR at north end of Little Salt Marsh.
The Fall Bird Migration is a neat time of year. Over the next couple weeks, chances are good we will see one of the most sought after fall migrants: WHOOPING CRANES.
Photo by Bette Hamilton
Typically, some whooping cranes will stop at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve, and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge along their Fall & Spring migrations. The end of October through the first half of November is the best time to see whooping cranes. In 2009, as many as 28 whoopers stayed at Cheyenne Bottoms for a couple weeks. In April 2010, 76 whoopers were spotted at Quivira NWR for one evening.
Whooping cranes remain one of the most endangered birds in North America. In the early 1940’s, only 16 whoopers remained. Currently there are approximately 300 whoopers in the Central Flyway flock, which is the only remaining natural, self-sustaining flock. Including captive flocks and 3 experimental flocks, there are approximately 600 total whoopers in existence. The birds that come through this area have spent their summer on their breeding grounds in northern Canada and are heading to their wintering grounds near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge near Corpus Christi, TX.
Whooping cranes are the tallest bird in North America, standing 5 feet tall. They also have a 7-8 foot wingspan. Adults are mostly white, with black feathers on the tip of the underside edge of the wing. They have a dark red crown on their head and a black mustache extending from their bill to the lower face. Juvenile whoopers are rusty colored, and are usually seen with their parents during migration.
Photo by Bette Hamilton
Usually, whooping cranes can be seen migrating with their gray, much more numerous cousins, sandhill cranes. And, often whooping cranes migrate in family groups, including the two parents and one or two juveniles.
The decline of whooping cranes over the years has resulted from several factors, including habitat loss and hunting, especially in the early 1900’s.
Feel free to contact the KWEC for more information about whooping cranes. And, plan on a trip to Cheyenne Bottoms this fall to see whoopers and other migrating birds!
Watch Out for Whoopers!
When viewing whooping cranes, please respect them. It is recommended that people stay at least 1/4 mile away from the whooping cranes. It is also recommended that people stay in their vehicles and keep movement and noise to a minimum so as not to disturb the birds. Never should people try to walk toward whooping cranes.
Many of the world’s whooping cranes migrate through central Kansas. In fact, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials have designated the Cheyenne Bottoms as critical habitat for these endangered cranes. When Whooping Cranes are present, the pool where the birds are located is closed to all hunting and the goose hunting zones are closed to crane and light goose hunting. The fall migration begins in mid-September and they normally reach their wintering grounds by early December.
Check out more Whooping Crane Fun Facts on USFW's Whooping Crane Page.