Birding in Kansas
“Kansas birding opportunities have been one of the best kept secrets in the nation...until recently. With 467 species on the state list, Kansas offers fascinating possibilities for both the amateur and the serious birder. How does the Kansas bird list stack up regionally? Kansas' bird diversity exceeds every neighboring state except one (figures from the American Birding Association): Oklahoma-450, Colorado-470, Nebraska-445, Missouri-405, Iowa-405
The Sunflower state offers a mecca of diverse habitats, joining the eastern hardwood forest to tallgrass prairie. The mixed-grass prairie region harbors the scenic Smoky and Gyp Hills along with the extensive central wetlands of Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Another of the state's birding attractions is in the extreme Southwest corner - the Cimarron National Grasslands and areas around Elkhart. Known for �zooties� or rare birds that occasionally extend ranges from areas south and west, this corner of the state gains attention of all serious listers both in-state and nationally.
Situated under the central flyway, Kansas sees thousands of waterfowl and shorebirds passing through the central part of the state every spring and fall during migration. The casual nature-lover will enjoy the spectacle of these giant flocks around the central wetlands and major reservoirs. Shorebird migrations are very dependent on these major wetlands and in some instances, the majority of the population of some species make stops at these locations annually. “