Whoopers on the Flyway

The Central Flyway is a term many outside the birding community may not recognize. It spans a vast stretch of land that generally follows the Great Plains from northern Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast. One crucial stop for many migratory birds along this route is right here in Kansas: Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

Established in 1955, the refuge covers more than 22,000 acres and features a rare inland salt marsh surrounded by sand prairie and mixed grasses. This unique habitat supports a wide variety of native wildlife and serves as a vital resting point for hundreds of thousands of migratory birds.

Last Tuesday morning, I loaded up my truck and set out to beat the sunrise at the refuge. I’d seen photos and heard the buzz surrounding one particular species making a stop at Quivira—the Whooping Crane. In the late 1930s, only 15 of these birds remained in the wild. Westward expansion, hunting, and habitat destruction pushed North America’s largest crane species to the brink of extinction. Although their numbers have increased, the Whooping Crane is still listed as endangered, and the refuge closed to all hunting to protect them.

It didn’t take long to spot two whoopers, thanks to a pair of fellow visitors who pointed me in the right direction. Two adults stood at the northern edge of the salt marsh. After snapping a few distant photos, I continued South along Wildlife Drive in hopes of finding more. This narrow road winds through the marsh and offers a great chance to see a variety of birds.

As I followed the shoreline, three large white shapes came into focus. To my surprise, it was a family group—two adults and their juvenile, born earlier this year in Canada. I sat with them for about an hour until a curious Bald Eagle drifted a little too close. A warning call from one of the adults alerted the group. Their relaxed posture snapped into a rigid stance, wings lifting in readiness. With what looked like effortless grace, the three cranes took flight and disappeared into the horizon.

Photos and story by, Tanner Colvin For more on Quivira: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/quivira For more on Whooping Cranes: https://savingcranes.org/