Waders and peeps at Big Salt Marsh
- All photos by Jim Mason
First-time visitors to this refuge are surprised to discover the abundance and
diversity of wildlife. The refuge spans 22,135 acres,
one third of which are wetlands. It was designated as a Wetland of International Importance in
2002 by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, one of two
such sites in the state - the other being
Cheyenne Bottoms.
The bird checklist for Quivira documents over 300
species. Nesting birds include 11 species
of waterfowl as well as American avocets, least terns, white-faced ibis
and snowy plovers.
American avocets breed at Quivira
Wild turkeys
find food and cover along the shelterbelts. Waterfowl may reach over 100,000 in the fall
and 300,000 in the spring. This is perhaps the best location in Kansas to see sandhill cranes during migration. Their endangered cousins - the whooping cranes -
will stop over here also. Look for them as well as white pelicans, greater and
lesser yellowlegs, long-billed dowitchers, black-necked stilts, and several
species of sandpipers. Summer raptors include Swainson's hawks,
Mississippi kites, northern harriers, and red-tailed hawks. Bald eagles and golden eagles
winter on the refuge.Mammals are also abundant.
Look for white-tailed deer, raccoon, badger, bobcat, coyote, red fox
and black-tailed prairie dogs.
Little Salt Marsh, north of the refuge headquarters, is a good place to see waterfowl,
grebes, and herons. A photo blind has been placed at
the far south end, accessible by a 1/4 mile mowed trail. Another photo
blind is on a small wetland by the Migrant's Mile
Nature Trail, located 3 miles north of Little Salt Marsh.
The Migrant's Mile Nature Trail includes
two long boardwalks through cattail wetlands.
The best wildlife viewing, however, is
usually along the wildlife drive at the north end
of the refuge in Big Salt Marsh. The one-way gravel road takes visitors through the
marshes and along the cattail-bordered lakes. American bitterns and yellow-headed
blackbirds can often be photographed at close range from your vehicle.
The far west end of Big Salt Marsh is the favorite
place within the refuge for migrating sandhill cranes in the fall. Tens of
thousands of them are present at peak times. Be watching also for
lizards, water turtles and snakes. Massasauga
rattlesnakes like to sun on the roads in the warmer seasons.
The informative displays in the
headquarters/visitor center tell the story of the refuge.
Restroom and drinking fountain in the visitor center.
Camping
not allowed.
Discover what to see, eat and do in Kansas.
Plan your trip today, at TravelKS.com!
Birdhouse Boulevard Nature Trail (0.2
mile concrete surfaced loop just west of the visitor center); Migrant's Mile Nature Trail (1.25 mile loop - 0.75 mile is
wheelchair accessible); Little Salt Marsh photo blind trail
(0.3 mile), Wildlife Drive (5.15 mile loop)
Click the icon to find a birding list for Stafford County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
The Friends of Quivira
organization helps support the development of the refuge.
Visit their website to learn
more!
For a taste of what Quivira
National Wildlife Refuge has to offer,
watch this beautiful video from Mike Blair of
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks!
For more videos from this series, see the
KDWP website.
Directions: From
Hutchinson (40 miles NW of Wichita on K-96) travel
west
14 miles on U.S. 50 to K-14, north 5 miles to 4th
street, west 17 miles to 140th street west and north 1 mile to the refuge
headquarters (red dot on map).
The headquarters is open M-F
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM. Stop here to pick up a map,
find out where recent bird sightings have been and get
a bird checklist.
Ownership:The US Fish and
Wildlife Service is responsible for management of Quivira.
Contact them at (620) 486-2393
if you have specific questions about use or management of the site. Click here to visit their web site.
22,135 acres
Funded by the
Chickadee Checkoff Program Click here for a brochure!
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form.
Birdhouse Boulevard Nature Trail (0.2
mile concrete surfaced loop
