Sept. 12, 2013

April showers might bring May flowers, but fall brings neotropical migrants

PRATT – Every year, hundreds of bird species fly south through Kansas during the fall migration, creating many unique birding opportunities throughout the state. Hummingbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, and neotropical migrants such as warblers, flycatchers and orioles, are just a few of the birds residents can expect to encounter during this special period.

“Morning is the best time to go out since birds tend to be more active in the cooler parts of the day,” said Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism wildlife education coordinator Mike Rader. “However, sometimes activity will pick up in late afternoon just before birds go to roost, too.”

An avid birder himself, Rader suggests that some of the best birding hotspots can be in your own backyard.

“Neotropical migrants can be sought in any decent woodland habitat across the state, but some of the most reliable spots each year actually include park areas in Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence, and Johnson County,” said Rader. “Fall migration is also a great time to check out the corners of our state, with many western species found along the western tier of counties from border to border, but especially around the Elkhart/Cimarron Grasslands region of extreme southwest Kansas.”

Rader added the Southeast Kansas Nature Center in extreme southeast Kansas near Galena is also an excellent location to bird watch.

For information on where to bird watch in Kansas, including tools for identifying species, visit the Kansas Ornithological Society’s website at ksbirds.org.

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