Quivira NWR Homepage


Quivira National Wildlife Refuge	Staff photo
For More Information: Directions \| Recent Bird Observations \| Hunting/Fishing \| Visitor Center \| Special Events Fire Program \| Wildlife Viewing \| Bird Checklist \| Education \| Volunteering - YCC \| Habitats Quivira Brochure (click here for pdf file)
Whooping Crane Page \| Take a Virtual Tour! \| Phenology: what is going on?
CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS 27 January 2012: Roads are mostly dry and dusty. Drive with caution.
WELCOME, and Happy New Year!! Recent rains, combined with winter aquifer action, has returned water to the Big Salt Marsh area. The flats and ditches north of Big Salt Marsh, as well as over 90% of Big Salt Marsh itself, now have large quantities of water in them.	Weather For current weather and weather statistics, go to the website below and enter zip code 67578: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/ Most Recent Precipitation: Saturday, 3 December 2011. Headquarters - 0.85 inch rain Big Salt Marsh - 0.8 inch rain
WHAT IS NEW:
Quivira is open to hunting beginning Saturday, December 17. Any changes in hunting status will be posted on this site. More information can be found on the Hunting/Fishing link above.
New Bird Checklists are here! Click on this link to see a pdf version: Bird Checklist (click here for pdf file)
Quivira Visitor Center hours: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday
Being Done: •THIS WEBSITE WILL SOON HAVE A NEW LOOK! •All National Wildlife Refuge websites are becoming standardized. Quivira's website will be changed to the standardized format in 2012. Stay tuned! •FIREWOOD CUTTING PERMITS: •Firewood Cutting Permits Available Beginning August 1, 2011 Notice: Quivira is allowing the cutting and removal of firewood at the Refuge by special permit. Call 620-486-2393 for more information. •NEW WAYSIDE EXHIBITS: •New wayside interpretive signs have recently been installed around the Refuge. Eight signs will now help the visitor learn about subjects suchs as whooping cranes, prairie, shorebirds, salt marshes, and woody plant invasion. "Sea of Grass" sign, 2 miles north of the NE 140th Street blacktop (staff photo) •HEADQUARTERS LAWN REHABILITATION: •A final phase of the construction and rehabilitation of the Headquarters/Visitor Center building includes the re-establishment of a lawn surrounding the building. Additional soil was brought in and, after a winter cover of wheat to hold down the soil, the lawn will be planted with native, drought-tolerant Buffalograss. Bare ground as a result of construction, May 2011 (staff photo) •Quivira is planning its future. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan, or CCP is a 15-year plant that will provide long-range guidance and management direction for all refuge programs. Public involvement is an integral part of the process. For more information, contact Quivira or click on this link: CCP Planning Update	Being Seen: • Prolonged Drought : several months of below-average rainfall (or no rainfall) have made the Refuge very dry. This winter, water has returned to many areas that were dry as late as November. View of dried Big Salt Marsh, 6 August 2011 (staff photo) • Cranes: First observed on October 4, Sandhill Cranes and, to some extent, Whooping Cranes, are overwintering in south-central Kansas. Some Sandhill Cranes are roosting most nights at Quivira's Big Salt Marsh. Sandhill Cranes (staff photo) • Bald Eagles: Wintering eagles can be seen at both Little and Big Salt Marsh. For the third consecutive year, bald eagles nested at Quivira in 2011. Nest activity has been observed early in 2012. Juvenile eagles roosting near Little Salt Marsh (staff photo) •Check the Phenology Page for a variety of nature-oriented goings-on around Quivira.
Snowy Egret (Staff photo)	ABOUT THE REFUGE Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, along with Cheyenne Bottoms, was recently named one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas. As part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) offers opportunities for wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation, and hunting and fishing. Bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities abound at Quivira. The Refuge has two large salt marshes, and both are excellent places to look for birds such as mallards, wood ducks, pintails, white pelicans, shorebirds and more. Additionally, bobcats, coyotes, and other mammals are frequently seen in various locations. Each season is unique, and each is worth exploring. Quivira is open during daylight hours, and there is no entrance fee. Refuge Map (1.7 MB PDF) Use Magnification icon to adjust size
People	Activities	Wildlife
National Wildlife Refuges are managed to provide for the needs of migratory birds by preserving natural diversity and to provide places for people to understand and enjoy wildlife. The staff of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are dedicated to the preservation of habitat for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish as well as to provide quality wildlife experiences for one and all. Staff Photo	Staff photo Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, along with the support of the Friends of Quivira, are able to provide many special activities each year. Among these activities are Peeps and Pastries, Kid's Fishing Day, Monarch Mania and a celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. There are also ample opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography, hunting and fishing and hiking.	Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is home to over 300 species of birds as well as many different mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Many of the birds and mammals that live at Quivira NWR can easily been seen from the comfort of your vehicle as you drive the 14 mile scenic route through the Refuge. Additionally, you are always welcome to leave your vehicle to hike around the Refuge.
Staff photo
Contact Us Please direct your questions or concerns about visitor opportunities, management practices, or other subjects pertaining to Quivira to: Refuge Manager Quivira National Wildlife Refuge 1434 NE 80th Street Stafford, Kansas 67578 620-486-2393 Quivira@fws.gov Hours of Operation: Visitors Center - Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Refuge is open 7 days a week, daylight to dark.	Links of Interest Links Page
Last Updated: January 27, 2012
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to afford persons with disabilities full accessibility or reasonable accommodation. Contact Refuge staff for information or to address accessibility needs. For the hearing impaired, use your State Relay System for the Deaf.

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Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Staff photo

For More Information:

Directions | Recent Bird Observations | Hunting/Fishing | Visitor Center | Special Events

Quivira Brochure (click here for pdf file)

Whooping Crane Page | Take a Virtual Tour! | Phenology: what is going on?

CURRENT ROAD CONDITIONS

27 January 2012: Roads are mostly dry and dusty. Drive with caution.

WELCOME, and Happy New Year!!

Recent rains, combined with winter aquifer action, has returned water to the Big Salt Marsh area. The flats and ditches north of Big Salt Marsh, as well as over 90% of Big Salt Marsh itself, now have large quantities of water in them.

Weather
For current weather and weather statistics, go to the website below and enter zip code 67578:

http://www.crh.noaa.gov/crh/

Most Recent Precipitation: Saturday, 3 December 2011.
Headquarters - 0.85 inch rain
Big Salt Marsh - 0.8 inch rain

WHAT IS NEW:

Quivira is open to hunting beginning Saturday, December 17. Any changes in hunting status will be posted on this site. More information can be found on the Hunting/Fishing link above.

New Bird Checklists are here! Click on this link to see a pdf version: Bird Checklist (click here for pdf file)

Quivira Visitor Center hours: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday

Being Done:

•THIS WEBSITE WILL SOON HAVE A NEW LOOK!

•All National Wildlife Refuge websites are becoming standardized. Quivira's website will be changed to the standardized format in 2012. Stay tuned!

•FIREWOOD CUTTING PERMITS:

•Firewood Cutting Permits Available Beginning August 1, 2011
Notice: Quivira is allowing the cutting and removal of firewood at the Refuge by special permit. Call 620-486-2393 for more information.

•NEW WAYSIDE EXHIBITS:

•New wayside interpretive signs have recently been installed around the Refuge. Eight signs will now help the visitor learn about subjects suchs as whooping cranes, prairie, shorebirds, salt marshes, and woody plant invasion.

"Sea of Grass" sign, 2 miles north of the NE 140th Street blacktop (staff photo)

•HEADQUARTERS LAWN REHABILITATION:

•A final phase of the construction and rehabilitation of the Headquarters/Visitor Center building includes the re-establishment of a lawn surrounding the building. Additional soil was brought in and, after a winter cover of wheat to hold down the soil, the lawn will be planted with native, drought-tolerant Buffalograss.

Bare ground as a result of construction, May 2011 (staff photo)

•Quivira is planning its future. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan, or CCP is a 15-year plant that will provide long-range guidance and management direction for all refuge programs. Public involvement is an integral part of the process. For more information, contact Quivira or click on this link: CCP Planning Update

Being Seen:

• Prolonged Drought : several months of below-average rainfall (or no rainfall) have made the Refuge very dry. This winter, water has returned to many areas that were dry as late as November.

View of dried Big Salt Marsh, 6 August 2011 (staff photo)

• Cranes: First observed on October 4, Sandhill Cranes and, to some extent, Whooping Cranes, are overwintering in south-central Kansas. Some Sandhill Cranes are roosting most nights at Quivira's Big Salt Marsh.

Sandhill Cranes (staff photo)

• Bald Eagles: Wintering eagles can be seen at both Little and Big Salt Marsh. For the third consecutive year, bald eagles nested at Quivira in 2011. Nest activity has been observed early in 2012.

Juvenile eagles roosting near Little Salt Marsh (staff photo)

•Check the Phenology Page for a variety of nature-oriented goings-on around Quivira.

Snowy Egret
(Staff photo)

ABOUT THE REFUGE

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, along with Cheyenne Bottoms, was recently named one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas. As part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) offers opportunities for wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation, and hunting and fishing. Bird watching and wildlife viewing opportunities abound at Quivira. The Refuge has two large salt marshes, and both are excellent places to look for birds such as mallards, wood ducks, pintails, white pelicans, shorebirds and more. Additionally, bobcats, coyotes, and other mammals are frequently seen in various locations. Each season is unique, and each is worth exploring. Quivira is open during daylight hours, and there is no entrance fee.

Refuge Map (1.7 MB PDF) Use Magnification icon to adjust size

People

Activities

Wildlife

National Wildlife Refuges are managed to provide for the needs of migratory birds by preserving natural diversity and to provide places for people to understand and enjoy wildlife. The staff of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are dedicated to the preservation of habitat for hundreds of species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish as well as to provide quality wildlife experiences for one and all.

Staff Photo

Staff photo
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, along with the support of the Friends of Quivira, are able to provide many special activities each year. Among these activities are Peeps and Pastries, Kid's Fishing Day, Monarch Mania and a celebration of National Wildlife Refuge Week. There are also ample opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography, hunting and fishing and hiking.

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge is home to over 300 species of birds as well as many different mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. Many of the birds and mammals that live at Quivira NWR can easily been seen from the comfort of your vehicle as you drive the 14 mile scenic route through the Refuge. Additionally, you are always welcome to leave your vehicle to hike around the Refuge.

Staff photo

Please direct your questions or concerns about visitor opportunities, management practices, or other subjects pertaining to Quivira to:

Refuge Manager
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
1434 NE 80th Street
Stafford, Kansas 67578
620-486-2393
Quivira@fws.gov

Hours of Operation:
Visitors Center - Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Refuge is open 7 days a week, daylight to dark.

Links of Interest

Links Page

Last Updated: January 27, 2012

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks to afford persons with disabilities full accessibility or reasonable accommodation. Contact Refuge staff for information or to address accessibility needs. For the hearing impaired, use your State Relay System for the Deaf.