D. Severson / USFWSAt least five whooping cranes are believed to be spending the winter in south-central Kansas. The endangered birds have been spotted on and around Quivira National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Cheyenne Bottoms State Wildlife Area. Reports suggest the birds are divided into three separate groups: a family group of three (two adults and one juvenile), a lone juvenile bird, and a single adult that has primarily been observed within a large flock of sandhill cranes.
The staff at Quivira NWR is asking for the public’s help in monitoring the continued presence of whooping cranes. The birds may roost in or near marshes and lakes and commonly feed in grain fields or pastures. Whooping cranes typically remain in an area for a just few days before moving to another area.
