By KEN CARPENTER
Great Bend Post
August is a good time to visit Cheyenne Bottoms while families are still on vacation and before schools go back into session. That's according to Curtis Wolf, Director of the Kansas Wetlands Education Center.
Wolf said some of the migratory birds are already making the trip south for the winter months.
"Even though it’s still hot, we still consider it’s summer, we are definitely seeing fall bird migration happening,” Wolf commented. “The birds were right on time this year again. I noticed some of the first early migrant birds about that second week of July. We saw some of those sandpiper species showed up. I’m guessing a lot of those early migrants are ones that for whatever reason maybe didn’t breed this year or maybe had failed nests and they’re just getting a jump on coming back south.”
Wolf points out that most of the summer resident birds are still in the area and are worth taking a look at.
"Herons and egrets, a few of the pelicans that are here, those types of things are out here,” Wolf said. “This would be a great time to come out, compare what you see now and then come out and make a return trip in another month and see what things have changed.”
Wolf expects there to be plenty of water at the wetlands in the months ahead to accommodate migrating birds.
Cheyenne Bottoms is open to the public. Visitors can drive on the gravel and sand dike roads to see the wildlife for themselves. Van tours are also available. The Education Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 1 to 5 pm.