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Play: Nature
  “Magic
birds were dancing in the mystic marsh. The grass swayed with
them, and the shallow waters and the earth fluttered under them.
The earth was dancing with the crane, and the low sun, and the wind and
sky.”
- Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Nature blessed Great Bend in a curious (and
unexpected) way. She gave us an ocean in the midst of a sea of grass. A
spectacular array of wildlife is attracted to our marshes and waters,
offering nature lovers an unobstructed view into the wonders of the
natural world. We make this guarantee. Spend a few days with us in the
lush “Bottoms,” and we promise that you will leave the
rumor of “flat and dry” Kansas behind.
Great Bend is bordered by two great marshes complexes – Cheyenne
Bottoms to the north and Quivira NWR to the south. Millions of ducks,
geese, shorebirds, and other water birds swarm these world-famous
marshes each year. One of America’s rarest birds, the whooping
crane, stops by during its annual migratory flight between Canada and
the central Texas coast. Bald eagles winter here, and are easy to see
as they sit exposed on the frozen marsh ice.
Like to hunt? Duck hunting in the Cheyenne Bottoms marshes is world
renowned. Rather take pictures? Grab that long lens and drive one of
the wildlife loops at Quivira NWR. Or perhaps you would prefer a
relaxing evening watching the endless streams of migratory birds
flowing into the marshes for the evening. Whatever your preferred path
to nature, we have your connection.
To this end, Great Bend, Barton County (Great Bend is the county seat),
and a number of the surrounding communities have banded together to
create a scenic byway to ease your travel - the Wetlands and Wildlife
National Scenic Byway. This byway connects Cheyenne Bottoms, Quivira
NWR, and area communities in a glorious celebration of the nature,
culture, and history that defines the great bend of the Arkansas River.
Stop by the Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau for a trail guide
and CD.
Why not also join us in the spring for our Wings & Wetlands nature
festival? You may not be able to tell a mallard from a mud hen, but for
one weekend every other year, we gather with people who can.
Great Bend is a birder's paradise
With Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Preserve to the north and Quivira
National Wildlife Refuge to the south, Great Bend is surrounded by
wetlands that attract millions of birds each year. Great Bend is
located on the Central Flyway, a major travel corridor for hundreds of
species of migratory birds. The wetlands around Great Bend offer a
critical rest stop along this migration route. How critical? Over half
of all shorebirds that migrate east of the Rockies pass through this
these wetlands, including 90 percent of North America’s
population of Wilson’s phalarope, long-billed dowitcher,
white-rumped sandpiper, Baird’s sandpiper, and stilt sandpiper.
More than 330 bird species visit local natural areas, from whooping
crane and bald eagle to scissor-tailed flycatcher and lark bunting.
More than 100 species nest here, and 63 species live here year round.
Here in the Heartland, you have the rare opportunity to see
“sibling species” (like eastern and western meadowlarks,
eastern and western kingbirds, and Baltimore and Bullock’s
orioles) shoulder-to-shoulder in the wilds.
Though birds often take center stage at local natural areas, Cheyenne
Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge are home to many other
wildlife species as well, including 23 species of mammals, 19 species
of reptiles, and nine species of amphibians. So be sure to bring your
binoculars and get to know some of the wild inhabitants of this region.
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Wildlife watching:
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Connecting with nature:
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Hunting:
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Nature tours:
For a full listing of downloads, click here.
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