Date: 11/5/26 3:14 pm From: Kenneth Kinman <kinman...> Subject: Water for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
Hi all,
I don't anything about this, but I was just reading that water augmentation for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge ("Rattlesnake Creek Watershed Project") was apparently approved a few months ago.
It includes "construction of an augmentation wellfield to provide 15 to 18 cubic feet per second of water upstream of Quivira NWR".
Does anybody know when this construction (for augmentation of water) will actually start helping water levels at Quivira? Or is this designed more to help water access for farms than it is for the refuge itself (or perhaps for both?). I don't know anything about the details, but I am now interested since the plan has been approved. https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-life/rattlesnake-creek-watershed-project-finalized-after-years-of-contention —-----------Ken Kinman (Hays, Kansas)
We have just gotten home from errands in town at about 3:30 and decided to sit on the back patio for a few minutes (near Milford, Geary County.) It didn't take long before an ancient and distinctive call grabbed my attention. Very high up and heading, with intent, to the southwest were 62 Sandhill Cranes. With the weather the past few days I was not surprised to see/hear them. I've seen storms like this in years gone by that blow southbound cranes quite far east off course. Once the weather clears they get up in the air and head in a southwesterly direction trying to get back on track! While not a new county bird, it was a new yard bird for the farm!! I've heard that call since I was 4 years old, traveling with my mother to see Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River between Grand Island and Kearney, NE (Long before it became the "cool" thing to do.) That call is so ancient and so beautiful - I love to hear it!!!
Hi All,
Here in northeast Hays, I saw wave after wave of robins arriving in our alley to take a bath. There is a big rut in the alley about 20 feet long which still has water from the last time it rained. Big enough for 25 robins to bathe at once, and then fly into the grass to hunt for food. Followed by more robins taking their turn to take a bath (and drink the water).
This went on from 5:00 to 6:30, so I don't how many robins came through to enjoy a bath in this 20-foot long birdbath. Some robins must be communicating its location to other robins.
—----------Ken Kinman (Hays, Kansas)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 10/30/26 10:30 am From: <sselt...> Subject: Apologies All Round! RE: Buff-bellied Hummingbird in Salina
I’m sorry I jumped the gun like that.
But then I think this Illinois record answers the old question: “Should I take my hummingbird feeders down?” Well, only if you want to miss out on the rarest hummer your yard has ever attracted!
Scott Seltman
Larned Kansas
--
This email has been checked for viruses by AVG antivirus software.
www.avg.com
Date: 10/30/26 10:24 am From: Sebastian Patti <sebastianpatti...> Subject: Re: Buff-bellied Hummingbird in Salina
That HAS to be a new county record.
<GRIN>
<sebastianpatti...>
Sebastian T. Patti
552 W. Belden Ave.
Chicago, ILLINOIS 60614-3354
CELL: 773/304-7488
________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of <sselt...> <sselt...>
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2026 11:58 AM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Buff-bellied Hummingbird in Salina
This report just reached me via ABA Rare Bird FB account. Remarkable!
Date: 10/30/26 10:23 am From: Sebastian Patti <sebastianpatti...> Subject: Re: Buff-bellied Hummingbird in Salina
WOW-ZA!!!
<sebastianpatti...>
Sebastian T. Patti
552 W. Belden Ave.
Chicago, ILLINOIS 60614-3354
CELL: 773/304-7488
________________________________
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> on behalf of <sselt...> <sselt...>
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2026 11:58 AM
To: <KSBIRD-L...> <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Buff-bellied Hummingbird in Salina
This report just reached me via ABA Rare Bird FB account. Remarkable!
Date: 10/29/26 1:06 pm From: LuAnn Cadden <luann.cadden...> Subject: Coots at WYCO Lake Park
A flock of Coots have settled on Wyandotte County Lake Park this afternoon! We've also seen an Osprey, Great Blue Heron, Flicker and our usual assortment of backyard birds at our feeders at the Mr. & Mrs. FL Schlagle Library.
Have a great evening!
LuAnn Cadden Education Specialist KCKPL WYCO Lake Park, Kansas City
-----Original Message-----
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> On Behalf Of <chobbs.f1...>
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2026 3:11 PM
To: <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: spotting scope
WARNING: This message has originated from an External Source. This may be a phishing expedition that can result in unauthorized access to our IT System. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening attachments, clicking links, or responding to this email.
Might also check eBay, etc. for gently used scopes - might buy you more scope.
Chris Hobbs
Lenexa
-----Original Message-----
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...><mailto:<KSBIRD-L...>> On Behalf Of Dan Mulhern
Might also check eBay, etc. for gently used scopes - might buy you more scope.
Chris Hobbs
Lenexa
-----Original Message-----
From: Birds & Their Habitats in Kansas <KSBIRD-L...> On Behalf Of Dan Mulhern
Sent: Friday, October 23, 2026 2:05 PM
To: <KSBIRD-L...>
Subject: spotting scope
Using $700 as an absolute top limit, does anyone have birding scope recommendations.?
Date: 10/14/26 5:18 pm From: Kenneth Kinman <kinman...> Subject: Big flocks of robins just moved through my neighborhood (NE Hays)
Hi All,
Not a lot of rain today here in Hays, so the cool damp north winds brought in a lot of robins into my neighborhood (NE edge of Hays) between 6:00 and 7:00 this evening. They were very energetic and clearly very hungry.
But it didn't last very long and the lawns are totally empty again. I'm looking forward to more migrants in the coming days and weeks.
------------Ken Kinman (Hays, Kansas)
Date: 10/10/26 10:16 am From: Kenneth Kinman <kinman...> Subject: Looking forward to whooping crane migration
Hi All,
I'm looking forward to some whooping crane sightings starting soon (maybe even this coming week, with the change in the weather, which will hopefully bring other migrants as well). Was just reading a newly published article about wind turbines in Campbell County, South Dakota, being required to shut down if a whooping crane is reported within two miles:
Quote: "However, what stands out as the most significant commitment contained in the project’s federal authorization is a shutdown buffer. This means that if a whooping crane is spotted in a two-mile radius of the project, then the nearby turbines will be shut down until the crane passes safely."
"This is not just a handshake deal. It is a mitigation requirement that can be enforced as one of the conditions for granting the project interconnection approval. The detection system requires monitors to spot whooping cranes in real time and report the sightings."
---Ken Kinman (Hays, Kansas)
P.S. Very little bird activity in my neighborhood lately (even sparrows are scarce). Thankfully lots of monarch butterflies flying through this fall (they must have had a pretty good breeding season up north this year).
Date: 10/10/26 7:45 am From: Chuck Otte <00001b0b31b1d152-dmarc-request...> Subject: October Milford Lake Bird Walk
Wanted to get this posted early so I don't forget it early next week!
The monthly Milford Lake Bird Walk will be next Saturday, October 17th, starting at 8:00 a.m. We meet in the parking lot at the south end of Milford Lake Dam, across the highway from the Corps of Engineer's Office, 5203 North K-57 Junction City, Kansas 66441. Walks usually last 2 to 3 hours, weather and birds dependent. If you have any questions, contact me!!
