Date: 5/8/26 8:28 am From: Walker, thomas via groups.io <thomas.walker...> Subject: Re: [NEBirds] Brady NE WMA question
Dave,
Brady WMA is an "Interstate Lake" - so a former "borrow" sandpit lake that the removed soil was used to build the overpass at that interchange - the lake itself CAN occasionally have some decent waterbirds (but we are kind of past that migration) and the south side of the lake (along a gravel road) occasionally has decent sparrows and other birds. This is worth a visit, but don't have too high of expectations...
I would recommend you go slightly farther south and then a couple miles west to Chester Island WMA. There are two parking lots - east and west - I recommend you go to the west lot, park there and then walk in - there will likely still be clear trails there (from the anglers that fish the ponds) (it's been a few years since I have been out there). There has also been quite a bit of cedar/invasive tree work since I have been out there last I think....but with that said, this is a neat little property with a mixture of habitats. Multiple sandpit lakes with wetland edges in spots, the South Channel of the Platte River runs along the north edge of the property, good variety of trees and shrubs scattered around the property. It is just a few minutes farther from Brady (where I lived for 15 years...).
If you have any questions about other spots...feel free to ask...if you haven't ever spent time in the Sandhills (start on the north edge of Brady - you can see them from the School parking lot) or the Loess Canyons (south of Brady) and you have time for a drive - I would recommend checking out the Jeffrey Lake area a bit, and if you have time to go further either the Sandhills or Canyons can have some birds worth looking for - I will add though that the "Cottonwood" wildfire burned about half of the canyons landscape back in March, hopefully it is greening up now though. If you are an "early bird" and you have a free morning - you can start hearing Greater Prairie-chickens "booming" just a few miles north of Brady if you can be up there at or before sunrise - getting a little late in the season but if it is a "nice" morning they will be out there somewhere doing their thing...
T. J. Walker
Assistant Division Administrator - Habitat Partners Section
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
308-530-7659
From: <NEBirds...> <NEBirds...> On Behalf Of Dave Pantos via groups.io
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 10:09 AM
To: <NEBirds...>
Subject: [NEBirds] Brady NE WMA question
Graduation festivities will be taking me to Brady, NE this weekend. I am hoping to bird Brady WMA. Does anyone have any recommendations about this particular site? The ebird checklists are scant.
