Enjoying the Greater Prairie Chickens - Part of the adventure of viewing the prairie chickens is getting up early, going to the blind before dawn, and spotting the chickens as they do their courtship display.

After dawn - After dawn, the Greater Prairie Chickens cease their display, and it is time for the satisfied birders to head out for some breakfast.

Greater Prairie Chicken viewing early morning treat

By Paula Glover
It takes a particular type of dedicated bird watcher to get up hours before dawn, and spend a couple of hours hunkered down in a blind – but it is done to see a special bird, the Greater Prairie Chicken. The Prairie Chickens will gather in a mating ritual each spring, continuing through mid-to-late May.
Manhattanites are fortunate because just to the south of town the Konza Prairie Biological Station is a prime spot for viewing the chickens, with the assistance from a volunteer from the Konza Educational Education Program. On Friday morning, April 9, seven guests were met by long-time volunteer Hoogy Hoogheem.
Hoogheem explained that the bird watchers need to be in the blind at least a half hour before sunrise, in order not to startle the birds. The birds come into the lek, the term for the area in which the males display for the females, about dawn and will stay for a couple of hours. Hoogheem said that this is the bird version of “a singles bar” where the female comes to seek a mate.
What makes this a particularly interesting experience is the display the males put on, puffing out special sacks on their neck, which are bright orange. The display also includes a low hooting moan, like air blown across the top of a bottle, and a variety of clucking and foot stamping.
On this day, five males entertained two females, persisting even after Harrier Hawks flew overhead and also landed nearby.
“She’ll walk through and take a look,” Hoogheem said. If the two birds mate, it is over in a moment, he said, and the female will lay one clutch of 14 to 18 eggs, but the survival rate is low due to predation from hawks, foxes and other threats.
Hoogheem moved to the Manhattan 15 years ago, following a visit when his son was stationed at Fort Riley. From Boston area, where he spend 42 years as a school psychologist, he and his wife decided that Manhattan would be a good place to retire.
“The Greater Prairie Chicken in on the lists of birds to see for many birders,” Hoogheem said. He noted he’s had several times when people fly in just for the experience.
Suzanne Robb and a friend, Lynn Heidgerken, came to celebrate Robb’s birthday.
“I am fascinated with the whole prairie ecosystem,” Robb said. “The time of day adds to the adventure. This will take us out of 2010 – it is a timeless event.”
“We like to do something and see something that few have seen,” said Heidgerken. “You never know when you will have a transforming moment.”

The Konza Prairie Biological Station is owned by the Nature Conservancy, and research is done by Kansas State University. For information on visiting the station or scheduling a tour, visit www.keep.konze.ksu.edu or contact Annie Baker 785-587-0381, keepkonza@ksu.edu

Many local opportunities to begin bird watching

There are many prime birding opportunities for people in the Manhattan area, said Chuck Otte, Geary County Extension Agent.
Particularly now, during the spring migration, Tuttle Creek Lake and Milford Lake provide excellent spots. Milford Lake’s wetland area provides a chance to see water birds and shore birds, and uniquely due to the timber area nearby, an “incredible diversity” of other birds.
“So much of the state of Kansas is privately owned and not available for wildlife opportunities,” he said, that Manhattanites are fortunate to have so many places nearby.
He also recommended Moon Lake and the Pet Cemetery on Fort Riley, near the main post and the old territorial capitol. He said even the city parks in Manhattan can be a good place for birdwatching.
There are several websites to assist the beginning birder including www.ksbirds.org from the Kansas Ornithological Society. He recommended the book “Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots” by Gress and Janzen.
There is also an upcoming birding conference in Wakefield, April 23 to 25. The festival features several birdwatching outings and talks by experts. More information is available at www.kansasbirdingfestival.org or by calling Vanessa Avara at 785-238-3108.
“In April and May, there’s a blast of species coming through the area in a short period of time,” he said. “Birdwatching isn’t as much about what we are going to see, it is what we might find. It is like looking for buried treasure, and it is a great chance to be out in the natural world.”

Article in Manhattan Mercury Sunday, April 18, 2010