United States

Department

of Agriculture

Forest Service

Rocky Mountain

Forest and Range

Experiment Station

Fort Collins,

Colorado 80526

General Technical

Report RM-GTR-281

Birds of

Cimarron

National Grassland

This file was created by scanning the printed publication.

Errors identified by the software have been corrected;

however, some errors may remain.
Cable, Ted T.; Seltman, Scott; and Cook, Kevin J. 1996. Birds of 

Cimarron National Grassland. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-GTR-281. Fort 

Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 108 p. 

Abstract 

Bird records for the Cimarron National Grassland were collected 

from literature searches and unpublished field notes submitted by 

cooperators. Almost 14,000 bird records were compiled in a data file. 

Based on these data, the status of each bird species reported to have 

occurred on the Cimarron National Grassland was established. In 

addition to the species accounts, the history lot the area, current 

management practices, habitat types, and locations forfinding birds are 

discussed. 

Keywords: grasslands, shortgrass prairie, Great Plains, riparian areas, bird watching 

Acknowledgments 

This book was prepared with some financial support from a USDA 

Forest Service Challenge-Cost Share Grant. The Rocky Mountain 

Station's Albuquerque laboratory co-funded editorial work and publication costs in association with the Cimarron National Grassland. The 

authors thank the USDA Forest Service, particularly Joe Hartman, Jerry 

Cline, and Deborah Finch for their support and assistance. The Morton 

County Historical Society helped by providing unpublished historical 

accounts of the region and photographs. The authors would like to 

acknowledge the many individuals who generously provided their 

unpublished Morton County bird records and the University of Kansas 

Museum of Natural History for providing computer printouts of specimens in their collection and in other collections throughout the region. 

We would also like to thank our reviewers. editors, and production staff. 

Cover photo: Male Lesser Prairie-Chicken. Photo courtesy of 

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. 
: .... - ..... 

USDA Forest Service August 1996 

General Technical Report RM-GTR-281 

Birds of Cimarron National Grassland 

Ted T. Cable, 

Professor of Natural Resource Policy and Park Planning 

Kansas State University 

Scott Seltman, Consultant 

Nekoma, Kansas 

Kevin J. Cook, Consultant 

Fort Collins, Colorado 

Contents 

Page 

Introduction ... ······ ... .......... '" ........................................................... . 

Part 1: Geography, Administrative Roles, and Users of 

Cimarron National Grassland .............................................. 5 

Current Administration and IUse of 

National Grasslands............................................................ 5 

Part 2: Characteristics of Cimarron National Grassland ................. 9 

Naming the Cimarron Landscape ....................................... 9 

Describing the Cimarron Landscape................................... 11 

Part 3: Ornithological History and the Birds .................................... 21 

History of Bird Study in Southwestern Kansas .................... 21 

Using the Species Accounts ............................................... 31 

Definitions of Terms Used in the Species Accounts ........... 31 

Species Accounts ..................................................... ,......... 32 

Other Reported Species...................................................... 97 

Part 4: Finding Cimarron's Birds ..................................................... 101 

Preparation ......................................................................... 101 

Best Birding Stops............................................................... 102 

Part 5: Managing Cimarron National Grassland ............................. 105 

References............................................................................... 1 07 

iii 
Preface 

A shared passion for birds connects people who are almost as 

diverse as the birds they pursue. This almost inexplicable passion 

recognizes no boundaries in terms of age, gender, race, religion, and 

profession. On any given day, a plumber and a playwright, a 

neurosurgeon and a grandmotherly housewife, a senator and an 

ornithologist may prowl the same ground in pursuit of the personally 

unique satisfactions derived from finding birds. Quite expectably, not 

all people share identical motivations for finding birds; but perhaps 

more surprisingly, the same people who will split the finest filoplume 

on issues of species or subspecies identification largely ignore or 

summarily dismiss questions about what distinguishes birders from 

birdwatchers from ornithologists. But because very different personal 

perspectives motivate people's bird interests, very real needs for open 

communication and shared knowledge exist. 

This document combines under one cover three different but 

inextricably entwined aspects of the human interest in birds. Each is 

covered as a separate part of the book. 

Parts 1 and 2 detail the academic interest in birds. Because birds 

cross human-made political and natural geographic boundaries, they 

become particularly useful for evaluating the interactions between 

people and the natural world. Basic research of the natural and life 

histories of birds improves our abiiity to establish the policies that 

govern our use of natural resources. 

Parts 3 and 4 address recreational interests in birds, generally 

known as birding. They present an annotated checklist of the species 

known to have occurred on Cimarron National Grassland (NG) in 

historic times and site guides for finding birds on Cimarron NC. 

Part 5 presents the basic management issues involving the consequences of people's interest in birds. Recreational birders not only 

spend money tha t contributes to local and regional economies, but they 

also exert impacts on public facilities tha t must be maintained. Impacts 

demand administrative attention and managerial resources. 

By approaching the birds of the Cimarron NG from these three 

angles, the authors, editors, researchers, and managers who contributed to this document's publica tion hope that academia, recrea tionists, 

and managers will discover aspects to birds that they overlooked 

before. By considering the needs of the other groups, each group may 

realize opportunities for contributing their individual knowledge to 

enrich our collective understanding of birds and to improve our 

management of the resources that affect our birds and ourselves. 

iv 
Birds of Cimarron National Grassland 

Introduction 

Ornithologists and birders usually give 

most of their attention to coasts, mountain 

ranges, and other outstanding physiographic 

regions. Some urban areas, because of the 

large number of observers, also have been 

thoroughly studied. But what about the 

land in between? An article in Birding 

titled "North America's Underbirded Regions" identified the Great Plains, and 

western Kansas in particular, as one of 

" ... North America's undiscovered, seriously under-birded, or under-appreciated 

areas with good birding potential. .. " 

(Lehman 1995). The book you hold is about 

the birds of Cimarron National Grassland 

(NG), a federally managed tract of land in 

a relatively unknown region. 

Birders coming to Cimarron NG will be 

rewarded with more than just birds. The 

High Plains landscape can powerfully affect birders who take the binoculars from 

their eyes and feel, as much as see, the 

expansiveness of the grasslands. Majestic 

anvil-shaped thunderheads (some containing as much energy as a nuclear bomb) 

build before your eyes. Sweeping across 

the horizon, they drag a curtain of bluegray rain beneath them. Slivers of lightning tear through the dark pedestal of the 

thunderhead. Fair-weather cumuli push 

their shadows across the landscape, beckoning wayfarers to join them. Sunsets hang 

like a stage backdrop over the subtle and 

understated landscapes. Walt Whitman described such sunsets in this poem: 

A Prairie Sunset 

Shot gold, maroon, and violet, 

dazzling silver, emerald, fawn, 

The earth's whole amplitude and 

Nature's multiform power consign'd 

for once to colors; 

The light, the general air possess'd by 

them - colors till now 

unknown, 

No limit, confine - not the Western 

sky alone - the high meridian -

North, South all, 

Pure luminous color fighting the 

silent shadows to the last. 

-Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass 

(1888) 

William Least Heat-Moon in Blue Highways wrote about the plains making people 

feel small and uneasy: 

"The true West differs from the 

East in one great, pervasive, influential, and awesome way: space ... It's 

that apparent emptiness which makes 

matter look alone, exiled, and 

unconnected. Those spaces diminish 

man and reduce his blindness to the 

immensity of the universe; they push 

him toward a greater reliance on 

himself, and, at the same time, to a 

greater awareness of others and what 

they do. But, as space diminishes man 

and his constructions in a material 

fashion, it also - paradoxically -

makes them more noticeable. Things 

show up out here. No one, not even 

the sojourner can escape the expanses. 

You can't get away from them by 

rolling up the safety-glass and 

speeding through, because the terrible 

distances eat up the speed .. .still, 

drivers race along; but when you get 

down to it, they are people uneasy 

about space." 

Kansas State forester-poet, Fred 

Atchison, captured the feeling that the Kansas plains landscape evoked in him: 
Introduction 

Security 

The vastness of the prairie would be 

overwhelming 

were it not for a canopy of blue sky 

pinned neatly along the horizon 

by grain elevators. 

Walt Whitman, in a poem called "The 

Prairie States," referred to this region as 

" ... A newer garden of creation." In Specimen Days he wrote eloquently and at length 

about grasslands. 

2 

"My days and nights, as I travel 

here - what an exhilaration! - not 

the air alone, and the sense of 

vastness, but every local sight and 

feature. Everywhere something 

characteristic - the cactuses, pinks, 

buffalograss, wild sage - the 

receding perspective, and the far 

circle-line of the horizon all times of 

the day, especially forenoon - the 

clear, pure cool, rarefied nutriment 

for the lungs, previously quite 

unknown - the black patches and 

streaks left by surface cooling 

conflagrations - the deep plough'd 

furrow of the 'fire-guard' - slanting 

snow-racks built all along to shield 

the railroad from winter drifts - the 

prairie dogs and the herds of antelope 

- the curious' dry rivers' - occasionally a dug out or corral... - ever the 

herds of cattle and the cowboys 

('cowpunchers') to me a strangely 

interesting class, bright-eyed as 

hawks, with their swarthy complexions and their broad-brimm'd hatsapparently always on horseback, with 

loose arms slightly raised and swing 

as they ride .... 

"Then as to scenery (giving my 

own thought and feeling), while I 

know the standard claim is that 

Yosemite, Niagara Falls, and Upper 

Yellowstone and the like afford the 

greatest natural shows, I am not sure 

that the prairie and plains, while less 

stunning at first sight, last longer, fill 

the esthetic sense fuller, precede all 

the rest, and make North America's 

characteristic landscape. 

"Indeed through the whole of this 

journey, with all its shows and 

varieties, what impress'd me, and will 

longest remain with me, are these 

same prairies. Day after day, and 

night after night, 0 my eyes, to all my 

I • senses - the esthetic one most of all 

- they silently and broadly unfolded. 

Even their simplest statistics are 

sublime." 

Few Americans have shared Whitman's 

appreciation of prairies and plains. Over 

the years the plains have been called 

deserts, empty oceans, and blank pages in 

a book, among other less complimentary 

names. Most Americans today ignore them 

from 35,000 feet or as they speed by them 

on straight, empty roads, their eyes fixed 

on the horizon, their minds fixed on mountains or cities. Earlier generations feared 

grasslands. Crossing the grasslands was 

like crossing a desert or an ocean. Grasslands presented an obstacle-an ordeal to 

overcome to reach a better destination. 

When travelers gathered their nerve, they 

set out, often expecting the worst along 

what, at best, would be a dreadfully monotonous journey. Eventually, people had 

to be enticed to settle the plains with government incentives or tricked into settling 

there by unscrupulous land dealers and 

railroad barons. Sellers Archer and 

Clarence Bunch in The American Grass Book, 

said, "The children of the American Revolution hesitated forty years at the western 

edges of the forest because they didn't 

trust the grasslands." How unlike the attitude of the Maasai who live on the grasslands of East Africa. Terry Tempest Williams in an article titled "In the Country of 

Grasses" quotes a Maasai elder who said, 

"Grasses are also trustworthy. When a boy 

is beaten for an inappropriate act, the boy 

falls to the ground and clutches a handful 

of grass. His elder takes this gesture as a 

sign of humility. The child remembers 

where the source of his power lies." 
Aldo Leopold explained our society's 

apathy toward grasslands: "Our ability to 

perceive quality in nature begins, as in art, 

with the pretty. It expands through successive stages of the beautiful to values as yet 

uncaptured by language." Anyone can appreciate pretty mountain lakes and waterfalls. But, just as with complex and abstract 

styles of art, music, and poetry that require I 

effort for their audiences to perceIve full 

meamng and value, grassland audiences 

Birds of Cimarron National Grassland 

must seek understanding and sensitivity 

to appreciate their beauty fully. The authors hope this book will encourage readers to put forth the effort to experience and 

understand the beauty of Cimarron NG, 

particularly the most colorful and ammated 

part of the scenery-the birds. If they do, 

they mIght just find themselves clutching 

the grass and not lettmg go. 

3 
\ 

\ illD 

\ Thunder Basin 

\Jill~ 

Grand River I 

I 

I 

SOUTH DAKOTA ( / \ I \ ITt/Fort Pierre \ 

I \ 

I J 

"./ ;' 

WYOMING '''\ / 

I 

...- I 

\ 

\ / / ...-...... \ / 

1 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

I 

~ '-, , NEBRASKA 

\ 

\ 

1 

I 

I 

COLORADO 

-----, '---...... 

3 

\ 

) ...- ...-

u.rrrn National Grasslands 

c=:J High Plains 

I I 

I I Ecoregions 

1 - Prairie Parkland Province 

2 - Great Plains Steppe Province 

3 - Great Plains - Palouse 

Dry Steppe Province 

I 

( . 

'-, 

KANSAS 

2 

'\ 

"-\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 

\ 1 

\ 

\ 

I 

1 

I 

I 

Distribution of National Grasslands, ecoregions, and the Kansas High Plains across five states of the 

Great Plains. 

4 
Part 1 

Geography, Administrative Roles, and 

Users of Cimarron National Grassland1 

Cimarron NG covers 108,175 acres of 

prairie and other vegetation types in I 

Morton and Stevens Counties, Kansas. The 

USDA Forest Service manages the land, its 

resources, and their uses. Located in the 

extreme southwestern corner of Kansas, 

Cimarron NG is associated with the Rocky 

Mountain Region (Region 2) of the Forest 

Service (see map). Region 2 also administers the Grand River, Buffalo Gap, and Fort 

Pierre National Grasslands of South Dakota; Ogalala National Grassland of Nebraska; Thunder Basin National Grassland 

of Wyoming; Pawnee and Comanche National Grasslands of Colorado; and numerous National Forests in the five-state 

region. 

Although Cimarron NG is one of eight 

Ranger Districts of the Pike and San Isabel 

National Forest, its management differs 

from mountain districts. The distinct nature, ecology, and history of grassland 

environments plus the legislation establishing National Grasslands each demand 

management unique from forest management. National Grasslands were established during the Dust Bowl years of the 

1930s when extreme drought, nonsustainable farming, and dust storms devastated 

a five-state area of the Great Plains (West 

1990). Morton County, Kansas, was identified as one of the most seriously damaged 

counties in the Dust Bowl with 78.4 percent of its total acres altered by wind and 

weather erosion (Hartman and MacDonald 

1988). 

The Dust Bowl required immediate government intervention. The Bankhead-Jones 

Farm Tenant Act of 1937 was approved by 

1 Lead author for Part 1 is Deborah M. Finch, 

Project Leader with the Rocky Mountain Forest 

and Range Experiment Station, Albuquerque, 

NM. 

the 75th Congress to II crea te the Farmer's 

Home Corporation, to promote more secure occupancy of farms and farm homes, 

to correct economic instability resulting 

from some present forms of farm tenancy, 

and for other purposes." Title III of the act 

authorized the federal government to purchase or otherwise acquire submarginal 

farmlands, referred to as Land Utilization 

Projects. Under this act, the Resettlement 

Administration started buying the worst 

of the Dust Bowl area in Morton County; 

by 1939,107,000 acres had been purchased. 

The Soil Conservation Service, since renamed the "Natural Resources Conservation Service," administered Land Utilization Projects until 1954, when authority 

over about 3.85 million acres was transferred to the Forest Service. The remainder 

of the original 11 million acres of Project 

lands was transferred to other federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, the National Park Service, and the 

Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1960 Project 

lands managed by the Forest Service were 

designated as National Grasslands by the 

Secretary of Agriculture (West 1990); and 

those 108,175 acres in Morton and Stevens 

Counties were named "Cimarron National 

Grassland. " 

Current Administration and 

Use of National Grasslands 

The National Grasslands comprise 3.85 

million acres or about two percent of the 

land base managed by the Forest Service. 

Cimarron NG is one of 20 National Grasslands in 12 different states and seven regions of the Forest Service, and it is one of 

17 National Grasslands located in the Great 

Plains of the United States. The National 

Grasslands are currently managed under 

5 
Part 1 

Dust storms such as this one bearing down on a Kansas farm prompted the legislation that created 

the National Grasslands. So long as the wind blows. the threat of these kind of dust storms still exists. 

Photo courtesy of Morton County Historical Society. 

authority of the Bankhead-Jones Farm 

Tenant Act of 1937, which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to "develop a program of land conservation and land utilization, in order thereby to correct maladjustment in land use." By regulation the 

National Grasslands are "to demonstrate 

sound and practical principles of land use 

for the areas in which they are located." 

Characteristics shared in common among 

National Grasslands include their management authority, the importance of agriculture to local economies, energy and mineral development, intermingled land ownership patterns, dominance of grasslands, 

and management by grazing associations. 

Under the Bankhead-Jones mandate, 

the Cimarron Ranger District permits 120 

ranchers to graze 5,000 cattle between 1 

May and 31 October. To manage pastures 

and cattle movement, 496 miles of fence, 

33 wells, and 125 windmills are maintained by district personnel and range rid6 

ers provided by ranchers. With the enforcement of the Multiple-Use SustainedYield Act of 1960, the Forest Service has 

also had the flexibility to manage National 

Grasslands to include nonagricultural uses 

such as mineral development, recreation, 

conservation, research, and cultural heritage exhibits. Contributing to the local and 

regional economy, 23 developed oil/gas 

fields, 425 oil/ gas facilities and about 300 

miles of gas pipeline are now present on 

Cimarron NG. 

Recrea tiona! opportunities include fishing, hunting, picnicking, camping, hiking, 

botanizing, birding, wildlife-viewing, photography, and history investigations. 

Eleven ponds, several hiking trails along 

the Cimarron River, off-road vehicle trails, 

two picnic areas with playgrounds, and a 

new campground are available for year 

round use. Crossing Cimarron are 23 miles 

of the Sante Fe Trail, the longest segment 

with public access. Visitors are welcome to 
retrace the steps of the trail pioneers on the 

parallel "Companion Trail." 

Cimarron NG has one Research Natural Area where scientists can study ecosystem dynamics in an undisturbed setting. 

Research on livestock use and rangeland 

health of the grassland has provided an ' 

important source of information to land 

managers, ranchers, and scientists in Kan- I 

sas and other prairie states. With growing 

scientific and public interest in cultural 

resources, prairie ecosystems, and wildlife 

conservation, additional research studies 

throughout the Grassland have focused on 

human history, archaeology, fossils, soils, 

plant communities, big game, prairie dogs, 

endangered species, swift fox, Lesser 

Prairie-Chicken, other gamebirds, raptors, 

songbirds, and reptiles. 

Grassland ecosystems of the Great 

Plains are recognized as important reservoirs for biological diversity (Samson and 

Knopf 1994) and for populations of threatened, endangered, and declining bird 

populations (Finch 1992, Knopf 1992, Saab 

et al. 1995, Dobkin 1994). With the advent 

in the 1980s and 1990s of bird conservation 

programs such as the National Waterfowl 

Management Plan (focusing on recovering 

waterfowl habitats and populations), the 

Playa Lake Joint Venture (focusing on conserving playas of the southern plains for 

waterfowl migration), and Partners in 

Flight (focusing on conserving populations 

and habitats of Neotropical migratory 

landbirds, Finch and Stangel 1993), attention to the National Grasslands as important habitats for studying and conserving 

bird populations has greatly increased. 

The Role of Bird 

Conservation on 

National Grasslands 

Recently, organizations such as the National Audubon Society, the Nature Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife 

Foundation, the U.s. Fish and Wildlife 

Service, the National Biological Service, 

Geography, Administrative Roles, and Users 

the Forest Service, and various state game 

and fish agencies have worked together to 

increase efforts to protect prairie wildlife, 

including threatened and endangered species and migratory birds that use National 

Grasslands for breeding, wintering, and 

migration. Regulatory acts that legislate 

the conservation of species, habitats, and 

biological diversity on lands managed by 

the National Forest System of the USDA 

Forest Service are already in place. Federal 

legislation on environmental protection 

that applies to National Grasslands includes the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969, the Endangered Species Act of 

1973, and the National Forest Management Act of 1976. 

As part of a Forest Service regional assessment of biological diversity, Finch 

(992) combined and discussed the literature on threatened, endangered, and sensitive species in the five states of the Rocky 

Mountain Region. This review evaluated 

and ranked vulnerable bird species and 

other wildlife in forest and grassland 

ecosystems, including Cimarron NG. Additional literature reviews on grassland 

birds of the Great Plains were stimulated 

by the Partners in Flight program implemented in 1991 by the National Fish and 

Wildlife Foundation, the u.s. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, and 

numerous other organizations (Finch 1991, 

Finch and Stangel 1993, Martin and Finch 

1995). In response to the management needs 

identified by Partners in Flight, the Northern Region of the Forest Service contracted 

production of a conservation and management review, Neotropical Migrants in the 

Northern Rockies and Great Plains (Dobkin 

1994). This book offers a strong scientific 

basis for managing and conserving birds 

in grassland ecosystems of the Great Plains. 

To manage migratory birds and their habitats more effectively, along with managing other uses such as livestock grazing 

and mineral development, Finch et al. 

(1993) recommended that bird conservation be integrated into Forest Service plans 

for ecosystem management. 

7 
Part 1 

Cattle graze the shortgrass prairie near the Cimarron River. Photo by Ted Cable. 

To highlight increasing multi-organizational studies and concerns for grassland birds, the Association of Field Ornithologists and the Sutton Avian Research 

Center in cooperation with numerous other 

organizations, including the Forest Service, 

hosted the "International Conference and 

Training Workshop on Conservation and 

Ecology of Grassland Birds" held 26-28 

October 1995 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 

product of this meeting, now in press as a 

special supplement to the Journal of Field 

Ornithology, will provide extensive information on conservation and management 

of grassland birds on private properties 

and public lands such as Cimarron NG. 

To meet these growing needs and values, many districts now inventory bird 

species and populations on National Grasslands and offer bird species checklists to 

the birder and recreationist. Cimarron NG 

8 

offers a free pamphlet titled "Birds of the 

Cimarron National Grassland" (Hartman 

and MacDonald 1988). Further, Cimarron 

NG actively develops habitat improvement 

projects and partnerships with numerous 

state, federal, and private groups to benefit a wide variety of game and nongame 

birds. Strong efforts have also been made 

by the Cimarron Ranger District to identify and advertise values and opportunities for birding, gamebird hunting, and 

other recreational activities on Cimarron 

(Hartman and MacDonald 1988). Such efforts have helped to generate a broader 

appeal for, and public interest in, National 

Grasslands and similar prairie ecosystems. 

This book results from the increasing interest in managing National Grasslands 

for multiple uses, including bird conservation, recreational birding, and gamebird 

hunting. 
Part 2 

Characteristics of 

Cimarron National Grassland 

Naming the 

Cimarron Landscape 

A unique combination of traits - size, 

shape, sounds, appearance, behaviors, seasonality, geographic distribution, habitat 

needs - makes each species what it is. No 

two species precisely share the same combination. Each unique combination of traits, 

therefore, prepares each bird species to 

live life its own way. Birding is based on 

people recognizing differences in traits that 

distinguish the species. Good birders realize that each species has its place, and the 

best birding results from understanding a 

given place and how birds fit into it. 

Perhaps Cimarron NG appeals to 

birders because despite its superficial monotony it is such a complicated place to 

understand. 

Cimarron is and has been described or 

defined in many different ways. It is a tract 

of public land administered by the federal 

government. It is a distant corner of Kansas. It is a nook of North American Great 

Plains and of Kansas High Plains. Cimarron 

can be defined by its soil, by its climate, or 

by any other standards a person may 

choose. Certainly, it has been defined by 

its plant community. It is prairie, particularly shortgrass prairie; but into this milieu of descriptive names comes the new 

term "steppe" to challenge our notions of 

prairie. Confusion thrives in such tangled 

messes of names. To understand birds and 

birding of Cimarron NG, one must first 

make sense of the area's many descriptive 

terms. This effort is no more difficult than 

distinguishing a little green bird as a flycatcher, a kinglet, a vireo, or a warbler. 

The terms "plains" and "prairie" repeatedly appear in references to Cimarron. Too often, they are interchanged as if 

they were synonymous. They aren't. 

I "Plain" refers to the physical character of 

the land, and "prairie" refers to the plant 

community that covers the land. Because a 

plain might be covered by tundra or forest 

or some plant commumty other than a 

prairie, and because the two terms refer to 

different attributes of the landscape, they 

are not interchangeable. 

Cimarron NG lies in the western half, 

just south of center, in the Great Plains. 

The term is used as a plural because it is not 

just one vast plain. Rather, it is a series of 

plains interrupted by features such as the 

Black Hills, the Nebraska"Sand Hills, and 

so on. Kansas si ts squarely wi thin the Grea t 

Plains; but far from being uniform in character, its landscape shows remarkable diversity. The Kansas Geological Survey has 

recognized 11 major "physiographic provinces" across the state. The High Plains 

province covers nearly a third of Kansas, 

interdigitating with the Smoky Hills province like interlocking fingers. South of the 

Arkansas River Lowlands province, the 

High Plains streak eastward, stopping just 

short of Wichita. Cimarron NG is part of 

this High Plains province. 

Prairie dominates the Great Plains, but 

the prairie also reveals diversity. Botanists, plant ecologists, and geographers 

have long recognized three distinct prairie 

types. They have traditionally been named 

tallgrass, midgrass, and shortgrass prairies, though drawing lines to indicate their 

position on a map always proves difficult. 

Birds reveal the distinctions. Upland 

Sandpipers and Greater Prairie-Chickens 

are birds of the tallgrass prairie, but Mountain Plovers and Lesser Prairie-Chickens 

inhabit the shortgrass prairie. However, 

birding is challenging at least in part because birds do not respect the many dotted 

9 
Part 2 

lines that people would draw upon the 

land. The mobility that wings give to the 

birds allow them to cross the lines and 

show up in places where people might not 

ordinarily expect them. Beyond being 

mobile, birds also show some flexibility in 

lifestyle. Even minor alterations to the landscape allow birds to settle into areas they 

previously ignored or avoided. 

Before summarizing the characteristics 

of Cimarron NG, we need to consider a 

new name for the region - "steppe." Actually, it is an old name dating back several hundred years but only recently applied meaningfully to the North American 

landscape. 

People have doubtlessly been naming 

discrete landscape areas since they began 

communicating. However, landscape names 

became a more scholarly pursuit when 

Baron von Humboldt began mapping and 

namingplantcommunitiesalmosttwocenturies ago. In 1890 Clinton Hart Merriam 

defined and described North American 

life zones in a practical way. His work was 

replaced by a "biotic province" system in 

the 1940s. The 1970s brought a global reclassification identifying "biogeographical provinces." Then, in 1980 ,Robert Bailey 

of the USDA Forest Service published a 

map and descriptive book on 1/ ecoregions." 

The idea behind ecoregions is to improve our ability to manage our use of 

natural resources, particularly wildlife 

resources. Traditionally, wildlife management involved species on which the American public placed premium value. Game 

species took the lion's share of attention 

because people were willing to pay money 

to trap, hunt, or fish for them. Species such 

as the Whooping Crane, Bald Eagle, and 

Peregrine Falcon earned public sympathy 

because of their stature or perceived magnificence. The Endangered Species Act 

mandated that people consider all species, 

but the cost has proved excessive. We 

simply cannot afford the cost of protecting 

one species at a time. 

An alternative known as "ecosystem 

management" has emerged. The idea is 

that by protecting an entire ecosystem, the 

10 

species tha t depend on that ecosystem will 

survive. Not everyone agrees on the definition of an ecosystem. Bailey's ecoregion 

work addresses the problem by defining 

ecoregions based on climate, topography, 

and plant community. And just as birds 

are divided into orders, families, genera, 

and species according to a protocol of 

I taxonomy, so are Bailey's ecoregions. His 

system divides North America into four 

domains, which separate into divisions, 

into provinces, into sections. Cimarron 

NG lies within the Dry Domain, Temperate Steppe Division, Great Plains-Palouse 

Dry Steppe Province. In this system prairie is characterized by grasses that grow 

more than three feet high, are crowded 

together so very little bare soil is exposed, 

and with very few if any woody plants. 

Steppe is distinguished by grasses shorter 

than three feet tall, much bare soil, and 

many woody plants. What used to be called 

1/ shortgrass prairie" is now known as 

"steppe." Cimarron NG displays all the 

steppe characteristics. Bailey chose the 

name "steppe" to standardize ecoregion 

types on a global scale. Standardizing the 

names of ecoregions makes the foundation for defining the ecosystems that comprise those regions. "Shortgrass prairie" is 

a term unique to the United States, but the 

commumty type is not. In 1995 Bailey 

published a revision of his earlier work 

and included a world map of ecoreglOns. 

His system is relatively new and has not 

yet trickled into the popular natural history literature despite its elegant simplicity. Ironically, birders quickly accept new 

bird names but only slowly adopt name 

changes in related disciplines. As the 

public debate about ecosystem management matures, the ecoregion concept will 

become more prominent and the terms 

will become more familiar. (For more information about ecoregions and ecoregion 

geography, see Bailey 1996.) 

Skilled birders immediately recognize 

the implications of ecoregion maps. The 

most kinds of birds will be found where 

two or more ecoregions converge. These 

areas represent blending zones where 
species unique ly adapted to a specific ecoregion will mingle with species adapted to 

adjacent ecoregions. Cimarron NG enjoys 

' 

a partlcularly d lverse blrdWe because four 

ecoregion provinces contribute species to 

the area. 

Set in this landscape context, the details of Cimarron NG should be more meanmgful and usetul. 

Describing the Cimarron 

Landscape 

In a grossly simplified, bu t usefuL view 

of things, weather is the day-to-day condition of the a tmosphe re, clima te IS w eather 

extended through time, climate determines 

plant communities, and plant communities determine animal d istribution. Each 

of the factors, in its own way, contributes 

to the complexion of bird d iversity on 

Cimarron NG. 

Characteristics of Cimarron National Grassland 

Climate 

Morton County is in a semiarid area. 

~ av~ ag~ annual pr~c;p;b t; n r a 

year period a t Richfield is 16.6 inches. 

However, the precipita tion extremes during this period - from a hig h of 32.83 to a 

low of 7.09 inches per year - are more 

significant tha n the average annual precipitation. The longest successive period 

of below-normal ramfa ll was from 1931 

through 1940; a period of 10 years tha t 

averaged 11 .1 7 inches annually. The lo ngest successive pen od ot a bove normal rainfall was from 1927 through 1930, a pen od 

of four years tha t averaged 20.43 mches 

annually. Frequent and severe d roughts 

make this a rea hazardous tor crop production. About three-fourths of the annua l precipita tion occurs from April 

through September. This coincides closely 

w ith the growth period of the warm seaso n g rasses su ch as sa nd bluestem 

(Andropogon hallii), blue grama (Bouteloua 

Point of Rocks Ranch, early 1900s, which shows the stone corrals made necessary by a scarcity of 

wood. Note the absence of trees along the Cimarron River behind the ranch buildings. Photo courtesy 

of Morton County Historical Society. 

11 
Part 2 

gracilis), sideoats grama (Bouteloua 

cu,rtipendula), buffalo grass (Buchloe 

dactyloides), and other important grasses 

of the region. Snowfall averages 18 inches 

per year, and the ground has a snow cover 

about 20 days per year; but snow is not an 

important water source overall because it 

is usually accompanied by high winds so 

that much of it drifts into valleys and 

gullies. 

Sunshine and high winds are the two 

climatic factors that are the most impressive. Dodge City weather records show 

that the sun shines 70 percent of the time, 

or 256 days each year. Records at the same 

station show the average wind velocity to 

be 15 m.p.h. This wind causes the high rate 

of evaporation and transpiration (water 

loss from plants) and presents a wind 

erosion hazard on land not protected by 

permanent vegetation. 

The relatively high elevation, 3,150 to 

3,700 feet, the low humidity, and the constant air movement give this area a pleasant summer climate, especially during the 

night. 

Wildlife Habitat 

When the federal government acquired 

Morton County land in the 1930s, more 

than 96 percent of it lacked vegetation. 

Only about 4,000 of the 108,000 acres had 

plants. The entire area was reseeded aerially and by hand with seed mixes thought 

to approximate the vegetation that existed 

prior to the land being cleared for farming. 

Today, four major types of plant communities exist on or around Cimarron NG. 

They include riparian, shortgrass praine, 

sage-yucca prairie, and croplands. Plants 

m the prairie areas are representative of 

the xeric-adapted floras of the southwestern Umted States and northern MeXIco. 

Many of the plants found in this area are at 

the extreme northeastern edge of their 

ranges. Ports (1979) and Schwilling (1991) 

studied the vegetation and breeding birds 

in these four habitats. The following habitat summaries are based on their work. All 

Latin and English names of plants are 

taken from Flora of the Great Plains, edited 

by T.M. Barkley. 

Riparian woodland of the Cimarron River as seen from Point of Rocks. Photo by Ted Cable. 

12 
Riparian Areas 

"Cottonwood trees grow in all the 

valleys; suddenly there IS something 

between you and the sun. The trees 

lean at odd angles, like flowers in a 

vase. In the summers, windrows of 

cottonwood-seed down cover the 

ground. Big cottonwoods have bark 

as ridged as a tractor tire, and the 

buffalo used to love to rub against it. 

In the shedding season, the river 

bottoms would be ankle deep in 

buffalo hair." 

-Ian Frazier, Great Plains 

(1989) 

The Cimarron River, although usually 

dry, is the most distinctive characteristic 

of the natural landscape, both visually 

and ecologically. During the summer, the 

dark silver- green of the cottonwood leaves 

contrasts with the softer grass greens. In 

fall riparian woodlands become a shimmering gold stream flowing through the 

russet grasses. And, after a snowfall the 

leafless woody vegetation forms a smokygray slice across the blanket of snow. 

The woody riparian vegetation consists primarily of cottonwood (Populus 

deItoides), sal t cedar (Tamarix sp.), and sandbar willow (Salix exigua). This plant community type provides the most important 

breeding bird habitat in Morton County in 

terms of species diversity and density. The 

most abundant breeding birds in this habitat are Mourning Dove, Western Kingbird, Bullock's Oriole, Northern Mockingbird, and Orchard Oriole. Because the riparian community provides the greatest 

species richness, birders have concentrated 

their efforts at river crossings and along 

the roads paralleling the river. 

The river also defines the boundaries of 

other plant communities. North of the 

river, shortgrass prairie dominates the 

nearly level uplands. South of the river, 

sand dunes formed from sand blown from 

the ancient Cimarron River support a sagebrush-yucca plant community. 

Characteristics of Cimarron National Grassland 

Prior to settlement no riparian woodlands occurred in the county. In fact, early 

photographs show not a single tree along 

the banks; but they do dearly show a 

treeless rIver and farms with stone walls 

for fences, presumably because trees were 

not available tor tenceposts. The combIned 

effect of uncontrolled tires and Intense 

grazIng, first by bIson and other natIve 

grazers and later by uncontrolled cattle 

grazIng, doubtlessly contributed to the 

treeless rIparian commumty. The bIson 

and cattle would find the most lush vegetation near the water. If a tree did try to 

become established, it would be e~ten 

while still a seedling. Even today, most 

stretches of the Cimarron River outside of 

the National Grassland are grazed and 

treeless. After the government purchased 

the land and began to control grazing, 

cottonwoods became established along the 

river. These cottonwoods became established during times of flooding and therefore established shallow roots. Now, with 

the lowering of the water table due to 

irrigation many of these trees are dying, 

especially in the eastern sections of the 

county. The shallow roots cannot reach 

the lower water tables, particularly during the summer when corn is being irrigated in the county. This seasonal drawdown shocks and weakens the trees. So, 

although most of trees are less than 40 

years old, the mortality is high in this 

community. 

A treeless riparian community means 

that woodland birds would not have historically inhabited the area. Species such 

as Ladder-backed Woodpecker and Blue 

Jay arrived since settlement days. Ecologically, the river now serves as an east-west 

corridor for woodland birds. 

Riparian woodlands also exist along 

the North Fork of the Cimarron as it crosses 

northern Morton County. The woodlands 

here contain a much greater variety of tree 

species compared to the woodlands along 

the main channel of the Cimarron River. 

The area around Middle Spring is now 

wooded, too. As along the Cimarron, no 

13 
Part 2 

trees historically grew at this site because 

of fires and grazing. Like an African watering hole, the site attracted herds of bison and cattle. The vegetation around the 

water was probably severely trampled by 

the grazing and drinking animals and later 

by the Santa Fe Trail travelers. One account states that one time 300 wagons (180 

government, 120 traders), 1,500 yoke of 

cattle, and 500 beef cattle all stopped at 

Middle Spring at the same time. It is obvious why trees would have had a difficult 

time getting established there. 

Shortgrass Prairie (Steppe} 

"I came to understand that the 

prairies are nothing but grass, as the 

sea is nothing but water, that most 

prairie life is within the place: under 

the stems, beneath the turf, under the 

stones. The prairie is not a topography that shows its all but rather a 

vastly exposed place of concealment 

... where the splendid lies within the 

plain cover." 

-William Least Heat-Moon, PrairyErth 

(1991) 

About 150 million acres of shortgrass 

prairie once blanketed the western Great 

Plains in the rainshadow of the Rocky 

Mountains (Freeman and Lauver 1991 ). In 

Kansas, shortgrass prairie is found in the 

western quarter of the state, mostly above 

3,000 feet elevation on slopes or breaks 

that farmers find difficult to cultivate (Freeman and Lauver 1991). Virtually, all of the 

shortgrass prairie left in Kansas is grazed 

by cattle. The shortgrass prairie habitat is 

characterized by buffalo grass (Buchloe 

dactyloides) and blue grama (Bouteloua 

gracilis). These sod-forming grasses resist 

drought and tolerate repeated grazing. 

They go dormant repeatedly but green up 

immediately after rains, looking like a bluegreen pool table. On Cimarron NG the 

Tree cholla is a huge cactus and a favorite nesting area of Curved-billed Thrashers. Photo by Ted 

Cable. 

14 
shortgrass prairie occurs on the flat uplands north of the Cimarron River. 

Wildflowers add color to this habitat 

after spring rains. Western wallflower 

(Erysimum asperum), ground-plum (Astragalus crassicarpus), silky prairie-clover 

(Dalea villosa), milkweed (Asclepias sp.), 

common evening primrose (Oenothera 

biennis), and white beardtongue (Penste- I 

mon albidus), all are common on the shortgrass prairie. Shrubs, which bloom in late 

summer or fall, include snakeweed 

(Gu tierrezia sarothrae), ra b bi tbrush 

(Chrysothamnus sp.), and four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) among others 

(Freeman and Lauver 1991). Trees are almost nonexistent, except around home 

sites or reliable sources of water. 

Cacti also thrive in this habitat, particularly if the sites are disturbed. Nine species of cacti occur on the High Plains of 

Kansas. Prickly pear cacti (Opuntia sp.) 

with flat pads are the most common type 

of cactus. Tree cholla (Opuntia imbricata), 

with a bushy form, also occurs on the 

Grassland. The later species is often used 

as a nesting site for Curve-billed Thrashers. Because tree cholla does not spread 

readily, Forest Service biologists are considering transplanting more specimens 

from the adjacent Comanche NG in Colorado where the plant is common. 

Cacti add wonder and beauty to the 

landscape with amazing adaptations to 

conserve water and their conspicuous and 

brightly colored flowers. They also serve 

as pointed reminders of prairie walkers to 

stay alert. Fred Atchison wrote about the 

"Lonely Cactus": 

Spines of the cactus 

Make a close relationship 

Very unlikely. 

Although this plant community supports a low diversity of birds during the 

breeding season, it has a very high density 

of a few breeding birds, notably Grasshopper Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks. Other common nesting species include Cassin's Sparrows, Mourning 

Doves, Horned Larks, Lark Sparrows, and 

Characteristics of Cimarron National Grassland 

Western Kingbirds. Recently, Mountain 

Plovers have been found nesting in this 

community. Relatively few birds use the 

shortgrass prairie as a foraging area, possibly because the incessant wind keeps 

flying insects scarce. 

Sagebrush-Yucca Prairie 

"The earth laughs in flowers." 

-Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Sagebrush-yucca prairie is found on 

sand hills and dunes south of the Cimarron River. During the last Ice Age, the 

predominant northwest winds blew sand 

from the river channel and deposited it in 

dunes parallel to the south side of the 

river. This phenomenon of sand dunes 

south of maJor river drainages exists 

throughout the southern Great Plains. The 

plant community on these sandy soils is 

also known as sandsage prairie. It is characterized by sagebrush (Artemsia fififo1ia), 

plains yucca (Yucca glauca), sunflower 

(Helianthus annuus), and grasses such as 

sand bluestem, sandreed, little bluestem, 

dropseed (Sporobolus crptandrus), and sand 

lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes). Like the 

shortgrass prairie, this plant community 

can come alive with wildflowers after rains. 

Wild begonia (Rumex venosus), field goosefoot (Chenopodiaceaesp.) , annual eriogonum 

(Eriogonum anuum), sweet sand verbena 

(Abroniafragans), sand milkweed (Asclepias 

arenaria), western fleabane (Erigeron 

bellidiastrum), and silky prairie-clover are 

some forbs that bloom in this habitat. 

Most sand dunes in this region of Kansas are 20-40 feet tall, but some reach 80 

feet (Freeman and Lauver 1992). Vegetation in this community is generally sparse 

and patchy, exposing much bare ground. 

It is very susceptible to wind erosion if 

drought, fire, or grazing damages the vegetation. Agricultural uses were limited to 

grazing because the soil was so fragile and 

the slopes associated with the dunes made 

cultivation difficult. However, in recent 

decades much sagebrush -yucca prairie has 

been converted to irrigated croplands. 

15 
Part 2 

Sagebrush, a three-foot shrub, is the 

most characteristic plant of this community. It is a beautiful gray-green, aromatic 

plant made famous in western books, 

songs, and movies. Native Americans 

burned this plant as an incense to attract 

good influences. Yucca is an evergreen 

with sharp, spike-like leaves radiating 

from a common base and a tall (2-5 feet) 

stalk of flowers. It is also known as 

soapweed because its roots were used to 

make soap. Native Americans made a 

drink made from young yucca flower 

shoots to make them brave and strong. In 

spite of the utility and beauty of these two 

plants, some modern range managers do 

not think highly of these two species. They 

consider them undesirable species because 

they compete with the more desirable 

grasses. In the 1970s and earlier, range 

managers of the Cimarron NG aerially 

sprayed areas to eradicate sagebrush and 

yucca. This practice was stopped by current Forest Service managers when it became apparent that spraying caused a drastic decline in bird species that depend 

upon sagebrush for shade and shelter. lt 

also became apparent that grass was not 

regenerating even without the sage because the seed sources and soil had blown 

away. Evidence of the spraying is still 

visible - the sage and yucca have not yet 

returned to some sprayed areas and instead of grass only sunflowers and noxious weeds grow. 

The Cassin's Sparrow qualifies as the 

most abundant bird in sagebrush-yucca 

prairie. This community is further distinguished because the Brewer's Sparrow and 

the Lesser Prairie-Chicken, two highly 

sought species, nest here. The Brewer's 

Sparrow in particular seems to require 

abundant mature sagebrush. The occurrence of other species, such as Sage 

Thrasher, may directly depend on the status of sagebrush. Other common breeding 

birds in the sagebrush-yucca prairie are 

similar to those found in the shortgrass 

prairie. Unlike shortgrass prairie where 

few birds forage, many bird species forage 

in the sagebrush-yucca. 

16 

Croplands 

/I All flesh is grass, 

and all the goodliness thereof is as 

the flower of the field: 

the grass withereth, the flower fadeth: 

, because the spirit of the Lord bloweth 

upon it: surely the people is grass." 

-Isaiah 40: 6-7 

Morton County is truly a county of 

grass, much of which is converted to human flesh. Cattle graze on the native grasslands, turning grass to beef. Most of the 

rest of the county is wheat, milo, and corn, 

all grasses produced ultimately for human consumption. Although the total varies from year to year, about 292,000 acres 

of cropland are farmed in the county. About 

121,500 acres are in milo, 94,000 acres in 

wheat, and 8,000 acres are in irrigated 

corn. Sometimes, cropland is left as bare 

ground without a standing crop. A few 

birds are attracted to the bare soil to feed 

on Insects and seeds. The most abundant 

breeding bird in the cropland community 

is the Horned Lark, followed by the House 

Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Lark 

Bunting, and Mourning Dove. The Longbilled Curlew, Chihuahuan Ravens, and 

recently Mountain Plovers have been 

found nesting in this habitat. In winter, 

thousands of longspurs and dozens of 

rap tors often can be found in these agricultural areas. 

Other Communities 

Marshes once existed in low spots along 

the river and throughoutthe region. Today, 

these sites are completely dry, leaving no 

trace of their former wetlands. The Forest 

Service has constructed nine ponds that 

provide limited habitat for waterfowl, 

shorebirds, gulls, and herons. Because the 

Cimarron River seldom has water in it, 

these ponds support species that otherwise would not occur on Cimarron NG. 

The surrounding towns and farmsteads 

make up another Community type. The 

breeding birds are mostly typical urban 
birds such as House Finches, House Sparrows, American Robins, and Northern 

Mockingbirds, although Curve-billed 

Thrashers have been known to nest in 

some Elkhart neighborhoods. 

Urban habitat becomes much more interesting during migration and in wmter. 

Elkhart represents an island of trees and 

shrubs that attract migrants and winter- I 

ing species. Bird feeders, especially hummingbird feeders, concentrate the birds. 

During migration, the birdlife in town 

rivals that of more "natural" habitats. Some 

of the most interesting birds ever seen in 

Morton County have been found in the 

alleys of Elkhart, giving a new meaning to 

the term "trash bird!" 

Outside of town and away from the 

river corridor grow a few (less than 100) 

widely scattered individual trees. These 

mark the site of long-abandoned homesteads. Often the hackberry or elm that the 

settlers may have brought with them is the 

only sign that people once lived there. To 

perpetuate these living monuments, the 

Forest Service has fenced a few trees, the 

canopies of which have been killed by 

storm damage. This prevents cattle from 

grazing on the new shoots being sent up 

from the still viable roots. In 1995 every 

Grassland tree away from the river was 

searched for raptor nests. Virtually every 

tree had a bird's nest in it. In all, 18 trees 

held nesting Swainson's Hawks and three 

hosted nesting Ferruginous Hawks. Blackbilled Magpies, Loggerhead Shrikes, and 

other songbirds also frequently use these 

isolated trees. The Forest Service intends 

to plant new trees at some of the raptor 

nest sites when the existing trees die. 

Wildlife 

Cimarron NG supports a diversity of 

other wildlife besides birds and plants. 

Insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates 

have not been thoroughly studied even 

though they form vital links in regional 

food chains. Amphibians, reptiles, and 

mammals have not been exhaustively studCharacteristics of Cimarron National Grassland 

ied either; but because these groups contain vastly fewer species, they are easier to 

document. Table 1 presents all 31 amphibians and reptiles known to occur on or 

adjoining Cimarron NG. Table 2 presents 

the 41 species of mammals recorded on or 

near the Grassland. Much work remains 

for anyone to understand the mammals of 

Cimarron. Since publication of Mammals 

of Kansas in 1981, man y taxonomic changes 

have taken place. For example, the spotted 

skunk has been separated into two species, eastern (SpilogaLe putorius) and western (Spilogale gracilis). Range maps published in Mammals of Colorado (1995) suggest both species may occur at Cimarron. 

Other mammals, including shrews, bats, 

rodents, the mink, and the mountain lion, 

might inhabit or migrate through the area 

as well. The Cimarron mammal list (table 2) 

does not include extirpated species such 

as black-footed ferret, gray wolf, grizzly 

bear, or American bison. Nor does it include the wayward moose that became a 

celebrity as it wandered from Minnesota 

southward across the Great Plains, right 

through Morton County, Kansas! The list 

does include elk. A native species to Cimarron country, and indeed much of the Great 

Plains, the elk was extirpated more than a 

century ago. Working cooperatively, the 

Forest Service and the Kansas Department 

of Wildlife and Parks brought elk back to 

the Cimarron region. Through several successful translocations, the local elk population grew to about 150 animals. Elk, 

however, feed on grass and hay intended 

for livestock; so the herd has been reduced 

through hunting to about 50 animals. 

Amphibians, reptiles, and mammals 

form intricate relationships with birds. 

Snakes and rodents eat birds' eggs, and 

hawks and owls consume rodents and 

snakes. When populations of rodent-eating birds decline, a study of small mammals may produce more answers than a 

study of the birds themselves. The slowly 

unfolding story of Cimarron NG birds 

will best be told when we understand the 

region's other wildlife as well as we know 

its birds. 

17 
"".,', 

Part 2 

Table 1. Amphibians and Reptiles of Cimarron National Grassland. Adapted from Collins and Collins 

(1991) and Tennant (1985). 

Class: Amphibia - Amphibians 

Order: Caudata - Salamanders, Newts 

Family: Ambystomatidae - Mole Salamanders 

Tiger Salamander 

Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium 

Order: Anura - Frogs and Toads 

18 

Family: Pelobatidae - Spadefoots 

Plains Spadefoot 

Scaphiopus bombitrons 

Family: Bufonidae - Toads 

Great Plains Toad 

Buto cognatus 

Western Green Toad 

Buto debilis insidior 

Red-spotted Toad 

Buto punctatus 

Woodhouse's Toad 

Buto woodhousii woodhousii 

Family: HyJidae - Treefrogs 

Blanchard's Cricket Frog 

Acris crepitans blanchardi 

Family: Ranidae - Frogs 

Plains Leopard Frog 

Rana blairi 

Bullfrog 

Rana catesbeiana 

Class: Reptilia - Turtles, Lizards, Snakes 

Order: Testudines - Turtles 

Family: Kinosternidae - Mud and Musk Turtles 

Yellow Mud Turtle 

Kinosternon flavescens flavescens 

Family: Chelydridae - Snapping Turtles 

Common Snapping Turtle 

Chelydra serpentina serpentina 

Family: Emydidae - Turtles 

Ornate Box Turtle 

Terrapene ornata ornata 

Western Painted Turtle 

Chrysemys picta bellii 

Order: Squamata - Lizards, Snakes 

Suborder: Sauria - Lizards 

Family: Iguanidae - Iguanas 

Northern Earless Lizard 

Holbrookia maculata maculata 

Eastern Fence Lizard 

Sceloporus undulatus garmani 

Texas Horned Lizard 

Phrynosoma cornutum 

Family: Teiidae - Whiptails 

Six-lined Racerunner 

Cnemidophorus sexlineatus viridis 

Family: Scincidae - Skinks 

Great Plains Skink 

Eumeces obsoletus 

Suborder: Serpentes - Snakes 

Family: Leptotyphlopidae - Blind Snakes 

New Mexico Blind Snake 

Leptotyphlops dulc/s dissectus 

Family: Colubridae - Colubrids 

PlainS Blackhead Snake 

Tantilla nignceps fum/ceps 

Eastern Hognose Snake 

Hererodon platyrhmos 

Plains Hognose Snake 

Heterodon nasicus nas/cus 

Western PlainS Garter Snake 

Thamnoph/s radix naydeni/ 

Checkered Garter Snake 

Thamnophis marcianus marcianus 

Bullsnake 

Pituophis melanoleucus sayi 

Kansas Glossy Snake 

Arizona elegans elegans 

Central Plains Milk Snake 

Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis 

Western Coachwhip 

Masticophis flagellum testaceus 

Eastern Yellowbelly Race 

Coluber constrictor flaviventris 

Texas Longnose Snake 

Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus 

Family: Viperidae - Vipers 

Prairie Rattlesnake 

Crotalus viridis viridis 
Characteristics of Cimarron National Grassland 

Table 2. Mammals of Cimarron National Grassland. Four sources were used to compile this list: 

(1) Mammals of Kansas; (2) Mammals of Colorado; (3) "Checklist of Amphibians, Mammals, 

Reptiles, and Fishes of Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands"; (4) personal observations. 

Sequence and taxonomy follow Mammals of Colorado. 

Order: Marsupialia - Marsupials 

Family: Didelphidae - Opossums 

Virginia Opossum Didelphis marsupialis 

Order: Insectivora - Insectivores 

Family: Soricidae - Shrews 

Least Shrew Cryptotis parva 

Family: Talpidae - Moles 

Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus 

Order: Chiroptera - Bats 

Vespertilionidae - Bats 

Little Brown Myotis Myotis lucifugus 

Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus 

Silver-haired Bat Lasionycteris noctlvagans 

Molossidae - Free-tailed Bats 

Brazilian Free-tailed Bat 

T adarida brasiliensis 

Big Free-tailed Bat Nyctinomops macrotis 

Order: Lagomorpha - Lagomorphs 

Family: Leporidae - Hares, Cottontails 

Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus audubonii 

Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus 

Black-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus californicus 

Order: Rodentia - Rodents 

Family: Sciuridae - Squirrels 

Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel 

Spermophilus tridecemlineatus 

Spotted Ground Squirrel 

Spermophilus spilosoma 

Black-tailed Prairie Dog 

Cynomys ludovicianus 

Family: Geomyidae - Pocket Gophers 

Plains Pocket Gopher Geomys bursarius 

Family: Heteromyidae - Pocket Mice 

Plains Pocket Mouse 

Perognathus flavescens 

Silky Pocket Mouse Perognathus flavus 

Hispid Pocket Mouse Chaetodipus hispidus 

Ord's Kangaroo Rat Dipodomys ordii 

Family: Castoridae - Beavers 

Beaver Castor canadensis 

Family: Muridae - Mice 

Western Harvest Mouse 

Reithrodontomys megalotis 

Plains Harvest Mouse 

Reithrodontomys montanus 

White-footed Mouse Peromyscus leucopus 

Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus 

Northern Grasshopper Mouse 

Onychomys leucogaster 

Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmodon hispidus 

White-throated Wood rat Neotoma albigula 

Eastern Wood rat Neotoma floridana 

Mexican Wood rat Neotoma mexicana 

Southern Plains Wood rat 

Neotoma micropus 

Muskrat Ondantra zibethlcus 

House Mouse Mus musculus 

Norway Rat Rattus norvegicus 

Family: Erethizontidae - Porcupine 

Porcupine Erethizon dorsatum 

Order: Carnivora - Carnivores 

Family: Canidae - Dogs 

Coyote Cants latrans 

Swift Fox Vulpes velox 

Red Fox Vulpes fulva 

Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus 

Family: Procyonidae - Raccoons 

Raccoon Procyon lotor 

Family: Mustelidae - Weasels 

Long-tailed Weasel Mustela frenata 

Badger Taxidea taxus 

Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis 

Eastern Spotted Skunk Spilogale putorius 

Family: Felidae - Cats 

Bobcat Lynx rufus 

Order: Artiodactyla - Cattle, Deer, Pronghorn 

Family: Cervidae - Deer 

Elk Cervus elaphus 

Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus 

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus 

Family: Antilocapridae - Pronghorn 

Pronghorn Antilocapra americana 

19 
Part 3 

I 

Ferruginous Hawk. Photo courtesy of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. 

20 
Ornithological History and the Birds 

Part 3 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

History of Bird Study in 

Southwestern Kansas 

It is obvious from the history of the area 

why so little ornithological work was done 

in the area. While birds throughout the 

western United States were being described 

and studied (principally by military doctors), this region was off-limits because of 

the Indian conflicts and the lack of water. 

Moreover, travelers on the Cimarron CutOff who had taken the time to describe the 

landscapes and wildlife at other places 

along the trail hurried through this stretch 

because of the inhospitable conditions. Apparently, people lacked the time or desire 

to make detailed comments on the wildlife. In other words, they were not inclined 

to take the suggestion of the recent Kansas 

Tourism Department slogan to "Linger 

Longer." Likewise, county residents from 

the time of settlement through the Dust 

Bowl years often were preoccupied with 

their own survival, leaving little time to 

make note of the avifauna. 

The earliest accounts of wildlife are 

sketchy and generic, but they provide an 

enticing glimpse of the fauna encountered 

by the first travelers into the area. Although not referring specifically to Morton 

County, the Cimarron River valley was 

described in the 1870s as "abounding not 

only in buffalo, but in many antelope, deer, 

wild turkeys, quail, grouse, and plover." 

Did these" grouse" include Sage Grouse or 

were they merely Lesser Prairie-Chickens? 

And, were the plovers the now nearly extinct Eskimo Curlew or were they Upland 

Sandpipers, Long-billed Curlews, or something entirely different? Other species 

mentioned by Santa Fe Trail travelers and 

early settlers include Roadrunners, Ravens, 

and Burrowing Owls. 

The first ornithological expeditions to 

Morton County were led by William H. 

Burt from the University of Kansas. His 

party spent portions of the summers of 

1926 and 1927 collecting scores of specimens. The most noteworthy was a Lewis' 

Woodpecker collected on 4 July 1927. This 

specimen, along with the others from these 

expeditions, are in the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. 

W.5. Long camped along the Cimarron 

River about 12 miles northeast of Elkhart 

7-12 November 1934. His party collected 

many specimens, including a Red-naped 

Sapsucker, a Common Loon, five Western 

Scrub-Jays, and "Rocky Mountain races" 

of White-breasted Nuthatch and Song Sparrow. 

In February 1950, Richard and Jean 

Graber began a study of the birds of western Kansas. They observed many species 

and collected many specimens, including 

several first state records. Their work represented the first thorough study of Morton 

County birdlife. 

Three other significant ornithological 

studies have been done in Morton County 

since then. James Rising conducted field 

work in western Kansas between the years 

1963 and 1968. Much of his field work was 

in Morton County. Mark Ports spent most 

of the summers of 1978 and 1979 studying 

the breeding birds of Morton County. From 

1990 to 1994 Marvin Schwilling studied 

the birds of six southwestern Kansas counties, including Morton. Each of these studies added significantly to understanding 

the avifauna of Cimarron NG. 

The first Christmas Bird Count on the 

Grassland was held in 1963 (see table 3). 

Ten years passed before anyone conducted 

another one. Christmas Bird Counts have 

been conducted every year since 1973, 

21 
.: ~: '. 

Part 3 

though some of the early counts were 

never published in American Birds, the 

official outlet for CBC results. They have 

added much to our knowledge of the winter birds of the Grassland. These regular 

Christmas Counts may be partially responsible for stimulating interest in the 

Grassland among Kansas birders. During 

the 1970s and early 1980s, a small but 

dedicated contingent of Kansans birded 

Cimarron NG several times a year. Most 

visits occurred in the fall when the chance 

of finding rarities is greatest. Other than 

the formal studies mentioned above, 

birders have made few birding trips to the 

Grassland during summer. However, in 

recent years birders focusing on early fall 

migrants, particularly hummingbirds, 

have found August to be a rewarding time 

to visit Morton County. 

Just as the Christmas Bird Count presents a vital picture of winter bird life on 

Cimarron NG, the Breeding Bird Survey 

offers an important glimpse of summer 

birdlife. Begun in the 1960s, the BBS program monitors breeding bird populations 

by establishing a long-term count along 

fixed 25-mile routes. Originally, routes 

were chosen with mathematically random 

techniques for everyone-degree block of 

latitude and longitude across the lower 48 

states. Not enough competent birders exist to cover all these routes, so many have 

never been done. No BBS route crosses 

22 

Cimarron NG, but three routes lie close 

by. The towns of Hooker and Keyes, Oklahoma, and Campo, Colorado, each have 

routes that course through terrain and 

habitat similar to that of Cimarron NG. 

Results of these routes (tables 4a and 4b) 

,indicate the kinds and numbers of birds 

that probably nest on Cimarron. 

Examining the numbers presented in 

I the CBC and BBS tables paint a vivid picture of which species routinely inhabit 

Cimarron NG, which species occasionally 

pass through, and which species experience period increases and decreases in 

their populations. The tables make one 

fact abundantly clear: Cimarron is undoubtedly important for wintering bird 

populations. 

In recent years Morton County has become one of Kansas' most popular birding 

destinations. Birders have "flocked" to 

Morton County to see such first state 

records as the Pyrrhuloxia, Canyon Wren, 

and Great Kiskadee, and to witness the 

infrequent visits of Steller's and Western 

Scrub-Jays, Phainopeplas and other western visItors. As we learn more about the 

birds of Cimarron NG, and as word spreads 

about the exciting birding opportunities 

there, birding interest in the area will increase. 

Species accounts immediately follow 

the tables. 
I\J 

w 

Table 3. Results of National Audubon Society Christmas Bird Counts, 1963-95. Count included within a 15-mile circle centered at 3r 0

miles north of Elkhart, Kansas. The count circle includes parts of Cimarron National Grassland, but also includes private land as well 

Parenthetical data indicate species seen within the period of three days before or three days after the count but not actually seen on co

unavailable data. 

Great Blue Heron 

Tundra Swan 

Snow Goose 

Ross' Goose 

Canada Goose 

Green-winged Teal 

Mallard 

Northern Pintail 

American Wigeon 

Common Goldeneye 

Bufflehead 

Common Merganser 

Ruddy Duck 

Bald Eagle 

Northern Harrier 

Sharp-shinned Hawk 

Cooper's Hawk 

ACcipiter sp. 

Red-tailed Hawk 

Ferruginous Hawk 

Rough-legged Hawk 

Buteo sp. 

Golden Eagle 

Eagle sp. 

American Kestrel 

63 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 23 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

2 

6 

o 

o 

o 

4 

2 

o 

2 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

27 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

1 

o 

2 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 250 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

3 

45 

o 

o 

o 

1i 

4 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2a 

19 

o 1 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

7 

o 

3 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

42 

o 

o 

o 

1 

8 

045 

3 6 

7 

1 

3 

o 

19 

7 12 14 

005 

1a 2a,1i 3a 

001 

3 14 36 

o 1 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 177 

o 0 

9 33 

o 0 

o 2 

o 0 

1 0 o 0 

o 0 o 0 

o 0 o 0 

o 0 o 0 

o 51 o 15 

o 0 

2 34 o 6 

o 0 o 0 

o 0 o 0 

o 0 o 0 

o 

o 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

o 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 30 

o 0 

3 1 

o 0 

o 1 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

1 0 

o 

o 

o 

3i 

24 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 3a 

11 

o 

o 

o 

12 

6 

2 

1a 

o 

5 

o 0 o 0 1 0 

o 1a,2i 3a 1a,1i (1a) (la) 

61 29 24 23 14 6 19 31 50 

o 

o 

o 

8 

12 

24 

1 

4i 

o 

11 

o 2 3 (1) 

o 2 (1) 1 

1 1 0 0 

9 6 16 21 10 

23 10 8 21 '8 

6 10 6 16 4 

o 2 1 0 

o 2a,1i 1a,11 la,li 4i 

00010 

12 12 15 8 9 

4 4 

1 4 0 1 

o 0 0 0 

3 16 19 21 

7 31 7 30 

2 10 6 15 

o 0 0 4 

2a 10a,2i 2a,1 i 4 

o 0 0 0 

6 31 13 32 

89 90 91 

1 

2 

o 

o 

21 

o 

15 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1i 

57 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 11 

o 0 

o 1 

o 0 

o 0 

0" 0 

o 

o 

o 

1a 

35 

o 

o 

o 

o 

25 

62

120 

o 1 2 

28 21 6 

64 17 45 

16 13 8 

o 3 0 

7a,3i 3a,3i 4a,1 

o 0 0 

20 6 15 
I\) 

~ Table 3. Continued 

63 

Merlin 0 

Peregrine Falcon 0 

Prairie Falcon 3 

Falcon sp. 0 

Ring-necked Pheasant 2 

Lesser Prairie--Chicken 0 

Wild Turkey 0 

Northern Bobwhite 21 

Scaled Quail 0 

Bobwhite x Scaled Quail 0 

Sandhill Crane 0 

Killdeer 0 

Common Snipe 0 

Ring-billed Gull 0 

Herring Gull 0 

Rock Dove 0 

Mourning Dove 0 

Greater Roadrunner 0 

Barn Owl 0 

Eastern Screech Owl 0 

Western Screech -Owl 0 

Great Horned Owl 6 

Burrowing Owl 0 

Long-eared Owl 0 

Short-eared Owl 0 

Lewis' Woodpecker 0 

Yellow-bellied 0 

Sapsucker 

Ladder-backed 0 

Woodpecker 

73 

o 

4 

o 

3 

o 

o 

72 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

13 

4 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

74 

1 

o 

1 

o 

7 

20 

o 

6 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

12 

22 

o 

2 

o 

7 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

75 76 77 78 79 80 

o 

o 

o 

o 

3 

221 

000 

1 5 1 

200 

2 53 14 

7 5 

o 0 

11 5 

1 0 

4 43 

28 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 7 21 3 5 

o 2 15 o 0 

31 100 72 

o 119 36 

33 106 

10 213 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

1 0 

o 0 

o 0 

29 1 

3 125 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

2 4 

o 

o 3 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

o 0 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

77 

17 

o 

2 

3 

o 

10 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 0 

o 0 0 

o 0 0 

o 0 0 

o 0 0 

o 0 0 

30 38 68 

1 123 3 

o 0 0 

1 0 

o 0 

o 0 0 

4 12 11 

o 0 0 

o (1) 0 

o 

o 0 0 

o 0 0 

o 0 

81 82 

2 4 

o 0 

3 3 

o 

11 101 

3 8 

o 4 

22 159 

83 57 

o 0 

o 0 

(1) 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

23 69 

16 35 

o 0 

o 0 

o 3 

o 0 

7 18 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

83 

2 

o 

7 

o 

80 

3 

o 

59 

67 

o 

84 

(1) 

o 

1 

2 

15 

16 

o 

o 

22 

o 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 10 

o 

87 105 

40 22 

o 0 

2 

4 2 

o 0 

17 14 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

2 

85 86 87 

000 

000 

1 5 2 

000 

3 64 3 

4 12 7 

000 

12 12 145 

15 50 90 

000 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

37 

o 

o 

4 

o 

7 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

3 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

63 

o 

o 

o 

10 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

3 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

5 

38 

1 

o 

6 

1 

16 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

8 

88 

5 

o 

7 

o 

15 

o 

2 

47 

34 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

38 

15 

o 

2 

2 

o 

13 

1 

o 

(1 ) 

o 

o 

5 

89 

1 

o 

1 

o 

9 

58 

o 

145 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

26 

46 

o 

o 

14 

o 

4 

(1) 

o 

o 

4 

90 

2 

o 

3 

o 

39 

5 

1 

65 

52 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

14 

o 

o 

o 

2 

o 

13 

o 

3 

3 

o 

o 

3 

91 

8 

o 

6 

o 

3 

o 

o 

14 

(1) 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

33 

(1) 

o 

o 

4

o 

4 

0

3 

o 

o 
I\) 

U1 

Table 3. Continued 

63 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 

Downy Woodpecker 11 

Hairy Woodpecker 1 

Northern Flicker 

Unspecified 

Red-shafted 

Yellow-shafted 

Red x Yellow 

o 

30 

11 

o 

o 

o 

o 

6 

5 

o 28 

3 0 

o 

o 0 

o 0 Say's Phoebe 

Horned Lark 

Steller's Jay 

225 9369 8824 

000 

Blue Jay 

Western Scrub-Jay 

Black-billed Magpie 

American Crow 

Chihuahuan Raven 

o 

8 

16 

16 

o 

Black-capped Chickadee 0 

Mountain Chickadee 0 

Chickadee sp. 0 

Bushtit 0 

Red-breasted Nuthatch 0 

White-breasted Nuthatch 0 

Pygmy Nuthatch 0 

Brown Creeper 4 

Rock Wren 1 

Canyon Wren 0 

Carolina Wren 

Bewick's Wren 

Marsh Wren 

o 

3 

5 

o 0 

o 0 

57 48 

o 47 

2 5 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 

5 

3 

9 

o 

8 19 

5 7 

5 

5 

9 

3 

o 0 4 12 5 2 

6 13 50 22 14 22 

4 5 9 3 5 5 

o 0 0 0 0 0 

00005 0 

8 11 

3 

3 0 

13 53 

11 8 

o 0 

o 2 

6 

5 

6 

13 

6 

o 

o 

18 

o 

499 

o 

185 

o 

113 57387 1448 3493 10071 6304 

000 

000 

53 34 46 

27 53 61 

000 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2 

(1) 

o 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

2 

1 0 000 0 

o 

75 

29 

o 

o 

13 

o 

o 

4 

1 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2 

2 

o 

37 

31 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 

o 

o 

o 

4 

o 

o 

91 

15 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

3 

3 

o 

80 

15 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

3 

o 0 

o 0 

74 103 

50 39 

o 0 

o 

12 

1 

2 

1 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

o 

2 

5 

o 

o 

o 

o 

3 

1 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

7 

5 

10 

11 

3 

o 

o 

675 

o 

2 

1 

5 16 

5 6 

24 2 

12 29 61 

015 

000 

000 

16 

5 

45 

o 

o 

o 

o 

49 

o 

16 

29 

5 

1 

o 

246 2141 1425 8623 4276 

o 0 0 0 2 

1 1 2 2 0 2 

o 0 0 0 0 4 

83 35 125 104 103 190 

57 11 35 17 19 29 

o 2 4 0 0 0 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

(1) 

5 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

o 

o 

2 

o 

16 

2 

o 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

2 

1 

o 

o 

o 

7 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

3 

o 

o 

10 

o 

o 

o 

10 

o 

3 

o 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

90 91 

18 

20 

o 

o 

o 

o 

6 

18 

o 

4

0

0

15000 2260 

00

40

00

7(1 61 

2 14 

00

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

7 

o 

3 

o 

o 

o 

o 
I\) 

(» Table 3. Continued 

63 

Golden-crowned Kinglet 0 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 0 

Eastern Bluebird 2 

Mountain Bluebird 0 

Townsend's Solitaire 0 

Hermit Thrush 0 

American Robin 2 

Northern Mockingbird 0 

Brown Thrasher 0 

Curve-billed Thrasher 0 

Bohemian Waxwing 

Cedar Waxwing 

Northern Shrike 

Loggerhead Shrike 

European Starling 

o 

o 

2 

4 

35 

Yellow-rumped Warbler 0 

Palm Warbler 0 

Northern Cardinal 0 

Pyrrhuloxia 0 

Spotted Towhee 0 

Canyon Towhee 

Rufous-crowned 

Sparrow 

o 

o 

73 74 75 76 

000 0 

o 0 0 0 

000 0 

000 0 

000 0 

77 

o 

o 

6 

o 

o 

78 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 

79 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 0 

o 12 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

4 

o 

o 

o 

000 

o 25 (1) 

200 

000 

o 

o 

o 

o 

33 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

7 1 

300 1500 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

12 16 

254 327 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

2 

3 

1 0 o 

o o (1) 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

2 

150 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

5 

554 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

80 

a 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

3 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 

176 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

81 82 

1 0 

1 0 

8 0 

1 0 

2 6 

o 

4 

1 

o 

o 

1 

3 

586 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

5 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2 

o 

3 

958 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

o 

83 84 

1 0 

o 0 

o 3 

o 0 

6 

o 0 

17 30 

1 1 

o 0 

3 

85 86 87 

027 

000 

000 

000 

2 14 

o 0 

12 29 

1 1 

o 0 

o 4 

4 

o 

1 

2 

o 

o 

o 

7 

o 0 

o 17 

1 

o 

o 

o 

18 

o 

12 

310 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 1 

6 6 

705 377 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

22 

510 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

108 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

88 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

8 

2 

o 

o 

12 

2 

16 

169 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

89 

2 

o 

1 

o 

4 

o 

4 

1 

o 

2 

o 

o 

3 

12 

159 

o 

o 

3 

o 

2 

2 

90 

o 

o 

o 

o 

91 

o 

o 

o 

o 

5 

00

39 

1 0 

00

o 

o 0 

45 0 

Q 2 

8 13 

314 216 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

o 

American Tree 320 321 964 26027231121 3321304 182 399 506 897 961 65 786 463 924 1095 1025 1709 

Sparrow 

Brewer's Sparrow 

Field Sparrow 

Vesper Sparrow 

Sage Sparrow 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

6 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 

o 

o 

o 

o 0 

o 0 

1 11 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

5 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

a 

o 

o 

1 

2 

o 

o 

4 

3 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 
I\) 

'" 

Table 3, Continued 

63 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 

Lark Bunting 

Savannah Sparrow 

LeConte's Sparrow 

Fox Sparrow 

Song Sparrow 

Lincoln's Sparrow 

Swamp Sparrow 

White-crowned 

Sparrow 

Harris' Sparrow 

Dark-eyed Junco 

Unspecified 

Slate-colored 

White-winged 

Oregon 

Gray-headed 

McCown's Longspur 

Lapland Longspur 

Chestnut-collared 

Longspur 

Longspursp 

a 

a 

o 

o 

25 

o 

o 

10 

o 

o 

12 

a 

38 

o 

a 

5 

o 

a 

Red-winged Blackbird 40 

Western Meadowlark 73 

Meadowlark sp. a 

Brewer's Blackbird a 

Great-tailed Grackle a 

Common Grackle a 

Brown-headed Cowbird a 

Blackbird sp. a 

o 

o 

o 

a 

3 

o 

o 

81 

o 

o 

o 

o 

49 

o 

3 

19 

4 

o 270 

20 0 

a 0 

4 0 

o 0 

42 

22 

o 

63 

o 

55 909 

77 212 

366 297 

a 0 

a 25 

a 0 

o 

9 

30 

o 

o 

o 

o 209 106 

000 

010 

a 0 

11 46 76 

a 0 

o 4 

447 628 

3 306 25 

a 4 0 

a a 0 

a a 0 

8 50 87 

000 

000 

a a 0 

5 

a 

a 

a 

19 29 12 29 14 7 20 

o 0 

o 

9 471 

000 

o 

7 452 278 

o 0 

o 

134 117 

o 957 33 13 141 o 14 3 7 20 

a 

11 

a 

15 

o 

o 

1 

o 

a 

15 

175 

a 

a 

a 

o 

594 

o 

536 

o 

o 

7 

o 

55 

105 

a 

69 

a 

10 

57 

145 

o 0 

13 555 

892 2210 

o 0 

1 0 

o 0 

a 0 

o 0 

o 300 

a 

a 

o 

56 

81 

o 

91 

o 

5 

40 

241 

o 

151 

2 

4 

5 

114 

o 

156 

o 

4 

3 30 

86 306 

o a 

71 326 

o 2 

4 11 

1 13,685 207 1805 4340 

6 1358 1 8 1 

o 0 

19 853 

189 1274 

o 0 

o 1 

o 0 

a 

o 

o 

49 

9 

o 

500 2223 2218 

18 120 3152 

312 214 833 

000 

000 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

3 

o 

26 

a 

4 

1 

23 

39 

o 

31 

o 

o 

380 

7 

63 

163 

o 

98 

o 

2 

372 

a 

6 0 

7 336 

470 141 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

o 

o 

o 

a 

75 

o 69 o 

o 

o 

o 

31 124 

o 0 a a 

o 0 

a 

o 0 

o a 

1 86 

o 4 

o 1 

4 380 

38 52 

o 1 

o 0 

132 1158 

32 

o 

o 

625 

o 8 11 5 212 

4 

o 

o 

19 

o 

o 

22 

2 

o 

11 

86 

a 

12 

o 

o 

1 

o 

300 27 1141 

125 297 0 

a 0 0 

40 170 0 

o 0 0 

a 0 

13 3028 

o 0 

a 

872 

357 

o 

4 

o 

a 

19 

o 

o 

934 

841 

o 

12 

o 

1 

o 

o 

7 

354 

15 

o 

767 

561 

o 

a 

a 

o 

o 

o 

1463 

358 

2 

515 

o 

71 

1001 

(1) 

o 

756 

754 

o 

6 

o 

a 

a 

o 

90 91 

5 

o 

o 

o 

39 

o 

o 

734 

402 

54 

a 

10 

o 

4 

o 

o 

o 

20 

0

0

53 

4 

617 

325 

0

362 

26 0 

3657 650 

a 8 

a 350 

115 713 

1082 336 

o 0 

a 0 

1 

o 

a 

o 

a 

3 

o 
I\) 

00 Table 3. Continued 

Purple Finch 

House Finch 

Red Crossbill 

Common Redpoll 

Pine Siskin 

Lesser Goldfinch 

American Goldfinch 

Evening Grosbeak 

House Sparrow 

Total Species 

Total Individuals 

Total Individuals 

Total People 

Field 

Feeders 

Total Parties 

Total Party Hours 

Car 

Foot 

Feeder 

Owling 

Total Party Miles 

Car 

Foot 

Owling 

63 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 

o 

o 

o 

o 

6 

o 

20 

o 

o 

o 

o 

o 

1 

o 

o 

31 

o 

o 

o 

25 

o 

2 

24 139 

o 0 

20 142 97 

000 

111 lB6 1092 

o 

56 

o 

o 

o 

12 

o 

3 

100 492 

o 0 

25 

o 

o 

10 

o 

183 92 9 

000 

427 1245 2232 

o 

9 

o 

o 

(1) 

o 

22 

o 

743 

o 

2 

o 

o 

o 

54 

o 

o 

38 182 

o 0 

o 

75 

o 

o 

o 

50 

o 

o 

46 243 

o 0 

27 

3 

12 

62 

o 

77 42 120 20 110 

000 o 0 

1390 1445 3027 2078 1434 

o 

41 

o 

o 

o 

93 

o 

o 

o 

81 

o 

o 

o 274 299 

000 

o 54 72 

(1) 0 0 

427 1493 1 B24 

(1) 

157 

o 

o 

49 

o 

87 

o 

BBS 

o 

115 

o 

o 

248 

(1) 

46 

o 

610 

00

245 736 

00

00

272 

23 140 

o 0 

2256 1671 

38 33 45 39 45 62 55 54 51 61 58 53 59 49 62 59 61 67 54 50 

984 12,645 8618 3836 5385 27,155 5906 

2 

o 

10,788 3813 8,275 79,350 12,214 11,798 

3 

o 

9 

8 

o 

2 

20 

6 

6 

o 

2 

15 

5 

10 

o 

o 

13 

13 

o 

3 

30 

16 

14 

o 

o 

8 

8 

o 

3 

5 

5 

o 

3 

33 28 

16 14.5 

17 13.5 

o 0 

o 0 

13 

13 

o 

5 

38 

21 

17 

o 

o 

10 

10 

o 

3 

15 

15 

o 

4 

32 39 

22 26.5 

10 12.5 

o 0 

o 0 

10 

10 

o 

4 

9 

9 

o 

4 

22 

22 

o 

36 42.5 51 

20 18.5 34 

16 22.5 

o 0 

o 1.5 

16 

o 

.5 

8317 15,594 25,482 

1547 10,456 13,411 10,82

7 

7 

o 

3 

16 

16 

o 

5 

24 40 

16 22 

8 

o 

o 

18 

o 

o 

9 

9 

o 

3 

16 

16 

o 

4-5 

15 

15 

o 

5 

9 

9 

o 

4 

15 

15 

o 

5 

28 43.5 45 33 48 

17 29.5 26.5 23.5 30 

10 

o 

1 

14 18.5 

o 0 

1.5 0 

9.5 

o 

o 

18 

o 

o 

77 233 110 318 304 410 320 357 332 209 431 598.5 213 390 273 382.5 532 239 550 

100 298 283 394 295 330 313 193 393 559 

10 20 21 16 25 27 19 16 24 29.5 

o 0 000 o 0 o 14 10 

191 366 231 

10 24 18 

12 0 24 

366 

16.5 

15 

508 

24 

o 

229 520 

10 30 

o 0 

Temperature Lo-Hi (OF) 30-50 18-37 29-53 9-16 21-37 40-64 25-50 11 ·35 19-40 27-44 23-51 18-46 7-29 30-49 28-35 4-22 29-3
Ornithological History and the Birds 

Table 4a. Results of two Breeding Bird Survey routes of the National Biological Survey. The routes 

are fixed near the towns of Hooker and Keyes, both in Oklahoma immediately south of Morton 

County, Kansas, and the Cimarron National Grassland. HKR = Hooker and KYS = Keyes. 

Black-crowned Night-Heron 

Mallard 

Northern Shoveler 

Turkey Vulture 

Northern Harrier 

Swainson's Hawk 

Red-tailed Hawk 

Ring-necked Pheasant 

Northern Bobwhite 

Scaled Quail 

Killdeer 

Mountain Plover 

American Avocet 

Long-billed Curlew 

Rock Dove 

Mourning Dove 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 

Barn Owl 

Great Horned Owl 

Burrowing Owl 

Common Nighthawk 

Chimney Swift 

Northern Flicker 

Say's Phoebe 

Western Kingbird 

Eastern Kingbird 

Horned Lark 

Barn Swallow 

American Crow 

Chihuahuan Raven 

American Robin 

Northern Mockingbird 

Brown Thrasher 

Loggerhead Shrike 

European Starling 

Common Yellowthroat 

Dickcissel 

Cassin's Sparrow 

Lark Sparrow 

Lark Bunting 

Grasshopper Sparrow 

Red-winged Blackbird 

Western Meadowlark 

Yellow-headed Blackbird 

Great-tailed Grackle 

1992 

HKR KYS 

2 0 

5 0 I 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

4 

1 0 

33 28 

1 3 

3 3 

24 3 

o 7 

1 0 

o 9 

o 0 

114 65 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

2 6 

o 1 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

14 1 

o 0 

115 109 

10 2 

1 0 

o 0 

2 0 

1 0 

o 0 

o 

o 0 

2 0 

12 3 

3 25 

8 0 

63 146 

39 42 

274 5 

104 164 

o 0 

2 0 

lli.a 

HKR KYS 

2 0 

2 0 

o 0 

1 0 

2 

2 1 

o 0 

36 7 

1 4 

23 1 

o 3 

o 0 

o 5 

o 0 

93 43 

o 0 

o 0 

o 0 

3 2 

6 1 

o 0 

1 0 

o 0 

17 4 

2 0 

126 97 

6 4 

o 5 

o 3 

o 0 

1 0 

o 0 

o 

4 0 

2 0 

11 7 

16 21 

4 0 

23 32 

34 43 

326 33 

108 101 

o 0 

o 0 

1994 

HKR KYS 

2 0 

20 0 

o 0 

2 1 

o 0 

1 2 

o 1 

47 29 

1 0 

o 3 

40 3 

o 3 

7 0 

o 3 

2 0 

97 89 

o 0 

o 1 

o 0 

4 5 

4 4 

2 0 

o 0 

o 0 

15 5 

2 0 

92 91 

19 5 

1 2 

o 0 

1 0 

3 0 

o 2 

o 0 

1 0 

1 0 

3 1 

o 9 

18 0 

6 30 

40 35 

273 67 

97 115 

3 0 

8 0 

1995 

HKR KYS 

o 0 

12 0 

1 0 

o 0 

1 

o 

1 

20 19 

3 0 

1 5 

26 

o 4 

1 0 

o 4 

o 

104 61 

o 1 

o 0 

2 0 

2 5 

3 0 

o 0 

o 0 

o 

8 1 

1 0 

86 87 

10 5 

1 2 

o 1 

o 0 

4 1 

o 0 

o 0 

1 0 

o 0 

12 

1 7 

10 0 

21 29 

44 33 

261 13 

130 138 

o 0 

15 0 

29 
Part 3 

Table 4b. Results of one Breeding Bird Survey route of the National Biological Survey. The route is 

fixed near Campo, Colorado, immediately west of Morton County, Kansas, and Cimarron National 

Grassland. 

1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 

Green-winged Teal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Mallard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Turkey Vulture 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 

Swainson's Hawk 3 7 8 4 3 6 5 

Ferruginous Hawk 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 

American Kestrel 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

Prairie Falcon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Ring-necked Pheasant 36 43 26 22 27 15 19 15 

Scaled Quail 8 10 13 2 9 4 5 4 

Killdeer 3 3 2 0 0 0 2 3 

Long-billed Curlew 47 29 30 8 15 16 18 16 

Common Snipe 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Rock Dove 6 2 2 0 5 2 0 23 

Mourning Dove 68 93 32 52 37 51 53 33 

Burrowing Owl 6 5 2 0 12 1 4 0 

Common Nighthawk 4 0 5 3 7 2 2 1 

Say's Phoebe 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 

Western Kingbird 11 5 8 8 11 14 13 9 

Horned Lark 83 82 39 72 112 107 89 122 

Cliff Swallow 0 1 0 3 1 0 0 0 

Barn Swallow 2 8 1 8 0 3 5 2 

Black-billed Magpie 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

American Crow 3 7 7 2 5 8 2 5 

Chihuahuan Raven 6 1 4 6 4 5 15 3 

American Robin 5 2 2 2 2 0 3 0 

Northern Mockingbird 4 6 4 0 0 3 2 5 

Loggerhead Shrike 2 2 1 6 6 8 0 3 

Cassin's Sparrow 110 90 77 112 130 148 157 149 

Lark Sparrow 15 4 6 6 2 6 4 0 

Lark Bunting 56 9 6 2 1 0 0 16 

Grasshopper Sparrow 40 45 28 33 31 16 24 15 

Red-winged Blackbird 0 0 6 2 1 0 0 16 

Western Meadowlark 151 202 196 182 192 142 194 158 

Brewer's blackbird 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 

Common Grackle 0 13 3 2 0 0 4 0 

Brown-headed Cowbird 0 3 0 1 2 1 2 0 

Bullock's Oriole 5 7 2 2 6 4 7 5 

House Sparrow 16 0 8 12 18 26 15 21 

30 
Using the Species Accounts 

This book describes the status of 342 

bird species known to have occurred on 

Cimarron NG and surrounding Morton 

County, Kansas, plus 13 unconfirmed bird 

species. 

The species accounts are based on a 

data set that consists of about 14,000 bird I 

records. The authors compiled these 

records by systematically reviewing the 

ornithological literature, historical documents, Santa Fe Trail journals, and computer printouts of museum holdings. In 

addition, unpublished bird records for the 

area were generously provided by ornithologists and birders. The species accounts 

include information about relative abundance, nesting records, migration dates, 

and high counts for each bird species. For 

many species, additional information is 

provided in a "Remarks" section. This section provides further explanations or caveats about the status of individual 

sightings, information about name 

changes, and so on. 

Citations are given for data taken from 

published articles, reports, or books. When 

no formal citation is provided, it indicates 

that the information was gleaned from 

unpublished field notes, personal communications, rare bird reports, telephone 

hotline transcripts, newsletters, and other 

such informal sources. Typically, names of 

observers are given for unusual records 

when known. 

The purpose of the book is to provide 

useful and interesting information to visiting birders or those considering a birding 

trip to Morton County. Because this book 

represents a comprehensive compilation 

of all the known bird records for Morton 

County, the authors trust that it will have 

value as a technical reference for people 

studying the region's birds. Finally, in spite 

of the thousands of existing Morton County 

bird records, many gaps in our knowledge 

still exist. For example, few records exist 

OrnltMloglcal History and the Birds 

between the end of the Christmas Bird 

Count period and the beginning of April. 

Summer records are also relatively scarce. 

Of 342 confirmed species, 97 species have 

been seen five or fewer times. This partly 

reflects the central location that attracts 

vagrants from both the east and west, but 

it also indicates the infrequent birding in 

the area. With more birding effort many of 

these species could be upgraded to a more 

common status. The authors hope this book 

will stimulate an interest in conducting 

field work to gain a better understanding 

of the region's birdlife. 

Definitions of Terms Used in 

the Species Accounts 

Status 

The "encounterability" of the species. 

This depends on both the species' abundance and its conspIcuousness. Some species may be present in large numbers but 

may be very difficult to see (e.g., owls, 

nightjars, rails, some types ot sparrows), 

Conversely, some species may be present 

in relatively low numbers but may be very 

conspicuous (e.g., hawks, herons). 

These abundance categories are most 

significant when applied to land birds, 

especially the passerines. Because Morton 

County has so little surface water or wetlands, waterfowl and marsh birds are often difficult to find. Many waterbirds on 

the county checklist are common migrants 

on the High Plains and would be expected 

during the proper seasons but are nevertheless very rare in Morton County. 

Abundant 

Large numbers (more than 100) can be 

found every day, in the proper habitat, by 

a competent observer (Cassin's Sparrow, 

Western Meadowlark, Bullock's Oriole). 

31 
Part 3 

Common 

Ten to 25 individuals can be found 

every day, in the proper habitat, by a 

competent observer (Red-tailed Hawk, 

Blue Grosbeak, Rock Wren, Common Yellowthroat). 

Uncommon 

The species, being hard to find, can be 

missed in a day in the proper habitat by a 

competent observer. Small numbers (l10 individuals) are not unexpected 

(Scaled Quail, Lesser Prairie-Chicken, 

Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Curvebilled Thrasher). 

Rare 

These birds are usually missed on any 

given day and are seen only a few times a 

year (Eared Grebe, Greater Roadrunner, 

Cassin's Kingbird). 

Very Rare 

Not seen some years, these species have 

occurred more than five times (Steller's 

Jay, Western Tanager, Sage Thrasher, 

Rufous-crowned Sparrow). 

Accidental 

Five or fewer records document the 

species (Pyrrhuloxia, Canyon Wren, 

White-winged Scoter, Red Phalarope). 

Other Reported Species 

This category includes species for which 

some evidence exists that they may have 

occurred in Morton County. Many of these 

species may have been correctly identified, but the circumstances of the sighting 

or the subsequent documentation did not 

meet the criteria for acceptance by the 

Kansas Bird Records Committee. Or, in 

some cases, these reports have not been 

32 

submitted to the Kansas Bird Records Committee, but accounts of the sighting were 

published or widely communicated. 

Species Accounts 

Gaviiformes - Loons 

I Gaviidae - Loons 

Common Loon (Gavia immer) 

Status: Accidental; three records. Long 

(935) found a specimen on the prairie 

about one-half mile north of the Cimarron 

River on 9 November 1934. A large hole in 

the sternum was probably made by a bullet, and Long reasoned that the loon was 

probably shot on the river and had flown 

away from the river before dying. The 

skeleton is preserved at the University of 

Kansas. A Common Loon in basic plumage was seen at the Elkhart sewage ponds 

on 11 May 1991 and on 4 May 1996. 

Remarks: Morton County does not 

have any natural bodies of water with 

enough acreage or depth to attract significant numbers of diving birds. Although 

many species of loons, grebes, and diving 

ducks probably migrate overhead in fair 

numbers, few individuals stop in the 

county; and those that do tend to stay only 

briefly. 

Podicipediformes - Grebes 

Podicipedidae - Grebes 

Pied-billed Grebe 

(Podi/ymbus podiceps) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Dates range 

from 27 April through 13 May and from 8 

September through 27 October. 

High Counts: Six on 4 May 1996. 

Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) 

Status: Accidental; five records. One 

bird was seen on 14 May 1985, and the 

other sightings occurred 10-25 September. 
Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

12 April to 27 May and from 28 August to 

20 October. 

High Counts: Five on 27 September 

1986 and three on 28 August 1993, all at 

Elkhart sewer ponds. 

Western Grebe 

(Aechmophorus occidentalis) 

Status: Accidental: one record. The 

head and neck of a single dead bird were 

found at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 5 

May 1996. 

Clark's Grebe (Aechmophorus clarki!) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Cable, 

Seltman, and Rader found, and observed 

at close range, one bird at the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 5 May 1996. 

Pelecaniformes - Frigatebirds, 

Boobies, Pelicans, Cormorants 

Pelecanidae - Pelicans 

White Pelican 

(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Single 

birds were seen on the Elkhart sewer ponds 

on 11 September 1992, 21-22 September 

1985, and 21 September 1986. The Smiths 

reported a flock of 18 on 7 April 1995 that 

remained for over a week. 

Phalacrocoracidae - Cormorants 

Double-crested Cormorant 

(Phalacrocorax auritus) 

Status: Accidental; five records. Single 

birds were found on 25 April 1968, 1 May 

1983, 11 September 1992, 3-4 May 1995, 

and 3-4 May 1996. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Ciconiiformes - Storks, Herons, 

Ibises 

Ardeidae - Herons 

American Bittern 

(Botaurus lentiginosus) 

Status: Accidental; three records. 

Charles Ely collected one specimen at 

Middle Spring on 15 April 1967. The 

Grabers reported one on 5 May 1950. One 

record documents the species on 21 September 1986. 

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, rare summer and winter resident. One University 

of Kansas specimen was taken by Long 

from the Cimarron River on 9 November 

1934. Records exist for each month of the 

year. It has been recorded on Christmas 

Bird Counts in 1979, 1980, 1989, and 1995. 

A bird seen at the sewer ponds on 22 

January and again on 20 February may 

have over-wmtered. 

Nesting Records: No confirmed 

records. One adult was seen by an old nest 

on 28 May 1978. 

High Counts: 10+ on 1 September 1990. 

Remarks: Morton Countv seems to 

lack sufficient aquatic life to support a 

breeding population of herons. 

Great Egret (Casmerodius a/bus) 

Status: Accidental; three records. One 

record is from 21 September 1986. Individuals seen on 5 September and 11 September 1992 may have been the same bird. 

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 

Status: Very rare; six records. Three 

spring records date from 8 to 15 May, and 

three late summer records range from 11 

to 21 September. 

Little Blue Heron (Egretta caeru/ea) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Moore 

observed the bird on 21 September 1986. 

33 
Part 3 

Cattle Egret (Bubu/eus ibis) 

Status: Accidental; three records. One 

bird stayed 22-25 May 1979, one was 

sighted on 11 September 1992, and one 

bird visited the Elkhart sewer ponds 21-22 

September 1985. 

Green Heron (Butorides vireseens) 

Status: Very rare migrant and summer 

resident. Few recent records exist. Dates 

ranged from 17 April through 8 August 

with one late record on 5 October 1991. 

Nesting Records: A nest with four eggs 

was found on 3 June 1968. 

Remarks: This species was called 

"Green Heron" until 1982. At that time, 

the species was combined with the Striated Heron (Butorides striatus), a species 

not found in North America. The name 

"Green-backed Heron" was assigned to 

this combined species, and this name appeared in all field guides published after 

that date. Additional field studies and 

lengthy discussions about the definition 

of "species" prompted a return to the earlier separation of the two birds as discrete 

species (1993). The name "Green Heron" 

is now restored. 

Black-crowned Night-Heron 

(Nycticorax nyeticorax) 

Status: Rare migrant. Spring dates 

range from 2 April to 27 May, summerautumn dates from 21 August through 19 

September. 

High Counts: 12 on 3 May 1996. 

Out of Season: One midsummer record 

on 21 July 1979 by Ports. 

Remarks: Black-crowned NightHerons have been seen most often near 

the Elkhart sewer ponds, roosting in 

nearby shelterbelts, and in the Elkhart 

Cemetery. 

Yellow-crowned Nig ht-Heron 

(Nyetanassa vio/aeea) 

Status: Accidental; four records. The 

Grabers found one on 22 May 1950. One 

34 

sub-adult was at the Point of Rocks Pond 

on 13 July 1973. Ports (1978) found one on 

3 June 1978, and an immature was found 

in an Elkhart alley on 31 August 1991. 

Threskiornithidae - Ibises, 

Spoonbills 

I Threskiornithinae - Ibises 

White-faced Ibis (P/egadis ehihi) 

Status: Rare migrant; about 10 records. 

Spring dates range from 17 April to 20 

June, and summer-autumn dates from 11 

to 21 September. 

High Counts: The Smiths reported seeing a flock of 125 on 25 April 1996. A group 

of 125 was seen 2 May 1996. A flock of 75-

80 were at the Elkhart sewer ponds 17 

April 1985. A more typical flock of seven 

was at the same location 18 May 1987. 

Remarks: White-faced Ibis was not 

recorded in Morton County prior to 1982 

but has been reported most years since. 

During this same period, Ibis populations 

have risen dramatically at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area (Kansas Department 

of Wildlife and Parks) and Quivira National Waterfowl Refuge (USDI Fish and 

Wildlife Service), both in central Kansas. 

Further, the number of sightings has increased across the High Plains. In Morton 

County migrant White-faced Ibises have 

limited resting areas because of scarce surface water, but flocks occasionally stop 

briefly in irrigated or flooded fields or at 

farm ponds. This species may become more 

common in the future but is presently 

listed as threatened in Kansas, primarily 

because its nesting locations are vulnerable to disturbance. 

Anseriformes - Waterfowl 

Anatidae - Swans, Geese, Ducks 

Anserinae - Swans, Geese 

Tundra Swan (Cygnus eo/umbianns) 

Status: Accidental winter visitor. Two 

Tundra Swans first reported by Lawrence 
and Ruth Smith at the Elkhart sewer ponds 

on 1 December 1989 stayed through the 

month. They were last seen flying over the 

Wilburton Crossing on the Cimarron CBC 

on 30 December 1989. 

Greater White-fronted Goose 

(Anser albifrons) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Two I 

spring records include two birds on 2 

March 1986 and one on 13 May 1995. Two 

fall records are from 27 September 1954 

and 30 October 1988. 

Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) 

Status: Rare migrant; one winter 

record. Dates range from 21 February to 2 

April and from 30 October to 11 November. 

High Counts: A flock of 30 was seen 

flying overhead south of the North Fork 

on 11 November 1989. The flock contained 

one blue-form individual. A flock of 125, 

including 20 "blue" geese, was seen on the 

Cimarron CBC on 3 January 1995. 

Ross' Goose (Chen rossii) 

Status: Accidental. Two birds were 

counted on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1995. One bird found by the Smiths 

on 20 February 1995 was seen sporadically up to 21 March 1995. 

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates range from 10 February 

to 23 April and from 27 September through 

3 January. 

High Counts: Gene Young found 450 

on 15 November 1992. A flock of 250 was 

found on the Cimarron CBC of 27 December 1975. 

Remarks: Although Canada Geese 

probably migrate over Morton County in 

large numbers, they are seldom seen on 

the ground. No records document the species between 23 April and 27 September. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Anatinae - Ducks 

Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 

Status: Very rare migrant. A pair on 18 

March 1995 was reported by the Smiths. 

Eight records range from 15 September to 

15 November. One male specimen was 

collected on 11 November 1979. 

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, rare winter resident. Dates range from 18 February 

to 25 May and from 29 August to 3 December. The species has been found on only 

three Cimarron CBC's. 

High Counts: 70 on 24 February 1995. 

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 

Status: Common migrant and winter 

resident, uncommon summer resident. 

Nesting Records: Records document at 

least three nestings plus additional early 

summer sightings of suspected breeders. 

Eight broods were recorded by Thompson, 

White. and Schwilling on 18 May 1978. 

Ports found a nest with three eggs on 23 

May 1979. One record from 2 July 1988 is 

the only mid-summer report for the species. 

High Counts: 34 on 1 January 1982. 

This low count is a result of poor recordkeeping by observers. Large flocks of several hundred birds are known to pass 

through the area during migration. 

Remarks: The Mallard is the most common duck in Morton County and can be 

expected in any season. Opportunistic 

breeders on the High Plains, it can be 

expected to breed in Morton County following wet springs but may be absent in 

drought years. 

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, one winter record. Dates range from 18 February 

to 17 May and from the very early date of 

29 July through 30 October. One bird was 

seen on 3 January 1995. 

35 
Part 3 

High Counts: 100 were on the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 18 February 1995. 

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) 

Status: Common migrant, rare in summer. Most records fall within 2 April to 29 

May and from 15 August to 17 November. 

Only four records exist for June and July, 

and one of those was a pair seen by Cable 

at the Elkhart sewage ponds on 30 June 

Ilj92. 

Nesting Records: No records exist, although it seems possible that this species 

could nest in the county. 

High Counts: 20 on 5 May and also 19 

September. Larger flocks have occurred 

and would be expected during a normal 

migration. 

Out of Seas on: One record by the Smiths 

on 7 February 1991 indicates an unusually 

early arrival for a Blue-winged Teal, but 

1991 was a very warm winter with many 

waterfowl arriving very early throughout 

Kansas. 

Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) 

Status: Very rare spring migrant and 

summer visitor. Spring dates range from 

12 April through 18 May. Two summer 

records include a single bird on a farm 

pond on 15 August 1978 and a pair at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds on 30 June 1992. 

Remarks: A hybrid Blue-wingedXCinnamon Teal male was seen at the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 18 May 1987. This individual had the typical cinnamon coloration of a Cinnamon Teal except for spotting on the breast and an almost complete 

white facial disc. 

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) 

Status: Common migrant. Dates range 

from 18 February to 8 June and from 1 

A ugust through 30 November. 

High Counts: A flock of 171 birds was 

discovered at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 

4Mayl996,aflockof1250n 14 April 1990, 

and 60 on 2 April 1994. 

36 

Gadwall (Anas strepera) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 26 February to 14 May and 

from 8 September to 1 November. One 

specimen collected on 30 June is the only 

,summer record. 

Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A male 

was found among a flock of American 

Wigeons at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 10 

March 1995. It was seen by several addItional observers that day but was absent 

the followmg mornmg. A Eurasian Wigeon 

had wintered at Amarillo, Texas just prior 

to this sighting. 

American Wigeon (Anas americana) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, rare in 

winter. Dates range from 26 February to 

27 May and from 8 September to 16 November. The species has been recorded 

four times on the Cimarron CBC, ranging 

from 29 December to 2 January. 

High Counts: 20 on 14 April 1990. 

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

18 February to 26 May and from 8 September to 30 November. 

High Counts: 10 on 10 November 1992. 

Redhead (Aythya americana) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 18 February to 27 May and 

from 29 August to 17 November. 

High Counts: 24 on 24 February 1995 

and 11 on 10 November 1992. 

Out of Season: Two pairs seen at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds on 30 June 1990 constitute the only summer record. 

Ring-necked Duck (Aythya col/aris) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

31 March to 20 May and from 25 September to 30 November. 

High Counts: 34 on 10 November 1994. 
Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) 

Status: Accidental; four records. A 

report from 28 March 1983 by Lehman, a 

pair seen by Rader and Seltman on 14 

April 1990, and a male on the Elkhart 

sewer ponds from 22 February to 8 March 

1995 document the species in late WInter 

and early spring. Smith reported one bird 

on 17 November 1985. 

Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 18 February to 26 May and 

from 15 September to 17 November. 

High Counts: 9 on 10 November 1994. 

Surf Seater (Me/anitta perspicillata) 

Status: Accidental. One bird on the 

Elkhart sewer ponds was seen by Crawford 

and Erickson on 6 May 1995 though it had 

been reported several days earlier by an 

unknown observer. 

White-winged Seater (Me/anitta fusca) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A group 

of four birds (1 adult male, 2 adult females 

and 1 immature male) was seen by Patti at 

Elkhart sewer ponds on 3 November 1986. 

Common Goldeneye 

(Bucepha/a c/angu/a) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

bird was seen on 9 November 1991 and 

another on 29 December 1984. 

Remarks: Common Goldeneyes are 

very common on large bodies of water on 

the High Plains during winter so they can 

be expected again. They no doubt migrate 

across the area in high numbers, but the 

small ponds available in Morton County 

are apparently unattractive to this species. 

Bufflehead (Bucepha/a a/beo/a) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Dates range 

from 10 March to 4 May and from 20 

October to 17 November. One record from 

the Cimarron CBC on 3 January 1995 is 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

remarkable because this species is very 

rare anywhere in Kansas in mid-winter. 

High Counts: Three on 28 April 1985, 

17 November 1985, and 14 April 1990. 

Hooded Merganser 

(Lophodytes cucullatus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. The 

Smiths found a lone bird on the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 10 March 1995. Rader saw 

a female there on 8 June 1996. 

Common Merganser 

(Mergus merganser) 

Status: Very rare migrant and winter 

visitor. Early dates include 31 March 1987 

and 25 February 1995. Only the 30 October 

1988 date documents the species in autumn. Common Mergansers have been 

recorded on the Cimarron CBC three times. 

High Counts: Eight on Cimarron CBC, 

31 December 1988. 

Out of Season: One bird at the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 30 May 1993 and another 

on 5 May 1996. 

Remarks: Like Common Goldeneyes, 

Common Mergansers are common on large 

reservoirs of the High Plains in winter, but 

they visit Morton County only briefly and 

in small numbers. 

Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant; one winter record. Dates range from 24 February 

to 27 May and from 21 August to 23 November. 

Out of Season: The species has been 

recorded once on the Cimarron CBC - 29 

December 1984. 

Falconiformes - Vultures, Hawks, 

Eagles, Falcons 

Cathartidae - New World Vultures 

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 

Status: Common migrant, uncommon 

summer resident. Records are scattered 

37 
Part 3 

from 9 April to 5 October. A total of only 

seven mid-summer records suggests that 

few Turkey Vultures actually summer in 

Morton County, al though large roosts were 

present in 1978 and 1995. 

High Counts: A roost with 60-65 birds 

was found at the Cimarron River in June 

1995 by Jerry Cline. During the summer of 

1978,26-30 individuals roosted at the Boy 

Scout area (Ports 1978), 

Accipitridae - Osprey, Kites, 

Hawks, Harriers, Eagles 

Pandioninae - Osprey 

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Only two 

definite dates, 23 September 1993 and 5 

September 1994, both from the Elkhart 

sewer ponds. Several observers have reported seeing ospreys between mid-August and late September. Cable saw one 

perched on a telephone pole along US 56 

on or about 16 August, and in late September or early October he saw one flying low 

over the grasslands north of the Cimarron 

River. Rader has seen ospreys flying over 

Elkhart on two occasions in September. 

Remarks: Although no spring sightings 

have been reported, this species is probably a very rare spring migrant also. Rader 

has seen them twice in April in adjacent 

Stevens County, and they occur regularly 

on reservoirs throughout western Kansas 

in both spring and fall. As with many 

species closely associated with water, 

ospreys undoubtedly pass over Morton 

County in spring and fall but do not linger 

because large bodies of water are absent, 

Accipitrinae - Kites, Hawks, 

Harriers, Eagles 

Mississippi Kite 

(/ctinia mississippiensis) 

Status: Uncommon summer resident. 

Dates range from 10 May to 28 September. 

38 

Nesting Records: At least five nestings 

have been confirmed, but the species has 

probably nested annually since the 1960s. 

The first nest, which contained one downy 

chick, was found along the Cimarron River 

on 13 July 1964. Ports found eggs during 

the first week of June and counted 15 

active nests in 1978. 

High Counts: 35 adults were counted 

along the Cimarron River on 15 July 1973. 

Remarks: The Grabers dId not mention 

MiSSISSIppI Kites dUrIng their work in 

Morton County m the early 1950s, whIch 

suggests that the speCIes may be a falrly 

recent arrIval. In 1953 Schwi1ling noted 

that "kites apparently are mcreasmg rapidly and spreading ou t over much 0 t so U thwest Kansas ... " CSchwilling 1994). The first 

Morton County record comes trom Julv 

1963 when two pairs were observed along 

the Cimarron River. However, no evidence 

indicated these birds had bred in Morton 

County. The first nest was found the following summer and by 1973 they were 

rather common. In July 1973, Schwilling 

found about 35 along 14 miles of the Cimarron with several active nests and four or 

five more birds in Elkhart. Although hard 

evidence is lacking, it would appear that 

at least 10 pairs have nested annually since 

1973 and that the population is stable in 

Morton County. Recently, Schwilling 

noted a general decrease of kites in western Kansas since the 1980s and an accelerated decline in numbers since 1990. The 

Morton County population should be 

watched for signs of a similar decline. 

Morton County may have been the 

westernmost nesting location for this species on the High Plains at one time, but 

now the nesting range extends west up the 

Cimarron River into extreme northeast 

New Mexico and northwest of Morton 

County to at least Lamar, Colorado, in the 

Arkansas River drainage. In southwestern Kansas most towns have nesting Mississippi Kites, although in Morton County 

the kites seem to prefer the riparian habitat along the Cimarron River to the town 

of Elkhart. 
Bald Eagle (Ha/iaeetus /eucocepha/us) 

Status: Uncommon winter resident. 

Bald Eagles have been seen in small numbers on most Cimarron CBC's. Only three 

reported sightings have not been part of a 

CBC Dates range from 9 November to 2 

February. 

High Counts: Four were seen on the 31 

December 1988 CBC 

Remarks: The Bald Eagle is currently 

listed as threatened at the federal level but 

still as endangered by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Numbers have 

risen dramatically across the U.S. and 

Canada in the last two decades, and ornithologists believe the species has nearly 

recovered from its population crash that 

b.egan in mid-century. Any Bald Eagle 

encountered in Morton County should be 

left undisturbed because federal law forbids harming, pursuing, or even frightening a Bald Eagle in any manner. That CBC 

records so vastly outnumber other winter 

records indicates how rarely the area is 

birded during the winter except during 

the CBC 

Throughout most of its range this species is usually found near water. It strikes 

many birders as odd to flush a Bald Eagle 

from a dry river bed or to see one flying 

low over the sagebrush. In dry habitats 

such as those found throughout Morton 

County, Bald Eagles feed on mammals 

such as rabbits, squirrels and carrion of all 

sorts. 

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) 

Status: Common winter resident and 

rare summer resident. Records exist for 

every month. Large numbers of harriers 

winter in Morton County where they hunt 

for prey over grasslands and crop stubble, 

but in the spring numbers diminish rapidly and only a few remain to nest. 

Nesting Records: Ports found a female 

with five fledged young 12 miles north of 

Elkhart on 6 June 1978. Several other summer records probably refer to birds nesting in the area. 

OrnithOlogical History and t~le BirdS 

High Counts: Participants counted 61 

on the Cimarron eBC of 30 December 

1979. 

Remarks: Northern Harriers can be 

identified at great distances because of 

their unique style of flying low across 

fields and grasslands. E.H. Forbush in 

1927 noted U As [the harrier] bounds up 

I and down in the air, it seems to move more 

like a rubber ball than a bird." William 

Quayle described their erratic flight as if 

they " ... had just bought wings and were 

trying what sort of wings they were." 

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates range from 4 September to 10 May. Patti reported seeing one on 

13 July 1973. 

High Counts: Six were counted on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1990. 

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperil) 

Status: Very rare spring migrant; uncommon summer-autumn migrant and 

winter resident. No sprmg sightings were 

recorded until 1993; and very few spring 

records have been compiled SInce, but including one on 21 May 1995. Late dates 

range from 2 September to 3 January. 

High Counts: A total of about eight was 

seen by several groups of birders on 19 

September 1986. 

Remarks: Cooper's Hawks move 

through western Kansas in fair numbers 

each year, especially from late February 

through early April. Traditionally, Kansas birders have not traveled to Morton 

County until late April, leaving a gap in 

bird information between the CBC period 

of mid-winter and about mid-spring. This 

could explain the paucity of records. 

Northern Goshawk (Accipiter genti/is) 

Status: Accidental; two records. On 4 

December 1985 Seltman watched as a large 

immature bird with a prominent eye line 

flew into a cottonwood tree at the Boy 

39 
Part 3 

Scout area where it remained for at least 10 

minutes. One bird was reported by Corder 

on 12 September 1992. 

Remarks: Northern Goshawks are 

fairly regular winter visitors to various 

sites in western Kansas and probably occur more often in Morton County than 

these records suggest, especially during 

invasion winters. 

Broad-winged Hawk 

(Buteo platypterus) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Five spring 

dates range from 1 May to 18 May, and 

five summer-autumn dates range from 10 

September to 28 September. 

High Counts: Two were seen on both 

20 September 1986 and 16 September 1989. 

Out of Season: Ports documented an 

immature bird hunting over grasslands 

near the Cimarron River on 11 June 1978. 

His report (Ports 1978) contains a good 

description, but this species is completely 

unexpected in southwestern Kansas in 

June. 

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsom) 

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates range from 2 

April to 8 October. 

Nesting Records: The Grabers found a 

pair building a nest near K-27 on 5 May 

1950 for the first nesting record. Ely found 

a nest on 12 May 1962. The Lewises found 

a nest on 5 May 1973. Ports (1978) found 

two nests in 1978 and at least three nests in 

1979. Egg dates were as early as 25 May 

and young fledged as early as 20 July. 

Schwilling found four nests on 21 May 

1990. A survey of all trees away from the 

river corridor on the grasslands in 1995 

produced 18 Swainson's Hawk nests. 

High Counts: 30 were found on 19 

September 1986. Larger numbers would 

not be unexpected during migration. 

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 

Status: Common resident. The local 

population is supplemented by wintering 

40 

individuals beginning in early fall. 

Nesting Records: Red-tailed Hawks 

are early nesters and therefore were not 

thoroughly detected by the various summer studies of Morton County birds. Numerous reports of juveniles seen in late 

May and early June most likely were of 

young fledged locally. Ports (1979) found 

I tour recently fledged juveniles hunting 

with one parent near Rolla on 13 June 

1979. Schwillmg (991) reported a Redtailed Hawk feeding young m a nest 63 

miles east of Elkhart Crossmg on 14 June 

1991-

High Counts: 28 were counted on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989. 

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo rega/is) 

Status: Common resident from fall 

through early spring, rare summer resident. 

Nesting Records: One pair of Ferruginous Hawks has probably nested more or 

less continuously since 1978 in southwestern Morton County. Ports found two nestlings west of Elkhart on 4 May 1979 (Ports 

1979). Smith photographed two large nestlings on 18 June 1985. A nest four miles 

west of Elkhart discovered by Mike and 

Ellen Rader in 1993 was destroyed by a 

severe thunderstorm about 4 July. Cable 

and Seltman found carcasses of two fledglings beneath the nest on 14 July. Three 

pairs nested in Morton County in 1995. 

High Counts: 63 were counted on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989, and 

45 were reported on the CBC of 30 December 1991. This CBC often has the national 

high count for Ferruginous Hawks, meaning that the wintering population may be 

as concentrated in Morton County as anywhere else in the U.S. 

Remarks: The Ferruginous Hawk is 

North America's largest buteo and is a 

powerful hunter. It usually associates 

closely with prairie dogs and often nests 

near their towns. However, this does not 

necessarily seem to be the case on 

Cimarron NG. 
OmithotoBical History and the Birds 

Swainson's Hawk showing characteristic unfeathered feet and bib. Photo by Bob Gress. 

41 
Part 3 

When hunting prairie dogs, this species flies in low and fast like a jet on a 

bombing run, in a sense flying under the 

"radar" of the ever-alert prairie dogs. 

Animals looking the wrong way or those 

that do not respond quickly enough to 

their neighbors' alarm barks are often 

plucked right from their burrow entrances. 

Golden Eagles also use this technique when 

hunting prairie dogs. 

Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) 

Status: Uncommon winter resident. 

Dates range from 15 October through 28 

March. Some birds may linger into April 

or early May some years, but no records 

currently exist for these months. 

High Counts: 17 were recorded on the 

Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1993, and 

16 were recorded on the CBC's of 31 December 1983 and 30 December 1989. 

Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 

Status: Accidental in spring and summer; uncommon autumn-winter resident. 

Dates range from 15 October to 6 February. Two spring records and a summer 

record fall outside the normal occurrence 

dates. Smith saw one bird on 27 April 1992 

and Corder saw another on 28 April 1992. 

Ports (1979) saw an immature Golden Eagle 

in western Morton County on both 4 June 

and 12 June 1979. 

High Counts: 12 were counted on the 

Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1986. 

Remarks: The presence of non-breeding immatures during the breeding season is unusual but not completely unexpected. Morton County would appear to 

contain good Golden Eagle habitat; and 

although no cliff nest sites are available, 

isolated cottonwood trees such as those 

used by other nesting eagles elsewhere in 

Kansas are readily available. Golden 

Eagles nest in fair numbers in the higher 

elevations just 50 miles west of Morton 

County. 

While camped along the Cimarron in 

November 1934, Long saw two Golden 

42 

Eagles. One "flew into the grove near our 

tent. The men at the ranchhouse shot at it 

with rifles, but the range was too great ... " 

(Long 1935). Formerly persecuted as a 

threat to livestock, Golden Eagles are now 

fully protected under state and federal 

,. laws. Shooting at them with rifles is now 

both socially unacceptable behavior and 

I illegal. 

Falconidae - Falcons 

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 

Status: Common resident with numbers supplemented by migrants. 

Nesting Records: Only four nestings 

have been recorded. Ports (1978) found a 

pair at a cavity along the Cimarron River 

on 3 June 1978. He also discovered two 

adults with five juveniles at an old house 

west of Wilburton on 20 July 1978. 

Schwilling reported finding one addled 

kestrel egg from the prevIOUS year in a 

nest box on 26 February 1991. Later in 

1991, a pair successfully nested in the same 

box. 

High Counts: A group of birders found 

about 50 throughout the county on 19 

September 1986. Kestrels can also be quite 

common in winter as shown by the 36 seen 

on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 

1977. 

Merlin (Falco columbarius) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates range from 10 September to 27 May. 

High Counts: 16 were seen on 2 January 1993. Seven were seen on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1979, and eight 

were seen on the CBC of 28 December 1991 

Remarks: An immature male collected 

by the Grabers on 5 March 1950 made the 

first record. Merlins have been recorded in 

almost every year since 1974. In migration 

Merlins often are seen in Elkhart where 

migrant passerines are congregated, but 

in winter they are most often seen in open 
fields where they hunt longspurs and 

Horned Larks. A very dark (melanistic?) 

individual was seen near the Elkhart Cemetery by Rader and Seltman on 27 October 

1990. 

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 

Status: Very rare migrant; seven 

records. One was reported on the Cimarron CBC of 8 January 1974. The Grabers 

reported two individuals on 1 May 1950. 

Three other spring records span 5-11 May. 

Two summer records include an immature bird seen by Seltman at the Richfield 

Cemetery on 11 September 1983 and an 

immature bird harassing shorebirds at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds seen by Cable on 1 

August 1995. 

Remarks: The Peregrine Falcon is still 

listed as endangered on both state and 

federal lists; but like the Bald Eagle, this 

species has recovered from its former decline and may soon be upgraded to threatened. 

Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) 

Status: Accidental in spring and summer; uncommon fall and winter resident. 

La te dates begin as early as 19 August and 

extend through 8 March. Four records exist from 1 April to 8 June. 

High Counts: 11 were recorded on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1979. 

Remarks: Prairie Falcons nest as near 

as the Carrizo Creek area in neighboring 

Baca County, Colorado, so they could 

wander into Morton County during the 

breeding season. 

Galliformes - Grouses, Pheasants, 

Quails 

Phasianidae - Grouses, Pheasants, 

Quails 

Phasianinae - Pheasants 

Ring-necked Pheasant 

(Phasianus colchicus) 

Status: Common resident. 

Ornithological History and the Bllds 

Nesting Records: No nesting records 

exist for this speCies in Morton- County 

However, direct and indirect eVIdence 

clearly establish the species as a common 

breeder in Morton Countv. 

High Counts: 101 bird~ were recorded 

,. on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 

1982. 

Remarks: Citizens from southwest Kansas, southeast Colorado, the Oklahoma 

panhandle and north Texas have initiated 

a movement to break away from their 

current states and become a separate 51st 

state. At a recent convention delegates 

selected Ring-necked Pheasant as their 

State Bird. The selection of this introduced 

species was undoubtedly influenced by 

the positive economic impact this region 

receives from the fall influx of pheasant 

hunters. 

Tetraoninae - Grouses 

Sage Grouse 

(Centrocercus urophasianus) 

Status: Extirpated. 

Remarks: Goss (1886) reports that AsSIstant Secretary of State William T. 

Cavanaugh shot Sage Grouse near the 

"southwest comer of the state" while bison hunting in the early 1870s. Sutton 

(1967) reported them from nearby Cimarron County, Oklahoma in July 1920. 

Lawrence Smith clearly remembers that in 

the early 1930s, just prior to the major dust 

storms, that his brother-in-law shot a Sage 

Grouse a few miles west of Wilburton 

while hunting prairie-chickens. Smith, just 

a small boy at the time, was sent to retrieve 

the Sage Grouse and recalls a mighty 

struggle as he tried to carry the huge bird 

(personal communication). The distinctive 

markings and size left no doubt in their 

minds about the identity of the bird. The 

nearly complete destruction of habitat in 

Morton County during the Dust Bowl years 

would have eliminated any remnant popu1ation. 

43 
Part 3 

44 

Male Lesser Prairie-Chicken in full courtship display. Photo courtesy of Kansas Department 

of Wildlife and Parks. 
,'. ~.'. 

Lesser Prairie-Chicken 

(Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) 

Status: Uncommon resident. 

Nesting Records: Ports (1979) found at 

least four nests in 1979. One nest east of 

Wilburton held 12 eggs on 18 May 1979, 

was still being incubated on 30 May, and 

contained all nestlings just out of their 

shells on 1 June. A second nest near this I 

same location contained 13 eggs on 26 

May 1979 that had all hatched by 30 May. 

High Counts: 58 were found on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989. The 

Smiths surveyed lek sites and found 50 

birds on 28 March 1995. 

Remarks: These prairie grouse were 

considered to be abundant by Santa Fe 

Trail travelers through southwestern Kansas. Early Morton County settlers would 

pull wagons behind them when hunting 

prairie-chickens and would have no 

trouble filling them. In 1904, a group of 

15,000-20,000 birds was observed around 

one grain field in nearby Seward County 

(Bent 1932). During the Dust Bowl years, 

the numbers were reduced considerably. 

The Lesser Prairie-Chicken is today believed to occupy only about 10 percent of 

its historical range throughout North 

America (Jerry Cline, personal communication). Plowing and overgrazing grasslands have caused a dramatic decline in 

numbers. Cimarron NG supports a significant portion of the remaining world 

population and is considered one Of. t~e 

premier spots to observe Lesser PraIn~­

Chickens (Jerry Cline, personal commumcation). 

The Forest Service operates two blinds 

for the viewing of prairie-chickens. These 

provide birders and naturalists the ~pportunity to see birds displaying on theIr leks. 

The leks are generally active from about 

February into early June with the peak of 

activity normally coming in April and early 

May. As the females begin to nest and 

gradually stop coming to the leks, the 

activity of the males subsides. Outside the 

spring mating season, Lesser PrairieChickens can be very hard to find. In early 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

fall many birds can be seen flying to and 

from sorghum fields to feed: but as hunting season opens in early November, the 

birds become secretive. 

In 1995, only 14 active leks were known 

on Cimarron NG. The numbers of Lesser 

Prairie-Chickens have been declining on 

Cimarron and throughout their range 

(Jerry Cline, personal communication). 

Estimated population density has declined 

from 12.6 birds/sq. mi. in 1990 to a low of 

1.4 birds/sq. mi. in 1994 (Jerry Cline, personal communication). Conventional wisdom would suggest that the reseeding of 

88,000 acres of Morton County cropland 

to native grass under the Conservation 

Reserve Program would have had a positive effect on grassland species such as the 

Lesser Prairie-Chicken, but the newly 

seeded fields bear little resemblance to the 

sand-sage prairie that this species prefers. 

It may be that the CRP fields have actually 

limited the food sources for Lesser PrairieChicken while providing excellent habitat 

for animals that prey on them, such as 

coyotes. Habitat destruction throughout 

this bird's range has been an obvious factor m its general decline, but today numbers are still decreasing in areas with seemingly suitable habitat. In response, Kansas 

Department of Wildlife and Parks has 

shortened the hunting season and decreased the bag limit on this species. This 

action alone, however, may have little effect on chicken numbers as even states that 

do not allow hunting of this species are 

experiencing the same long-term decline 

(Jerry Cline, personal communication). 

In Morton County the Lesser PrairieChicken primarily inhabits the sand-sage 

prairie south of the Cimarron River, a strip 

about two to five miles wide. The overall 

population is unknown but is presumed 

to be several hundred birds. 

Meleagridinae - Turkeys 

Wild Turkey (Me/eagris gallopavo) 

Status: Uncommon resident. 

45 
'.""," 

Part 3 

Nesting Records: Liesveld found a nest 

with 12 eggs on 13 May 1967; the Lewises 

found a nest with 14 eggs on 7 May 1973; 

and Cable found a nest with four eggs 

below Point of Rocks on 30 May 1988. In 

recent years, the discovery of nests or the 

sighting of young birds has become fairly 

frequent. 

High Counts: 15 birds were found on 

the Cimarron CBC of 29 December 1978. 

Remarks: The Wild Turkey was a native member of Morton County's avifauna 

prior to settlement In fact, it is one of the 

most frequently mentioned wildlife species In the journals of Santa Fe Trail traveJers through southwestern Kansas. 

Overhunting probably exhrpated thisspecies soon after the arrival of settlers. Beginning in the mid -19605, turkey numbers 

began rebounding in southwestern Kansas, partly because of an active restocking 

program in Kansas and partly because of 

a simultaneous recovery in adjacent areas 

of Oklahoma and Colorado. 

Odontophorinae - Quails 

Northern Bobwhite 

(Colinus virginianus) 

Status: Common resident 

Nesting Records: Ports (1978) found 

three juveniles taking a dust bath on 21 

July 1978. No nest has ever been reported. 

High Counts: 159 were found on the 

Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1982. 

Remarks: Bobwhite are seen in all habitats in Morton County but are the only 

quail likely to be encountered along the 

Cimarron River. The numbers seem to be 

very dynamic. Schwilling noted a considerable increase from 1978 through 1991, 

but numbers were down in 1993 from the 

1991 peak (Schwilling 1994). 

Scaled Quail (Cal/ipepla squamata) 

Status: Uncommon resident. 

Nesting Records: A pair of specimens 

collected on 13 July 1964 showed physical 

46 

evidence of breeding. A pair along with 

eight half-grown chicks were seen by 

Seltman on 8 September 1984. 

High Counts: 213 were found on the 

Cimarron CBC of 28 December 1980, and 

119 were found on the CBC of 30 December 1977. 

Remarks: Scaled Quail numbers have 

Ishown wide fluctuations over the years 

with periods of remarkable abundance 

followed by equally remarkable scarcity. 

A very rare Northern Bobwhite x Scaled 

Quail hybrid was seen on the Cimarron 

CBC of 29 December 1978. 

Gruiformes - Rails, Cranes 

Rallidae - Rails 

Rallinae - Rails, Coots 

Black Rail (Lateral/us jamaicensis) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A small 

rail described as black with white spots on 

its back was seen well by George Moore 

and Lawrence Smith at a distance of 10 

feet on 17 October 1984 at the Point of 

Rocks Fish Ponds. 

Remarks: This species is known to 

breed in western Kansas; and a summering population has recently been discovered in the Arkansas River Valley in eastern Colorado, so this sighting is not totally 

unexpected, although the habitat in which 

it was seen is very atypical. 

King Rail (RaJ/us elegans) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Gene 

Young found two birds on 1 November 

1992. 

Virginia Rail (RaJ/us limicola) 

Status: Accidental. 

Nesting Records: The Grabers collected 

an adult male at a cattail marsh along the 

Cimarron River eight miles south of 

Richfield on 23 May 1950. The next day, 

they returned to the same location and 

found the surviving female with six small 
downy young. This record apparently was 

the first time Virginia Rail had been documented as a breeding bird in Kansas, although it is now known to breed elsewhere in the state. This remains the only 

record for Virginia Rail in Morton County. 

Remarks: Just as diving birds are scarce 

in Morton County because large bodies of 

water are absent, many marsh birds are I 

scarce because the county's wetlands are 

fragmented and small. The artificial fish 

ponds created by the Forest Service along 

the Cimarron River have good marsh habitat but are so often visited by fisherman 

and campers that birds are probably frightened away. Virginia Rails and Soras are 

regular migrants through the region and 

can be expected again. 

Sora (Porzana carolina) 

Status: Very rare spring migrant and 

accidental fall migrant. Six records fall 

between 10 May and 15 June. Gene Young 

reported one bird on 1 November 1992. 

American Coot (Fulica americana) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and accidental breeder. Dates range from 31 March 

to 21 June and from 4 September to 20 

October. 

Nesting Records: Rising found two 

pairs of American Coots, both with young, 

at ponds along the Cimarron River on 21 

June 1967. This remains the only nesting 

record for the county with no other 

sightings in either July or August. 

Out of Season: One very early migrant 

was found by the Smiths at the sewer 

ponds on 25 February 1995. 

Gruidae - Cranes 

Gruinae - Typical Cranes 

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Only 10 

sightings have been recorded, all falling 

between 5 October and 5 November. However, the Grabers (1951) reported that 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

throughout March 1950 they saw "thousands of these bIrds in flocks of several 

hundreds, flying over or standing in feedfields." Although their field work mcluded 

Hamilton and Meade Counties, they were 

in Morton County from March 1-12 and 

21-24; and they comment that they saw 

them "in all localities. " 

High Counts: Aside from the Grabers, 

other high counts include 100 reported by 

Smith on 13 October 1985, 145 seen by 

Schwilling on 31 October 1989, and 800 

seen by Young on 1 November 1992. 

Remarks: This bird is probably more 

common than the few records would indicate. The lack of spring records probably 

reflects the few birders visiting Cimarron 

NG during peak crane migration in March. 

Charadriiformes - Shorebirds 

Charadriidae - Lapwings, Plovers 

Charadriinae - Plovers 

Black-bellied Plover 

(Pluvialis squatarola) 

Status: Accidental; three records. Rader 

reported one at the Elkhart sewer ponds 

on 21 May 1995. Ports saw a bird in alternate plumage 21 miles north of Elkhart on 

31 July 1978, and Smith saw one at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds on 12 October 1985. 

Snowy Plover 

(Charadrius alexandrinus) 

Status: Accidental; three records. One 

bird was seen 13 May 1967, one was seen 

by many observers at the Elkhart sewer 

ponds 25 April 1992, and a third individual 

was found at the sewer ponds 3 May 1996. 

Remarks: The Snowy Plover is listed as 

threatened in Kansas. 

Semipalmated Plover 

(Charadrius semipalmatus) 

Status: Accidental; three records. The 

Smiths reported single individuals at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds on 12 October 1985, 3 

May 1995, and 13 May 1995. 

47 
Part 3 

Piping Plover (Charadrius me/odus) 

Status: Accidental; one record. One 

was seen at the Elkhart sewer ponds by the 

Smiths on 4 May 1985. A small breeding 

population exists in eastern Colorado so 

this species is not unexpeCted. 

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

resident. Dates range from 8 March 

through 23 November. 

Nesting Records: Ports (1978) found 

flightless young on 20 June 1978. 

High Counts: One flock of 91 was seen 

21 miles north of Elkhart by Ports on 12 

August 1978. 

Remarks: Killdeers aggressively defend their nests and young. Besides their 

well-known broken-wmg act to distract 

predators, they are also adept at preventing their ground nests from being trampled 

by grazing animals such as cattle or bison. 

A killdeer will stand between the nest and 

the threatening animal and call loudly 

while flapping its wings. Settlers reported 

that a killdeer parted a bison herd down 

the middle while defending its eggs! 

Mountain Plover 

(Charadrius montanus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and very 

rare breeder. Dates range from 4 May to 8 

June and from 25 July to 16 September. 

Nesting Records: On 4-5 May 1991 two 

pairs were found just south of the North 

Fork by KOS members, and many people 

observed their courtship displays. 

Shackford (1992, cited in Schwilling 1994) 

found indications of Mountain Plovers 

nesting in plowed fields in Morton and 

three other western Kansas counties. In 

Morton County, he observed males performing courtship calls and flights on 17 

May 1992. He concluded that they were 

much more common than previously reported. A pair of adults with two downy 

chicks were found by Schwilling in Point 

Rock Pasture on 5 June 1993. The exact 

location was four miles west of state high48 

way 27 and.9 miles south of state highway 

51. The adults were still present but with 

only one chick on 8 June 1993 when they 

were photographed by the Smiths. The 

plovers were not seen after that date. This 

was the first breeding record for Mountain Plover in Morton County and only the 

second recorded nesting in Kansas in about 

150 years. In 1994 Shackford iden tified three 

nest sites near Richfield. 

High Counts: Seltman photographed 

more than 30 west of Dermot on 7 August 

1982 and he tound 25 in a field one mile 

south of state highway 51, lust east of the 

Colorado line on 3 August 1991. Elghty 

tal] migrants were seen In a single field 

along state highway 51 on 4 August 1991 

by Rader. Schwilling reported about 200 

along state highway 51 on 17 September 

1993. 

Remarks: Shackford's observations are 

very intriguing. If Mountain Plovers are 

nesting in plowed fields, those fields may 

be functioning as ecological traps. The 

nest destruction and chick mortality is 

undoubtedly tremendous since the nesting coincides with the time farmers are 

working their fields. The Forest Service is 

planning to conduct intensive nest searches 

for this species in the next few years. 

Mountain Plover numbers have shown 

a downward trend since the late 1960s 

(Knopf 1994, Knopf and Rupert 1996). The 

bird is presently considered a Class 1 species of concern under the Endangered Species Act and would now be legally protected as a threatened species under that 

act but for the moratorium placed on further designations by Congress (F. Knopf, 

personal communication). Morton County 

was once within their breeding range, and 

hopefully a breeding population will become reestablished on Cimarron NG. 

Not long ago, Mountain Plovers were 

considered very rare migrants in Kansas; 

but recent discoveries suggest that they 

are common during late July and early 

August, especially in the fields along state 

highway 51. Mountain Plovers nest early 

and the adults and many juveniles apparently begin moving south in midsummer. 
Birders who travel to Morton County in 

late August and early September for the 

passerine migration miss the peak of 

Mountain Plover migration. 

Recurvirostridae - Stilts 

Black-necked Stilt 

(Himantopus mexicanus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. A 

single bird was at the Elkhart sewer ponds 

on 26 April 1986, and two were there on 20 

May 1995. 

American Avocet 

(Recurvirostra americana) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and sum-

-mer visitor. Dates range from 6 April to 21 

September. 

Nesting Records: Two adults and an 

imma ture were reported from the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 13 May 1992. It is unknown if these birds nested locally. 

High Counts: 17 on 1 August 1978. 

Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, 

Phalaropes 

Scolopacinae - Sandpipers 

Greater Yellowlegs 

(Tringa melanoleuca) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Dates range 

from 21 March to 4 May and from 11 

September to 27 October. 

High Counts: 15 were seen by Corder 

on 28 April 1985. 

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa f/avipes) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 2 April to 18 May and from 11 

July to 28 September. 

Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solita ria) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

25 April to 30 May and from 30 July to 19 

September. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

High Counts: Three were seen near 

Richfield Cemetery on 30 May 1981. 

Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

26 April to 5 May and from 30 June to 11 

September. 

High Counts: Six were seen on 11 September 1992 and five on 26 April 1986. 

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and very 

rare summer resident. Dates range from 

10 April to 8 June and from 11 July to 28 

September. 

Nesting Records: Ports (1978) found an 

agitated pair at a pond along the Cimarron 

River east of the Boy Scout area on 31 May 

1978, but no further evidence of nesting 

was noted. 

High Counts: Smith found 15-20 at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds on 13 May 1991. 

Upland Sandpiper 

(Bartramia longicauda) 

Status: Rare migrant, one summer 

record. Spring records document the species on 10 May 1973, 4 May 1995, and 4 

May 1996. Six summer-autumn records 

spread between 29 July and 25 September. 

One specimen collected on 29 June is preserved at University of Kansas. 

High Counts: Ports found 16 on 12 

August 1978. Five were seen on 4 May 

1996. 

Remarks: Many sightings have apparently gone unrecorded because Upland 

Sandpipers are regular fall migrants over 

Morton County. Birders familiar with their 

flight calls should have no trouble hearing 

them migrating overhead at night each 

July and August. Ports (1978) listed Upland Sandpiper as a fairly common migrant. Three birds heard flying over Point 

of Rocks by Seltman and Rader after sundown on 25 September 1993 were near the 

record late date of occurrence for Kansas. 

49 
Pan 3 

Long-billed Curlew. Photo by Bob Gress. 

Whimbrel (Numenius borealis) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Birders 

attending the KOS conference in Elkhart 

found 35 at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 3 

May 1996. Three were found there the next 

day, 4 May 1996. 

Remarks: This species is included on 

the U.S. Forest Service Checklist of Birds 

of the Cimarron NG, but we could find no 

record of this species prior to the May 1996 

sighting. 

Long-billed Curlew 

(Numenius americanus) 

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates are sea ttered 

from 30 March to 5 September. A skeleton 

in the University of Kansas collection is 

dated 21 August 1926. The first of several 

other specimens was taken on 27 June 

1927. 

Nesting Records: Two females with 

50 

enlarged ovaries were collected by the 

Grabers on 12 May 1950. A flightless 

downy chick was found west of Elkhart by 

Smith on 14 June 1978. A flightless juvenile was found northwest of Elkhart by 

Ports (1979) on 12 June 1979. Numerous 

territorial adults have been observed. This 

species probably nests in small numbers 

every year. 

High Counts: A flock of 24 spent two 

days at a farm pond 21 miles north of 

Elkhart on 12 August 1978, and 25-30 migrants were seen on 6 April1985. 

Out of Season: A single bird was seen 

in the southeast corner of Morton County 

by Patti and several other observers on the 

extraordinary date of 11 November 1989. 

This is the latest date for Kansas, but it 

occurred in a fall characterized by very 

warm and dry weather. 

Remarks: The generic name Numenius 

is from the Greek, meaning "new moon" 

as the bill shape was thought to resemble 
the crescent moon. Throughout history, 

curlews have been assocIated with death, 

black magic, supernatural destructive 

powers and other assorted evils. Terry 

Tempest Williams wrote, "When a curlew 

IS near, the air is stirred; they are aggresSIve ... Curlews cause guilt. You are reminded of your mtrusion, that you do not 

belong." 

Marbled Godwit (Limosa tedoa) 

Status: Accidental; four records. One 

bird was at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 23 

April 1985. One was at the same location 

25-27 April 1992, and another one was 

there on 4 May 1995. One was seen flying 

over Elkhart on 1 August 1995. 

Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) 

Status: Accidental; one record. One 

bird was seen at the Elkhart sewer ponds 

by many observers on 15 September 1984. 

Sanderling (Calidris alba) 

Status: Very rare migrant; seven 

records. The first record is from 13 July 

1977. Three spring records are for 28 April 

1985, 13 May and 21 May 1995. Summerautumn records incl ude three a t the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 11 September 1983, five 

on 25 September 1993 and two late migrants on 1 November 1992, one of which 

is now in the collection at Southwestern 

College. 

Semipalmated Sandpiper 

(Calidris pusil/a) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

28 April to 18 May and from 14 July to 28 

September. 

High Counts: Ports found 18 at a farm 

pond 21 miles north of Elkhart on 29 July 

1978. Eight were at the Elkhart sewer ponds 

on 14 July 1993. 

Western Sandpiper (Calidris maun) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

26 April to 15 May and from 14 July to 19 

September. 

High Counts: 75 were at the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 14 July 1993. 

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 23 April to 18 May and from 11 

July to 28 September. 

High Counts: 10 were at the Elkhart 

sewer ponds on 12 May 1991. 

White-rumped Sandpiper 

(Calidris fuscicollis) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

was seen on 10 May 1950, and another was 

seen by Seltman on 26 May 1984. 

Remarks: White-rumped Sandpipers 

are abundant each May in central Kansas. 

It is surprising that they have not been 

observed more often at 'the sewer ponds 

and other shorebird habitat in Morton 

County. 

Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdil) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 11 March to 21 May and from 

14 July to 21 September. 

High Counts: Seven were seen on 12 

August 1978. 

Pectoral Sandpiper 

(Calidris melanotos) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

31 March to 26 May and from 1 September 

to 12 October. 

Dunlin (Calidris alpina) 

Status: Accidental. The Smiths found 

two birds at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 8 

May 1993. 

Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

23 April to 21 May and from 24 July to 28 

September. 

51 
Part 3 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper 

(Tryngites subruficollis) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Ports 

found two birds at a farm pond 21 miles 

north of Elkhart on 29 July 1978. 

Short-billed Dowitcher 

(Umnodromus griseus) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Corder 

found one bird on 11 September 1992. 

Long-billed Dowitcher 

(Umnodromus scolopaceus) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

8 April to 1 May and from 24 July to 12 

October. 

High Counts: 10 were seen on 26 April 

1986. 

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) 

Status: Rare migrant and very rare 

winter resident. Dates range from 3 April 

to 10 May and from 5 September to 4 

January. Snipe have been recorded on three 

Cimarron CSC's. The species probably lingers into December and January when the 

weather is mild. 

High Counts: Three were seen 20 October 1984. 

American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A report by Stewart J. Adams on 16 April 1972 

published in Audubon Field Notes, 

26(4):776, is considered valid although no 

details of the sighting are known. 

Phalaropodinae - Phalaropes 

Wilson's Phalarope 

(Phalaropus tricolor) 

Status: Common migrant. Dates range 

from 10 April to 27 May and from 29 July 

to 29 September. 

High Counts: Observers estimated 300 

were at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 3 May 

52 

1996. Other counts include 50 on 4 and 5 

May 1990, 48 on 5 August 1978, and 30 on 

26 April 1986. 

Out of Season: An arrival on 11 March 

1995 was very early for this species. 

Remarks: Although Wilson's Phalaropes 

. are common, they are seen regularly only 

at the Elkhart sewer ponds. 

I Red-necked Phalarope 

(Phalaropus lobatus) 

Status: Rare migrant. The single spring 

record is from 18-20 May 1995. Summerautumn dates range from 25 August to 5 

October. 

High Counts: A flock of 18 was present 

on the Elkhart sewer ponds 21-28 September 1986. 

Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicaria) 

Status: Accidental; two· records. Cable 

and Seltman found one bird in basic plumage on 21 September 1985 at the Elkhart 

sewer ponds, where it remained until at 

least 1 October 1985. Two birds were at the 

same location on 16 September 1990. 

Laridae - Jaegers, Gulls, Terns 

Larinae - Gulls 

Franklin's Gull (Larus pipixcan) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 31 March to 27 May and from 

11 September to 10 October. 

High Counts: KOS birders counted 49 

at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 3 May 1996, 

and 20 were seen on 26 April 1986. 

Bonaparte's Gull (Larus philadelphia) 

Status: Accidental. Three were found 

on 3 May 1996, and several individuals 

were seen from 25 October to 2 November 

1984. 

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, very rare 

winter visitor. Dates range from 13 April 
to 20 May and from 1 September to 17 

Novemb~r. The four winter dates mclude 

29 December 1984 when 10 birds were 

recorded on the Cimarron CBC, two on 31 

December 1993, and one on 10 February 

1991. Several individuals lingered at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds from 18 February 

through March 1995. 

High Counts: 30 were recorded on 27 

October 1990. 

California Gull (Larus ca/ifornicus) 

Status: Accidental. One second-year 

bird was seen by several observers and 

photographed at the Elkhart sewer ponds 

on 16 August 1991. This record was accepted by the KOS Records Committee. 

Remarks: Prior to 1990, a California 

Gull in Morton County would have been 

very unlikely; but California Gulls have 

recently colonized the Arkansas River 

Valley in Colorado and are nesting at Blue 

Reservoir, less than 150 miles from Elkhart. 

Additional records are likely in the future. 

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) 

Status: Accidental. One bird was seen 

at the Elkhart sewer ponds during the 

Cimarron CBC of 29 December 1984. 

Remarks: Herring Gulls are common 

winter residents on many High Plams reserVOIrs. The scarcity of Morton County 

records is puzzling. 

Sabine's Gull (Xema sabint) 

Status: Accidental. Seltman photographed an adult in breeding plumage at 

the Elkhart sewer ponds on 26 May 1984. 

This is not only a remarkable record for 

Morton County but it is also one of only a 

very few spring records of Sabine's Gull in 

all of interior North America. An immature Sabine's Gull first seen at the Elkhart 

sewer ponds by Rader on 18 September 

1993 was observed by many members of 

the Wichita Audubon Society on 19 September and remained through 23 September. Although still unexpected atthislocaOrmttlologlcal History and the Birds 

tion, this record does fit the pattern of 

autumn vagrancy established by Sabine's 

Gulls in the intenor over the last few decades. 

Sterninae - Terns 

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

was reported by Smith at the Elkhart sewer 

ponds on 19 May 1985, and another was at 

the same location on 13 September 1985. 

Forster's Tern (Sterna forsten) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

bird was at the Elkhart sewer ponds on 11 

September 1983, and another was at the 

same location on 4 May 1995. 

Remarks: Regionally, Forster's Tern 

are common migrants so the lack of Morton 

County records is surprising. 

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 10 May to 27 May and from 11 

July to 28 September. 

High Counts: Ports counted 38 in a 

flooded field 18 miles north of Elkhart on 

18 July 1978. 

Remarks: Pnor to renovation of the 

Elkhart sewer ponds m the late 1980s, 

Black Terns were very regular and occasIOnally very abundant at that locatIOn, 

sometimes exceeding 200 birds. After construction of modern concrete-lined lagoons, the numbers of Black Terns 

dropped dramatically. 

Columbiformes - Pigeons 

Columbidae - Pigeons 

Rock Dove (Columba livia) 

Status: Common resident. 

Nesting Records: Apparently, no 

nestings have been recorded; but Rock 

Doves certainly nest in large barns and 

53 
Part 3 

abandoned buildings throughout the 

county and are abundant in the vicinity of 

Elkhart's grain elevators. 

High Counts: 105 were counted on the 

Cimarron CBC of 29 December 1984, and 

100 were seen on 10 October 1987. 

Remarks: Virtually all farmsteads and 

grain elevators in Morton County are 

graced with resident Rock Doves. Experienced and jaded birders often refer to such 

common introduced species as "junk 

birds" or "trash birds." This name-calling 

fails to recognize the merits of all bird 

species and our role in creating "junk" 

habitat. During WWII, the U.s. Army used 

50,000 Rock Doves. About 17,000 were 

parachuted to supporters of the Resistance 

in occupied Europe. One such "junk bird" 

saved an entire U.S. battalion behind enemy lines, losing an eye and a leg in the 

process. Medics fitted the bird with a 

wooden leg. To those soldiers, this species 

was definitely not a "trash" bird. 

White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A single 

bird visited an Elkhart feeder between 15 

November and 2 December 1995. 

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) 

Status: Abundant migrant and summer resident, uncommon winter resident. 

Nesting Records: Numerous nests have 

been found between 5 June and 17 July. 

Ports (1978) estimated an astonishing 

population of 74 territorial males per 100 

acres in riparian habitat with additional 

estimates of 10 males per 100 acres in 

sagebrush and six males per 100 acres in 

short-grass prairie. 

High Counts: Few observers have attempted to count all the Mourning Doves 

seen in one day. However, 125 were seen 

on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 

1976, and 123 were counted on the CBC of 

30 December 1979. Ports apparently 

counted 100 to 200 per day along census 

routes during both 1978 and 1979. 

54 

Common Ground-Dove 

(Columbina passerina) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Seltman 

observed a male Common Ground-Dove 

at length and at close range on 19 September 1992 at the Boy Scout area. This species 

'is rare in Kansas but has been previously 

documented in southwestern Kansas. 

Remarks: The very similar Inca Dove 

has begun to invade southwestern Kansas 

and may have bred in Finney County in 

1992, but this species has not yet been 

reported from Morton County. 

Cuculiformes - Cuckoos 

Cuculidae - Cuckoos 

Coccyzinae - New World Cuckoos 

Black-billed Cuckoo 

(Coccyzus erythropthalmus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

was reported on 15 June 1951. Another 

single bird was seen at the Boy Scout area 

by many observers on 15 September 1984. 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo 

(Coccyzus americanus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Dates are spread rather 

evenly from 8 May to 19 September. 

Nesting Records: Ports found a nest 

containing three chicks and one unhatched 

egg six feet above ground in a willow on 

10 July 1978. A nest with two eggs was 

found by Ports on 24 June 1979. 

High Counts: Ports (1978, 1979) recorded 14 on 12 June 1978, 12 on 28 May 

1979, and 13 on 4 June 1979. 

Neomorphinae - Roadrunners 

Greater Roadrunner 

(Geococcyx californian us) 

Status: Rare resident. 

Nesting Records: No nestings have 

been recorded. Rader heard a pair calling 
along the Cimarron River at the Colorado 

line on 6 July 1991. Very possibly, Greater 

Roadrunners may not breed in Morton 

County but individuals may wander in 

from Baca County, Colorado, or Cimarron 

County, Oklahoma, where the birds are 

common. 

High Counts: Reports indicate no more 

than two birds have been seen at a time. 

Patti and McHugh observed two birds at 

Point of Rocks on 15 October 1988. 

Remarks: "Birds with long tails would 

walk the trail before us; walk upright and 

faster than our mules could walk. The 

drivers called them road-runners." So 

writes Marion Sloan Russell, who went 

down the Cimarron Cut-Off of the Santa 

Fe Trail in 1857. Roadrunners must have 

been fairly common along the Cimarron 

Cut-Off because they are mentioned regularly in diaries and journals. Today, the 

Greater Roadrunner remains a mystery in 

Morton County, with plenty of anecdotal 

evidence from local residents that some 

are always present but with very few 

sightings by birders. Long (1935) found 

the same to be true in 1934 and wrote: 

"Ranchers in Morton County said that it 

was often seen there, but we did not see 

one." Andy Sigler saw one, however, on 

16 June 1994. It was dodgmg traffic in 

downtown Elkhart! 

Strigiformes - Owls 

Tytonidae - Barn Owls 

Barn Owl (Tyto alba) 

Status: Uncommon resident. Barn Owls 

are present year-round although numbers 

may be somewhat higher during spring 

and fall migration. 

Nesting Records: No breeding has been 

documented, but birders generally believe 

it nests annually in Morton County. Eric 

Cable discovered a young Barn Owl barely 

capable of flight on 11 September 1992. It 

was floundering in tamarisk below several potential nest cavities in a sand bank 

Orrllthologlcal History and the Birds 

along the Cimarron River near the Boy 

Scout area. 

High Counts: TheSeltmansfound seven 

during the day on 24 August 1991. 

Remarks: Manv bIrders who live In 

areas where Barn Owls are scarce marvel 

at their relative abundance on Cimarron 

NG. The high, steep embankments east of 

the Boy Scout area harbor many burrows 

and collectively make perhaps the most 

reliable spot to see these birds. Any birder 

who walks through riparian habitat or 

shelterbelts is likely to encounter a Barn 

Owl sooner or later. 

Strigidae - Typical Owls 

Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asia) 

Status: Common resident. 

Nesting Records: Schwilling found four 

screech-owl eggs in a nest box on 10 April 

1990 and four eggs in the same box on 9 

April 1991. Two Eastern Screech-Owls 

were occupying other nest boxes along the 

Cimarron River on 26 May 1991. 

High Counts: Gene Young counted 17 

individuals on 1 November 1992. 

Remarks: Six screech-owl nesting boxes 

were monitored by Schwilling during the 

breeding seasons of 1990, 1991, and 1993. 

in those three years. the boxes housed 

three Eastern Screech-Owl nests, one possible Western Screech-Owl nest (see remarks under Western Screech-Ow!), two 

unidentified screech-owl nests, and two 

American Kestrel nests (Schwilling 1994). 

Western Screech-Owl (Otus kennicottil) 

Status: Accidental; three records. 

Seltman found a single owl on 11 May 

1985 along the Cimarron River at the Colorado state line. This Western Screech-Owl 

responded to an owl tape being used to 

attract passerines. It gave both the doubletrill and bouncing-ball calls that are diagnostic for Western Screech-Owl. The owl, 

observed sitting in a dense stand of tamarisk, was gray and had an all-black bill. 

55 
Part 3 

Seltman and Lawrence Smith returned to 

the area later on 11 May and attempted 

unsuccessfully to photograph the owl. 

Smith, however, did confirm that the vocalizations were of Western Screech-Owl. 

This bird was not found again. 

On 1 January 1987 Patti heard a Western Screech-Owl in the same location along 

the Colorado line. Nine months later about 

three Western Screech-Owls were found 

in this same area. On 19 September 1987 a 

group of 10 birders heard two individuals 

calling along the state line, and one bird 

sitting in a large cottonwood was observed 

bv th~ entire group. Patti and Thompson 

h~ard three birds in the same vicinity the 

next night, 20 September 1987. No photographs, recordings, or specimens exist for 

Morton County or for Kansas. 

Nesting Records: Schwilling found an 

adult screech-owl with five eggs in a nest 

box at the state line on 10 April 1991. The 

ad ult ignored a tape of the Eastern ScreechOwl but was agitated by a tape of the 

Western Screech-Owl. Seltman and Rader 

observed one adult at the entrance hole 

soon after, but the individual had a horncolored bill typical of Eastern ScreechOwl. No observers ever heard any vocalization by the birds in question and the 

identification was never positively determined. The three birds occupying a small 

area along the state line on 20 September 

1987 probably were a family group, and 

that record remains perhaps the strongest 

circumstantial evidence of breeding. 

Remarks: Prior to 1983, Eastern and 

Western Screech-Owl were considered to 

be races of the same species; and therefore, 

few birders or ornithologists prior to that 

date attempted to separate the two. The 

Cimarron River from western Morton 

County, westward through Baca County, 

Colorado, to the Oklahoma line may constitute one of the few known zones where 

the breeding ranges of the two species 

overlap. More study of the status of these 

two species along this stretch of river is 

needed. 

56 

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) 

Status: Common resident. Numbers 

appear to be stable year-round. 

Nesting Records: Ports found an adult 

with two juveniles at the North Fork on 12 

June 1978. 

. High Counts: Young counted 20 on 19 

November 1992. Eighteen were counted 

I on the Cimarron CBC's of 31 December 

1982 and 31 December 1993. 

Remarks: Great Horned Owls are common throughout Morton County and can 

be found roosting by day under bridges, 

inside abandoned farm buildings, and 

anywhere mature trees grow. 

Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) 

Status: Accidental; one record. 

Lawrence Smith observed a Snowy Owl in 

Morton County sometime during the winter of 1974-1975, date uncertain. This was 

a classic invasion year for Snowy Owl on 

the Great Plains with dozens of birds reported elsewhere in Kansas during that 

winter. 

Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia) 

Status: Common resident from spring 

through fall, rare in winter. 

Nesting Records: Patti reported family 

groups on 11 June 1972. Adults have been 

recorded near presumed nest burrows on 

numerous dates. 

High Counts: Ports reported 24 birds 

3.5 miles south of Wilburton on 13 June 

1979. He estimated 56 owls distributed 

among 12 prairie dog towns during the 

summer of 1978. 

Out of Season: Burrowing Owls are 

very scarce in cold-weather months but 

have been known to overwinter. They have 

been seen on several CBC's including 27 

December 1975 and 31 December 1988, 

three on 2 January 1993 and 1 on 31 December 1993. Other winter records include 

one from 12 January 1981 and another 

sighting on 26 February 1988. Both of these 

latter winters were very mild. Most birds 
Ornitholo3ical sto~ and the Birds 

A family of Burrowing Owls. Photo courtesy of Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. 

57 
Part 3 

arrive at their nesting grounds in late 

March. 

Remarks: The first published bird 

record for Morton County for the Twentieth Century may be of this spedes. In her 

published memoirs, Edith Diehnel mentions that in 1911 on her wa y to school she 

would walk past a prairie dog town with 

"owls and a hawk" (DiehneI1983). Clearly 

the owl was a Burrowing Owl. It is 

anybody's guess what the hawk was, although Ferruginous Hawks are known to 

frequent praIrie dog towns. 

Barred Owl (Strix vana) 

Status: Accidental. On 1 November 

1992 a Barred Owl along state highway 27 

was attracted by a tape recording of its 

call. The bird responded vocally and was 

also seen in a spotlight. Two nights later (3 

November), a Barred Owl responded to a 

taped call below Point of Rocks and another Barred Owl was found along state 

highway 27 near where the first sighting 

occurred. This bird was added to the collection at Southwestern College in 

Winfield. Max Thompson and Sebastian 

Patti believed they heard a Strix owl near 

the Kansas-Colorado line in November 

1991. 

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) 

Status: Uncommon resident from fall 

through spring. Dates are scattered from 

28 September to 23 May. 

Nesting Records: One egg from a clutch 

of four was collected on 15 Apri11967. A 

nest with young found at the Boy Scout 

area by Calvin Cink was seen by many 

observers during a KOS meeting on 30 

April and 1 May 1983. 

High Counts: Four were seen on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989. 

Remarks: Despite the lack of summer 

records, Long-eared Owls presumably 

inhabit the Cimarron River valley yearround. Long-eared Owls have been recorded in Morton County every year since 

1983. The best place to look for them is in 

58 

the pines and junipers at the Forest Service 

work station. 

Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) 

Status: Rare. Dates range from 28 De-

,. cemberthrough 10 February with two lateseason records of 15 April 1967 and 5 May 

1996. 

Nesting Records: Ports found one dead 

juvenile 10 miles north and 6 miles west of 

Elkhart on 9 June 1978. An adult was seen 

several miles away on 12 June 1978. 

High Counts: Three were found on the 

Cimarron eBC of 30 December 1990. 

Remarks: Short-eared Owls were d iscovered nestmg in adjacent Stevens 

County in June 1995. 

Caprimulgiformes - Night jars 

Caprimulgidae - Nighthawks, 

Night jars 

Chordeilinae - Nighthawks 

Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

resident. Dates range from 3 May to 27 

September. 

Nesting Records: The Grabers collected 

both a male and a female in breeding 

condition on 19 May and 21 May 1950, 

respectively. Schwilling found a Common 

Nighthawk nest with one egg on 11 June 

1991. 

High Counts: Young counted 100 on 16 

September 1992. 

Remarks: The nasal "peent" of the 

nighthawk is one of the most common 

sounds of summer in Morton County. Even 

nonbirders notice these conspicuous birds 

as they swoop low over Elkhart's backyards, playgrounds and athletic fields. 

Some locals refer to them as "bull-bats." 

Over the surrounding grasslands, one can 

hear the booming sound made by the wings 

of males in courtship dives. Thoreau was 

stunned when he found this "winged toad" 

sitting on its ground nest. "She look so 

Satumian, so one with the earth, so sphinxlike ... .It was not a living creature, far less 
a winged creature of the air, but a figure in 

stone or bronze, a fanciful production of 

art, like the gryphon or phoenix." He later 

referred to it as an "imp of the darkness," 

noting that with its dashing and erratic 

flight it easily could be regarded with 

"superstitious awe." 

Caprimulginae - Night jars 

Common Poorwill 

(Phalaenoptilus nuttallit) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

summer resident. Dates are scattered from 

29 April to 17 October. 

Nesting Records: Ports found four juveniles and two adults on 25 June 1978. 

Normal clutch size is two eggs, so more 

than two family groups were probably 

represen ted. 

High Counts: Seltman and Rader heard 

seven and saw one at Point of Rocks on the 

evening of 25 September 1993. 

Apodiformes - Swifts, 

Hummingbirds 

Apodidae - Swifts 

Chaeturinae - Swifts 

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Dates range from 25 April to 

28 September. 

Nesting Records: No nestings have 

been recorded, but Chimney Swifts are 

present in Elkhart throughout the breeding season and undoubtedly do nest. 

High Counts: Seltman found more than 

100 over Elkhart on 28 August 1993. 

Apodinae - Swifts 

White-throated Swift 

(Aeronautes saxatalis) 

Status: Accidental. Patti repeatedly 

observed two White-throated Swifts at 

Point of Rocks 9-11 June 1972. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Trochilidae - Hummingbirds 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 

(Archi/ochus cOlubris) 

Status: Accidental. Patti and others 

observed an immature male coming to a 

feeder in Elkhart on 15 September 1994. A 

female reported by Corder on 12 SeptemI ber 1992 was well described, but separating females and immatures from the very 

similar Black-chinned Hummingbird is 

very difficult, if not impossible, in the 

field. 

Black-chinned Hummingbird 

(Archilochus alexandn) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Patti 

and Radell photographed a male in Elkhart 

on 8 May 1987 for the first documented 

record of this species in Kansas. The pictures clearly show the deep purple gorget 

typical of the species. Further, the bird 

was observed performing its characteristic "J" display flight. Another male was 

seen by Velda Griffith at her Elkhart feeder 

on 5 May 1992. Two unconfirmed sight 

records are from 7 September 1991 and 28 

August 1992. 

Remarks: Black-chinned HummmgbIrds nest just 50 miles west of Morton 

County at Black Mesa, Oklahoma, and In 

the CarrIzo Creek and Cottonwood Canyon area of Colorado. This is probably the 

most likely species to be seen at Elkhart 

hummingbird feeders. 

Calliope Hummingbird 

(Stellula calliope) 

Status: Accidental; one record. One 

immature female was collected by Graber 

on 3 September 1952. 

Broad-tailed Hummingbird 

(Selasphorus platycercus) 

Status: Accidental. Dates include 4 

May, 17 and 18 May plus from 25 August 

to 5 September. One bird collected on 18 

May 1978 is the only Kansas specimen. A 

59 
Part 3 

record from Velda Griffith's Elkhart feeder 

on 4 and 5 September 1992 was accepted 

by the KOS Records Committee. 

Rufous Hummingbird 

(Se/aspharus rufus) 

Status: Accidental; three records. One 

bird was seen on 25 August 1990, another 

on 26 July and again 8-10 August 1991 at 

Velda Griffith's feeder and another individual seen on 5 September 1992. 

Coraciiformes - Hornbills, 

Hoopoes, Motmots, Kingfishers, 

Todies 

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers 

Cerylinae - Typical Kingfishers 

Belted Kingfisher (Gery/e a/cyan) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 2 April to 16 May and from 8 

September to 20 October. 

Out of Season: One seen by Ports on 21 

June 1979 is the only summer record and 

most likely involved a late migrant. Morton 

County would seem to lack adequate conditions for nesting. 

Piciformes - Puffbirds, Jacamars, 

Barbets, Toucans, Woodpeckers 

Picidae - Wrynecks, Piculets, 

Woodpeckers 

Picinae - Woodpeckers 

Lewis' Woodpecker (Me/anerpes lewis) 

Status: Very rare. One University of 

Kansas specimen was collected on 4 July 

1927. Ely observed one flying along the 

Cimarron River on 5 May 1963. Fall birds 

were seen on 13 October 1985 and 16 September 1989. One was found on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1995, and another in the Elkhart cemetery on 3 May 

1996. 

Remarks: The rarity of Lewis' Woodpeckers in Morton County, in fact in all of 

60 

southwestern Kansas, is a mystery. This 

species is a common breeder just west of 

Morton County in the Black Mesa country 

of Oklahoma and in western Baca County, 

Colorado. The Cimarron River ought to 

provide an excellent corridor for individuals to wander into Kansas, and one would 

think that a few birds of this migratory 

species would appear in Morton County 

during migration. 

Red-headed Woodpecker 

(MeJanerpes erythrocephalus) 

Status: Common mIgrant and summer 

resident. Dates range from 10 April to q 

November. 

Nesting Records: Ports found one Juvenile with an adult on 14 June 1978. 

High Counts: The highest total of 20 

reported on 18 May 1987 seems low considering the species' relative abundance. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker 

(Melanerpes carolinus) 

Status: Very rare. Records include one 

on 1 May 1983 and six birds scattered from 

18 August to 27 September. 

Remarks: The Red -bellied Woodpecker 

has expanded its range westward in recent years and is now resident within 100 

miles of Morton County. This species has 

a propensity to wander and sightings may 

become more frequent. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 

(Sphyrapicus varius) 

Status: Very rare. Dates include one 

spring record from 25 April 1992 and five 

records from 27 September to 28 December. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been 

recorded on the Cimarron CBC four times 

with two birds present on 2 January 1993. 

Red-naped Sapsucker 

(Sphyrapicus nucha/is) 

Status: Very rare; seven records. Dates 

range from 14 September to 14 November. 

One specimen was taken by Long on 14 
November 1934. At least two sight records 

have been submitted to the KOS Bird 

Records Committee, and both were approved. 

Remarks: Red-naped and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were regarded as one species until the mid-1980s. Distinguishing 

the two in the field can be difficult, particularly for immature birds. Other than I 

the 1934 specimen, all records have occurred since 1986 and were carefully identified by the observers as Red-naped Sapsuckers. The status of this species is somewhat uncertain and may change as more 

records are collected. 

Ladder-backed Woodpecker 

(Picoides sca/aris) 

Status: Uncommon resident. Because 

the species becomes locally more numerous in late summer and autumn, the local 

population may be supplemented by birds 

coming down the Cimarron River from 

the west. 

Nesting Records: The Grabers observed 

a female believed to be near a nest hole on 

9 May 1950. Ely reported probable nesting 

along the Cimarron River on 12 May 1967 

and found an active nest m the same location on 3 June 1968. A nesting pair was 

found by Schwilling and observed by many 

KOS members on 1 May 1983. 

High Counts: Nine were found on 2 

January 1993, and eight were noted on the 

Cimarron CBC of 1 January 1988. 

Remarks: Morton County appears to 

be the only county in Kansas where the 

Ladder-backed Woodpecker is resident. 

The species may have been absent in some 

past years. Ports covered all the Cimarron 

River valley extensively in 1978 and 1979 

but did not mention Ladder-backed Woodpeeker in his reports. More recently, numbers appear to be low, but stable. Records 

exist for every year since 1982. 

Downy Woodpecker 

(Picoides pubescens) 

Status: Uncommon resident, more 

common in winter. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Nesting Records: Ely reported probable nesting on 14 May 1967. A possible 

family group of four was seen by Ports on 

17 July 1978. 

High Counts: Cimarron CBC's of 30 

December 1989 and of 29 December 1978 

tallied 49 and 19, respectively. 

Remarks: Birders accustomed to seeing Downy Woodpeckers on almost every 

field trip elsewhere in Kansas are often 

surprised by the species' scarcity in Morton 

County. As a breeding bird, it may be no 

more common than Ladder-backed Woodpecker. 

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides vii/os us) 

Status: Uncommon resident. 

Nesting Records: Numerous pairs have 

been seen but no confirmed nestings have 

been recorded. 

High Counts: Cimarron CBC's of 29 

December 1978, 30 December 1993, and 3 

January 1995 each tallied seven. 

Northern Flicker (Co/aptes auratus) 

Status: Common migrant and yearround resident, often abundant during 

migration. 

Nesting Records: Ely described Flickers as common nesters along the Cimarron River m 1967. Four juveniles and an 

adult were Hushed from a nest cavity by 

Ports on 27 June 1978. On 1 May 1983 a 

mated pair of Yellow-shafted and Redshafted Flickers were seen entering a nest 

hole at the Boy Scout area. 

High Counts: More than 100 were seen 

on 19 September 1986 and on 10 October 

1987. The high for the Cimarron CBC was 

68 on 1 January 1988. 

Remarks: Birders often carefully distinguish Yellow and Red-shafted Flickers, 

but many individual flickers on the High 

Plains are of mixed parentage. Flickers in 

Morton County often show some intermediate characteristics. On the Cimarron CBC 

the ratio of Red-shafteds to Yellowshafteds is often 10 to 1. 

61 
Part 3 

Passeriformes - Songbirds 

(25 families) 

Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers 

Tyranninae - Flycatchers 

Olive-sided Flycatcher 

(Contopus borealis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 25 April to 3 June and from 17 

A ugust to 28 September. 

High Counts: Cable found 15-20 on 28 

September 1986. At least 10 were seen by 

Seltman on both 11 September 1982 and 8 

September 1984. 

Out at Season: A record from 21 June 

1982 and a University of Kansas specimen 

from 25 June probably involve late spring 

migrants. 

Western Wood-Pewee 

(Contopus sordidulus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, rare summer resident. Dates range from 29 April to 

28 September. 

Nesting Records: Although numerous 

specimens in breeding condition have been 

collected and numerous singing males 

have been heard on territories, no firm 

evidence (nests, eggs, flightless young) of 

nesting is known from Morton County. 

High Counts: Five Western WoodPewees were collected along the Cimarron River on 4 May 1963, making the highest confirmed count from a single day. 

Seltman counted more than 50 woodpewees on 14 September 1991, with both 

Western and Eastern Wood-Pewees presumably represented. 

Out of Season: Two silent wood.., 

pewees were seen by Rader on the early 

date of 27 March in 1988. As unbelievable 

as this sighting may appear, it followed a 

remarkable heat wave with gale force 

southerly winds and temperatures in the 

80s. Four days later on 1 April 1988, about 

one foot of snow fell in Morton County, 

either sending these fl yca tchers back sou th 

or to an early doom. 

62 

Remarks: The separation of the two 

wood-pewee species in Morton County 

has been a perennial problem dating back 

to the first specimens taken in 1950. The 

field identification of silent wood-pewees 

is a very perilous if not futile business, and 

'Bome specimens defy separation in the 

hand even by the most experienced orniI thologists. Specimen records suggest that 

Westerns are the more common species in 

Morton County. Sight records of Westerns 

also outnumber records of Easterns by a 

large margin but may reflect the observer 

bias of bIrders from the eastern half of the 

state anxious to see western birds while in 

Morton County. To confound matters 

more, the two types are known to interbreed. Rising reasoned that because both 

species are scarce along the Cimarron River 

in Morton County individual birds would 

be even more likely to mate with the wrong 

species (Rising 1974). Birders should be 

aware of these problems and should rely 

primarily on vocalizations to identify 

wood-pewees in Morton County. 

Eastern Wood-Pewee 

(Contopus virens) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, rare summer resident. Dates range from 9 May to 

28 September. 

Nesting Records: Four specimens collected during June and July provide the 

only suggestion of possible breeding. 

High Counts: Two singing birds were 

heard on 26 May 1991 by Patti, Sigler and 

Seltman. 

Out of Season: See note on Western 

Wood-Pewee above. 

Remarks: Eastern Wood-Pewees are so 

similar in appearance to Westerns that 

birders should use only voice as a reliable 

means of separating the two. 

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 

(Empidonax f/aviventris) 

Status: Accidental. One record from 5 

August 1957 is supported by a University 

of Kansas specimen. One was netted by 
Ports on 12 August 1979 along the Cimarron River. 

Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

specimen was collecte~ on 3 July 1966, and 

another was taken on 13 May 1967. 

Remarks: These specimens possibly 

refer to the nearly identical Willow Flycatcher. At the time these birds were collected, Alder and Willow Flycatchers were 

considered to be the same species. 

Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax trail/if) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Spring 

records from 6 May to 26 May and fall 

records from 3 July to 28 September. About 

nine specimens including one collected on 

3 July 1966. 

Remarks: Separation of Empidonax flycatchers is extremely difficult in the field 

and it is certainly possible that some of the 

11 sight records are suspect. Elsewhere in 

Kansas Willow Flycatcher is often the U default" species for sightings of empids that 

are not typical Leasts. However, in Morton 

County it would appear that the most 

common empid in spring or fall is probably Dusky. 

Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minim us) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 29 April to 5 June and from 29 

July to 28 September. 

High Counts: The Grabers collected 

four on 14 May 1950. 

Hammond's Flycatcher 

(Empidonax hammondif) 

Status: Rare migrant. Ten records range 

between 25 August and 28 September. 

This is the only species of Empidonax 

known to occur in Morton County that is 

not supported by a specimen. 

High Counts: Two birds have been 

reported on 21 September 1986, 2 September 1987, and 25 August 1990. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Remarks: Confirmation of this species 

in Morton County is still needed, but it is 

included here on the basis of several excellent sight records of birds carefully scrutinized by experienced observers. No primary songs have been heard, but several 

individuals, especially one observed by 

Seltman on 7 September 1991, gave the 

hard "pik" call note typical of this species. 

A group of birders on 2 September 1990 

made a careful study of a relatively tame 

bird north of the Eikhart Cemetery and 

with good optical equipment determined 

that the underside of the very small bill 

was half-dark, a field mark supposedly 

diagnostic tor Hammond's (but see 

Kaufman 1990). The relative status of all 

Morton County Empldonax flycatchers 

could perhaps' be resolved with a longterm bird-banding project. 

Dusky Flycatcher 

(Empidonax oberholsen) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 29 April to 18 May and from 17 

August to 27 September. 

High Counts: Schwilling found eight 

along the Cimarron River on 17 May 1951. 

Five were reported on 1 September 1990. 

Remarks: Numerous specimenf? exist 

and several singing birds have been identified. This species is common along the 

Front Range of the Rockies. Thompson 

and Ely (1992) described Dusky Flycatcher 

as "probably the most regular of the western Empidonaces in Kansas ... " Both Dusky 

and Gray Flycatchers were formerly referred to as "Wright's" Flycatcher. The 

Grabers published reports of "Wright's" 

Flycatcher specimens (Graber 1951) actually refer to Dusky Flycatcher. 

Gray Flycatcher (Empidonax wrightif) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Dates range 

from 29 April to 26 May and from 5 September to 20 September. 

Out of Season: One sight record from 

7 July 1989 by an expert birder would 

seem to be outside the normal migration 

63 
Part 3 

periods for this species and may have just 

involved a vagrant. 

Remarks: The only specimen of this 

species in Kansas was taken along the 

Cimarron River on 29 April 1967. A sight 

record from below Point of Rocks on 5 

September 1992 was accepted by the KOS 

Records Committee. Gray Flycatcher 

adults molt in late fall after migration and 

therefore are often extremely pale and 

washed-out when they are most likely to 

be seen in Morton County (Kaufman 1990). 

Several other recent late summer sight 

records have Involved plain gray birds 

that were probably this species. 

Cordilleran Flycatcher 

(Emptdonax occidentalis) 

Status: Rare migrant. Most records 

date between 1 and 19 September with 

only two spring dates of 11 and 26 May. 

The 26 Ma y 1984 record was a bird Seltman 

heard singing the primary song a t the Boy 

Scout area. 

High Counts: Four were seen on 2 

September 1990. Graber saw "2 or 3 daily" 

from 2 to 5 September 1952 (Graber 1954). 

Remarks: Formerly known as "Western" Flycatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher 

and Pacific-slope Flycatcher were recently 

separated into full species (A.O.D. 1989). 

The names "Cordilleran" and "Pacificslope," obviously picked by a committee, 

are not very descriptive. Both species live 

in the "cordillera," and almost all of the 

Cordilleran Flycatcher's breeding range 

lies west of the Continental Divide or technically on the "Pacific slope!" All Morton 

County birds are assumed to be from the 

Rocky Mountain population of Cordilleran Flycatcher. Non-singing birds of these 

two species are indistinguishable in the 

field. 

"Cordillera" extends the issue of how 

to pronounce bird names. According to 

Webster's College Dictionary (1991, Random 

House), "cordillera" is an Americanized 

derivative of the Spanish word "cordilla." 

As such, it does not take the Spanish pronunciation (core-dee-YARE-uh), but thes 

64 

American pronunciation (either cordleYARE-uh or core-DILL-er-uh). 

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A single 

.Black Phoebe was well seen by Shane on 

16 March 1976 at the Point of Rocks Fish 

Ponds. This is the only report from Morton 

I County and is considered the most valid 

of several Kansas sight records. 

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

30 April to 10 June and from 21 August to 

27 October. 

Nesting Records: No known breeding 

records exist. 

Remarks: Although Morton County 

might be considered by some to be too far 

west for this species, a good breeding popu1ation of Eastern Phoebes inhabits the 

Carrizo Creek area of western Baca County, 

Colorado (Andrews and Righter 1992). 

Plausibly, some Eastern Phoebes in Morton 

County originate from that area. 

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) 

Status: Common migrant, uncommon 

summer resident. Dates range from 22 

March to 5 October, with only two winter 

records, both from the Cimarron CBC. 

Nesting Records: Seltman found a used 

nest inside an abandoned farmhouse at 

North Fork in May 1992, and this constitutes the only evidence of breeding. Ports 

found a mated pair at this same location 

on 12 June 1978. 

High Counts: 30 were counted on 19 

September 1986. 

Out of Season: The two winter records 

of five birds seen on 30 December 1979 and 

two seen on 31 December 1982 are extraordinary. One might expect phoebes to linger in very mild autumns, but both of 

these sightings followed rather cold 

weather. 

Remarks: Say's Phoebes are a regular 

sight in Morton County during migration 

but are quite scarce in summer with no 
records for July. They breed in good numbers elsewhere in western Kansas. 

Vermilion Flycatcher 

(Pyrocephalus rub/nus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. Ely 

collected one female just northwest of the 

state highway 27 bridge on 15 April 1967. 

The male of a pair was photographed by I 

Lawrence Smith near Point of Rocks on 3 

or 4 May 1982. The photo clearly shows all 

the field marks of the male Vermilion Flycatcher. The female of the pair was not 

photographed. 

Remarks: This species has nested several times in Cimarron County, Oklahoma 

and should be expected again in Morton 

County. 

Ash-throated Flycatcher 

(Myiarchus cinerascens) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

summer resident. Dates range from 29 

April to 19 September. 

Nesting Records: A pair was seen by 

Ports at North Fork on 22 June 1978. Bluebird boxes placed by Schwilling along the 

Cimarron River attracted at least two pairs 

in 1991 with four eggs found in one box 

and five in another on 10 June 1991. A 

possible juvenile was present near one of 

these boxes on 6 July 1991. Two more nest 

boxes were occupied in 1993 with eggs in 

both on 4 June 1993 and four eggs in one 

and five chicks in the other on 22 June 

1993. An adult was near a nest box with 

four eggs at the western river crossing on 

21 May 1995. 

Remarks: the Ash-throated Flycatcher 

is a common breeder just west of Morton 

County in both Cimarron County, Oklahoma, and Baca County, Colorado. Many 

of the bluebird boxes placed on the Reigner 

Ranch east of Kenton, Oklahoma, are occupied by this species. 

Great Crested Flycatcher 

(Myiarchus crinitus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

summer resident, Dates range from 16 

April to 28 September. 

Nesting Records: Three adults were 

seen inspecting a nest cavity by Ports on 24 

June 1979. Seltman saw adults feeding 

three or four fledged young at the Boy 

Scout area on 10 August 1991. 

High Counts: Four were seen on 18 

May 1978. 

Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A Great 

Kiskadee was found at Middle Spring by 

Harold McFadden on 18 May 1995. This 

bird remained until at least 31 May and 

was seen by about 20 additional observers 

with both photographs and video taken to 

document the record. 

Remarks: This was the first report in 

Kansas and may perhaps be the northernmost record for this spedes which nests no 

closer to Kansas than southern Texas. Several records from the East Coast as far 

north as New Jersey are believed to involve birds escaped from captivity. 

Cassin's Kingbird 

(Tyrannus vociferans) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 10 April to 15 June and from 29 

August to 30 September. 

High Counts: Seltman found more than 

20 on 27 September 1986. Schwilling reported 14 during the spring of 1951. 

Remarks: Most of the early records are 

from spring; but since 1984, Cassin's Kingbirds have been observed most often in 

September. This species nests in high numbers not far west from the Kansas border 

in Colorado (Andrews and Righter 1992). 

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) 

Status: Abundant migrant and summer resident. Dates range from 10 April to 

5 October. 

Nesting Records: Many nesting records 

with egg dates extend from 8 June into 

summer. Ports (1978) estimated that Westerns outnumbered Easterns five to one. 

65 
Part 3 

Horned Lark. Photo by Bob Gress. 

High Counts: The 52 recorded along a 

census route by Ports on 28 May 1979 is the 

highest actual tally on record, but this 

number is low compared to the Western 

Kingbird's true abundance. On 14 June 

1979 Ports estimated the density of Western Kingbirds to be 36 per 100 acres of 

riparian habitat along the Cimarron River. 

Out of Season: The Smiths' record 

from 10 April1985 is about 10 days earlier 

than all other records. 

Remarks: From May through September, Western Kingbirds are probably one 

of the five most conspicuous birds on Cimarron NG. Sometimes, it seems as if every treetop, every fenceline, and every 

yucca has its own kingbird! 

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

66 

resident. Dates range from 10 April to 28 

September. 

Nesting Records: Schwilling found one 

nest on 14 June 1951. Ports (1978) reported 

seeing juveniles beginning the second 

week of July. 

High Counts: Cable-saw 15 on 30 June 

1992. Ports (1979) estimated four per 100 

acres of riparian habitat along the Cimarron River on 14 June 1979. Larger daily 

totals have gone unrecorded during migration. 

Out of Season: The 10 Aprill985 record 

by the Smiths precedes all other spring 

arrivals by more than two weeks. 

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 

( Tyrannus forficatus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Dates range from 10 April to 

5 October. 
Nesting Records: More than five confirmed nestings with additional sightmgs 

of fledged juveniles have been recorded. 

The first nest was reported on 5 June 1952. 

A nest with a juvenile was found on 8 June 

1960 by Barlow. Ports had a family group 

of two adults and three juveniles on 20 

July 1978. Seltman saw an adult on a nest 

at Middle Springs on 6 June 1981. 

High Counts: Seltman found more than 

10 adults on 26 May 1991. 

Remarks: Even nonbirders take notice 

of this dapper gray and salmon pink "wire 

bird" with the tail that seems to be a spare 

part from a much larger bird. In his book, 

Blue Highways, William Least Heat Moon 

noted them sitting on wires with their 

"oddly long tails hanging under them like 

stilts." Fortunate birders may witness their 

spectacular mating display with the male 

flying 100 feet in the air, opening and 

closing his tail while flying in a zig-zag 

pattern and calling enthusiastically. 

Alaudidae - Larks 

Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) 

Status: Abundant resident. Numbers 

often increase dramatically during winter, sometimes reaching or exceeding 

10,000 birds. 

Nesting Records: Ports found a nest 

with four eggs on 7 June 1978. Schwilling 

had a nest with three eggs on 21 May 1990, 

and Gene Young had a nest with young on 

19 May 1992. 

High Counts: A figure of 57,387 was 

compiled on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1979. Other CBC totals include 

10,071 on 31 December 1982, 15,000 on 30 

December 1990, and 16,958 on 31 December 1993. 

Remarks: The Horned Lark is certainly 

one of the five most abundant birds in 

Morton County and next to the Western 

Meadowlark is probably the least likely 

species to be missed during a day of birding. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Hirundinidae - Swallows 

Hirundininae - Typical Swallows 

Purple Martin (Progne subis) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Two 

spring dates include 18 May 1978 and 1 

May 1983, and two late summer dates 

include 2 September 1989 and 5 September 1992. 

Remarks: Purple Martins are quite rare 

in western Kansas and have not been 

known to breed in eastern Colorado 

(Andrews and Righter 1992). Therefore, 

the paucity of records appears to reflect a 

true lack of migrants in Morton County. 

One of the most widely held bird myths 

is that martins eat mosquitoes. Kale (1968) 

traced the history of the martin-mosquito 

myth and refutes it. Martin feeding behavior and mosquito behavior exclude the 

possibility of a large mosquito kill. Martins typically feed diurnally at 100-200 feet 

above the ground. Mosquitoes are crepuscular or nocturnal, spending the day resting on vegetation near the ground. In fact, 

mosquitoes eat martins! Martins provide 

blood meal for some mosquitoes that feed 

on avian blood. And, because martins feed 

on dragonflies which in turn eat mosquitoes, they may marginally increase mosquito populations. This should not discourage people from putting up martin 

houses. As Kale concludes, "The purple 

martin is one of our most beautiful and 

friendly birds. It daily consumes large 

numbers of insects. Its aesthetic qualities 

alone recommend it highly to man. There 

is no need to ascribe to the martin abilities 

greater than those it already possesses in 

order to encourage its protection and 

propagation. " 

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

18 April to 14 May and from 24 July to 28 

September. 

High Counts: Six were at a farm pond 

in northern Morton County on 24 July 

1978 (Ports 1978). 

67 
Part 3 

Remarks: Ely listed this species as common on 28 April 1967. 

Violet-green Swallow 

(Tachycineta thalassina) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

individual was seen by Cable 26-27 September 1986, and another found by Patti 

was seen by multiple observers on 18 August 1990. 

Remarks: Violet-green Swallows appear as fall vagrants elsewhere in western 

Kansas to as far east as Cheyenne Bottoms 

Wildlife Area. This species would probably be seen regularly in Morton County if 

larger bodies of water were present. 

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 

(Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates extend from 

10 April to 28 September. 

Nesting Records: Ports found an active 

nest on 14 June 1979. 

High Counts: Cable found 25 on 30 

June 1992. 

Remarks: Rough-winged Swallows are 

not colonial nesters, so nests can be difficult to find. A few birds probably nest in 

banks along the Cimarron River every 

summer. 

Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

28 April to 27 May and from 1 September 

to 28 September. 

High Counts: Corder reported 80 on 28 

April 1985, and Seltman saw more than 30 

on 14 September 1991. 

Remarks: This species is a very common migrant in Kansas and should be 

expected in Morton County. Bank Swallows congregate in large flocks, so on the 

few days a year when it does occur in the 

county large numbers may be present. 

68 

Cliff Swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Dates range from 23 April to 

28 September. 

Nesting Records: Many summer 

,records exist for this species. The only 

nesting record was a "small colony" that 

Schwilling found under a bridge over the 

I North Fork of the Cimarron 14.75 miles 

north and 7 miles west of Elkhart (1 mile 

east of the Colorado line). 

High Counts: The Grabers had 20 on 23 

April 1952. Cable had 10 feeding over the 

Elkhart sewage ponds on 30 June 1992. 

Remarks: A couple factors may limit 

the numbers of thIS speCIes In Morton 

County. The county has few bridges, and 

none of them spans permanent water. So, 

one of this species' favorite nesting situations is lacking. Also, some observers have 

speculated that the soil is. too sandy to 

allow nest construction. 

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

resident. Dates range from 10 April to 10 

October. 

Nesting Records: Ports found two nests 

under the Rolla bridge on 2 June 1978 and 

two nests in an abandoned farmhouse on 

20 June 1978. 

High Counts: Seltman found 50 on 5 

May 1990. 

Remarks: Like Cliff Swallows, Barn 

Swallows are easy to find in Morton 

County but are not abundant breeders. 

One limiting factor may be the lack of 

available mud for nesting. Much of the 

sandy soil in the area crumbles very easil y when dry. This may explain why so 

few nests have been reported. 

Corvidae - Jays, Magpies, Crows 

Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 

Status: Very rare. Records spread between 13 October and 9 May. Five records 

exist prior to 1986. Schwilling reported the 
.:'. 

first sighting on 5 January 1954. A spectacular invasion of this species into southwestern Kansas occurred from October 

1989 to May 1990. Numerous reports from 

Morton County indicate at least seven and 

perhaps more than 10 individuals. Such 

invasions are probably widely spaced and 

may occur only a few times a century. Two 

specimens have been collected. 

High Counts: Six birds were seen on 11 

November 1989. A flock of five that spent 

much of October and November 1989 at 

the Boy Scout area may have been part of 

the six. 

Remarks: This beautiful jay is common 

in the higher elevations of Colorado and 

northern New Mexico and can be expected 

again. Steller's Jays are known to leave the 

mountains for lower elevations during 

periods of severe winter weather or food 

shortage. The latter cause would seem to 

explain the 1989-90 invasion because the 

13 October 1989 arrival date for the first 

birds preceded the onset of cold weather. 

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) 

Status: Common migrant, uncommon 

summer and winter resident. 

Nesting Records: Ports found adults 

feeding one juvenile on26 July 1978. Young 

discovered an active nest on 19 May 1992. 

High Counts: The Ottes reported 25 on 

14 September 1992. At least 15 were recorded by Schwilling on 27 September 

1954. 

Remarks: Although Blue Jays are common year-round in most of Kansas, they 

can be surprisingly scarce in Morton 

County, especially in winter. On the Cimarron CBC this species is absent many 

years with the highest number on the 

count being 13 on 3 January 1995 and the 

next highest number being only four on 

30 December 1990. 

Western Scrub-Jay 

(Aphelocoma californica) 

Status: Very rare. Records spread between 16 September and 14 May. Only 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

about 15 records are known, but most of 

them involve several birds. Long collected 

five specimens in November 1934, which 

suggests that Scrub Jays have a long-established pattern of occurrence in Morton 

County. Scrub Jays invaded Morton 

County in 1963 when eight were seen on 

the Cimarron CBC of 25 December 1963. 

Ten years later, the Lewises saw six along 

the Cimarron River just east of Colorado 

on 11 May 1973. The invasion of 1989-90, 

which also involved Steller's Jay (see 

above), was the largest Scrub Jay invasion 

to date in Kansas. 

High Counts: The Seltmans and Corder 

watched more than 25 fly down the Cimarron River on 16 September 1989. Fourteen were scattered in six locations on 21 

October 1989. At least 10 individuals were 

still present on 5 May 1990 and were seen 

by many KOS members. 

Remarks: Western Scrub-Jays are common residents from Cimarron County, 

Oklahoma, and Baca County, Colorado, 

westward and need only wander about 50 

miles from their breeding grounds to reach 

Morton County. Most records are along 

the Cimarron River. The Scrub Jay was 

separated into three species (A.O.V. 1995). 

Pinyon Jay 

(Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) 

Status: Very rare. Dates range from 12 

September to 6 January. 

High Counts: The Seltmans observed a 

flock numbering more than 100 birds flying down the Cimarron River at Point of 

Rocks on 12 September 1982. Patti saw 21 

along the Cimarron River on 4 October 

1991. A flock of 35 was discovered at Point 

of Rocks on 16 September 1995. 

Remarks: Pinyon Jays are very gregarious and are probably more likely to be 

seen in a flock than alone. This species is 

common in Cimarron County, Oklahoma, 

and Baca County, Colorado, during most 

winters and can be expected to return to 

Morton County occasionally. 

69 
, ' 

Part 3 

Black-billed Magpie (Pica pica) 

Status: Abundant resident. In Morton 

Coun ty this species shows its highest n umbers and greatest concentrations during 

winter. 

Nesting Records: The Grabers found a 

nest with two eggs on 1 May 1950. A nest 

with five eggs was reported by Schwilling 

on 5 June 1952. Ports found four active 

nests on 12 June 1978 and three juveniles 

on 14 June 1979. Young birds had already 

fledged north of the Elkhart Cemetery on 

the early date of 21 May 1995. Old nests 

are a common sight throughout the county. 

High Counts: A total of 190 birds were 

recorded on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989. Five other CBC's have totals 

above 100. Seltman saw more than 100 on 

6 February 1993. 

Remarks: Black-billed Magpies very 

likely did not occur regularly in Morton 

County 100 years ago. They probably began spreading onto the Great Plains following pioneer settlement. The first record 

in Morton County was one seen by Long 

on 9 November 1934. According to Ely 

(personal communication), the best guess 

to when magpies began breeding regularly in southwest Kansas is about 1920. 

American Crow 

(Corvus brachyrhynchos) 

Status: Common resident. Highest 

numbers occur during winter. 

Nesting Records: The Grabers reported 

the first nesting record on 15 May 1950. 

Another nest with eggs was found on 9 

April 1978. 

High Counts: Participants tallied 109 

birds on the Cimarron CBC of 2 January 

1993 and 130 on the CBC of 31 December 

1993. 

Remarks: Crows have never been abundant in Morton County and were once 

considered quite rare. Long saw none in 

Morton County in November 1934, but he 

did record seeing two on 16 and 18 November 1934 in nearby Hamilton County. 

Ely still considered them rare in May 1963 

70 

and regular but scarce in May 1967. Beginning about 1974, numbers apparently began to rise during the winter months and 

within a few years the species had become 

established. 

"Chihuahuan Raven 

(Corvus crypto/eucus) 

Status: Uncommon resident. Ravens 

are never seen in large numbers, but a few 

individuals are probably present in all 

seasons. Schwilling studied ravens in western Kansas during the early 1950s. He 

concluded that rather than migrating after 

the breeding season, they seem to congregate into flocks and drift around the area 

(Schwilling 1994). 

Nesting [{ecords: The first nest was 

reported on 7 May 1953. Ports found three 

nests on 28 May 1978. Schwilling found a 

nest northeast of Rolla on 10 June 1991, 

another with three eggs and one young on 

15 April 1993, and also that year a nest 10 

miles east of Elkhart with six "newly 

hatched young, 3-4 days old, still naked." 

High Counts: Five birds have been 

reported on three dates, including 4 January 1975, 28 May 1978, and 19 July 1979. 

Large flocks numbering 50 or more birds 

are common in Stevens County east of 

Rolla in autumn. 

Remarks: Chihuahuan Ravens were 

abundant prior to the destruction of the 

bison herds and formerly bred at least 200 

miles north of Elkhart Oohnsgard 1979). 

Santa Fe trail travelers reported mistaking 

flocks of ravens at a distance for Indians or 

bison herds. One traveler also noted that 

large flocks of ravens "follow in the wake 

of the (bison) caravans with even a greater 

consistency than the wolves" (Gregg 1806-

50). Not only did the ravens decrease with 

the bison herds because they were losing a 

food source, but the ravens were also being poisoned. Socolofsky (1969) wrote that 

during the time the bison herds were being destroyed by market hunters "wolvers 

poisoned the buffalo carcasses and picked 

up thousands of wolf hides and in the 
process killed off most of the raven population .... " 

Schwilling (1994) provided a thorough 

review of historical changes in the status 

of this species in western Kansas and concludes with the following summary assessment: 

"In 1886 Goss reported them as rare 

but quite common in fall migration. In 

1891 he listed them as rare but common 

during fall and winter, but decreasing as 

settlement increases. By 1894 Menke lists 

them as abundant residents. In 1903, 

Snow again lists them as rare residents 

and by 1940. Long lists them as extinct 

as does Goodrich in 1945. However, by 

1951, I found them to be a common 

nesting bird and local resident. They 

continued to increase in number at least 

through 1954 [Schwilling had found at 

least 225 nests in 1953] and continued 

high at least through 1966. By 1974 

Rising listed them as a regular but not 

common resident. Ports listed them as 

fairly common in Morton County in 

1978. By 1990-1991 I found them to be 

quite rare. Now the population is at a 

very low level. There are probably a 

combination of factors that regulate 

population level but their primary 

predator may be destruction of nests 

and young by local people." 

Chihuahuan Ravens' nests are often 

large and some are constructed almost 

entirely of barbed wire and lined with 

grass and cattle hair. Dead trees are sometimes used for nesting and Ports found 

one nest on a power pole transformer, but 

often they nest on abandoned windmill 

towers in areas where grasslands have 

been converted to farmland. A young man 

from Pawnee County, Kansas, who went 

to work on a wheat farm along the Colorado border in the 1930s came home with 

reports of an area so desolate that "crows 

built their nests on windmills. There were 

no tree branches so they built their nests 

out of barbed wire and the grasshoppers 

were so starved that they had eaten all the 

rust off the wire." Of course, no one at 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

home believed hIm (A.A. Seltman personal commumcatIonLln Morton County 

Chihuahuan Ravens are usually tound 

near Rolla or Wilburton. This speCIes was 

formerly known as White-necked Raven 

(A.O.l]. 1983). 

Paridae - Chickadees, Titmice 

Black-capped Chickadee 

(Parus atricapil/us) 

Status: Very rare. Records spread between 2 September and 30 May. 

Nesting Records: None. 

High Counts: Two were seen at the 

North Fork on 11 November 1989. 

Remarks: Although Black-capped 

Chickadees are common in the Arkansas 

River drainage, they are very rare along 

the Cimarron River. The first record is of a 

specimen collected by the Grabers on 4 

April 1950. The next record came 31 years 

later when Seltman found one along the 

Cimarron River on 30 May 1981. Since 

1986, records have occurred almost every 

year. Every chickadee encountered in 

Morton County should be carefully scrutinized. Carolina Chickadees have been 

encountered along the Cimarron River as 

far west as Seward County, Kansas, and 

could eventually wander to Morton 

County. 

Mountain Chickadee (Parus gambell) 

Status: Uncommon. Dates range from 

21 October to 5 May. Birds that arrive in 

fall may remain through the winter. 

High Counts: All maximum counts of 

note have been on the Cimarron CBC with 

13 on 29 December 1978,12 on 31 December 1982, and 10 on 30 December 1989. 

Remarks: The regular presence of 

Mountain Chickadees in Morton County 

in winter may perhaps be a recent development. No sightings were recorded prior 

to November 1978, but records exist for 

most years since that time. During the fall 

and winter of 1989-90 when several west71 
Part 3 

ern species invaded Morton County, 

Mountain Chickadees were seen by many 

observers beginning on 21 October with 

the last lingerer remaining at North Fork 

on 5 May 1990. 

Aegithalidae - Bushtits 

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) 

Status: Very rare. Of about seven 

records, all but two involve multiple individuals. 

High Counts: More than 25 were seen 

at the Boy Scout area on 28 November 

1987. Sixteen were on the Cimarron CBC 

of 1 January 1988 and 12 on the CBC of 2 

January 1993. 

Remarks: This species is almost always 

seen in flocks. Exceptions include one bird 

seen by Seltman on 8 October 1994 and a 

lone bird reported by Parker and Crawford 

on 5 September 1993. Bushtits are common in the Black Mesa country, and 

Morton County birds have probably wandered down the Cimarron River from that 

area. 

Sittidae - Nuthatches 

Red-breasted Nuthatch 

(Sitta canadensis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

winter resident. Records range from 1 

August to 17 May. 

High Counts: Seven were counted on 

the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1993. 

Six were seen on 2 September 1989. Five 

were seen on 9 September 1989 and on 16 

September 1984. 

Out of Season: A specimen collected 

on 1 August 1954 would seem early for a 

fall migrant, but three additional August 

records establish their early presence. 

White-breasted Nuthatch 

(Sitta carolinensis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and win72 

ter resident. Records range from 14 September to 13 May. 

High Counts: Ten were seen on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989, and 

seven were seen on the CBC of 28 December 1991. 

Remarks: White-breasted Nuthatches 

are decidedly scarce along the Cimarron 

I River despite an apparent abundance of 

habitat. The birds that are found in Morton 

County may originate in the easternmost 

mountains of Colorado. The specimen collected by Long on 13 November 1934 and 

another by Ely on 13 May 1967 were both 

identified as being the nelSOn! race typical 

of the Rocky Mountains. 

Pygmy Nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) 

Status: Very rare migrant and winter 

resident; one spring record. Records extend from 12 September to 28 December. 

One bird found on 12 May and collected 

on 13 May 1967 by Ely is the only spring 

record. 

High Counts: Five were seen on the 

Cimarron CBC of 28 December 1985. 

Certhiidae - Creepers 

Certhiinae - Typical Creepers 

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates range from 19 September to 28 April. 

High Counts: Four were seen on the 

Cimarron CBC of 25 December 1963. 

Troglodytidae - Wrens 

Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

resident; very rare winter straggler. No 

records for the period January through 

March. The earliest spring arrival date is 2 

April. 

Nesting Records: Ports found two 

adults with three juveniles on 17 June 
1978. On 25 May 1979 he found a nest with 

seven eggs. Seltman saw seven fledglings 

on 7 August 1982. All three slghtmgs were 

at Point of Rocks. 

High Counts: More than 80 birds were 

seen by the Seltmans on 19 September 

1986. These wrens were scattered throughout the county in a variety of habitats. 

Out of Season: Rock Wrens are not 

known to overwinter in Morton County, 

but they have been seen on Cimarron NG 

a total of four times on dates ranging from 

25 to 30 December. 

Remarks: Any summer visitors to Point 

of Rocks probably have encountered a 

Rock Wren. At this site, with their loud 

song, Rock Wrens have serenaded Native 

Americans, Coronado and the men of his 

expedition, hundreds of merchants and 

families traveling the Santa Fe Trail, and 

several generations of cowboys. 

Rock Wrens also nest at other small 

rock outcroppings on Cimarron NG, and 

Ports found a pair around some junk car 

bodies along the North Fork on 25 June 

1978. 

Canyon Wren (Catherpes mexicanus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. 

Crawford and Parker found a single bird 

at the large cliff east of the Boy Scout area 

on 6 September 1992. It was seen by many 

additional observers in following days and 

was well documented with photographs. 

This bird was in immature plumage when 

first found buthad molted into adult plumage when last seen on 6 February 1993 by 

Seltman. This species is common in nearby 

Baca County, Colorado, and Cimarron 

County, Oklahoma, but is quite sedentary 

and seldom leaves its preferred rocky habitat. This was the first confirmed record of 

Canyon Wren for Kansas. Another lone 

bird was repeatedly observed from 25 November to 30 December 1995 at Point of 

Rocks. 

Carolina Wren 

(Thryothorus ludovicianus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

bird found by Patti on 19 September 1987 

remained in Elkhart until at least 10 October 1987. Another individual was seen on 

the Cimarron eBC of 2 January 1993, 

Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident; very rare summer resident. 

High Counts: Cable found five or six on 

28 September 1986. 

Out of Season: Ely heard several singing males along the Cimarron River on 3 

June 1968, and Ports heard three singing 

along the river northeast of Rolla on 16 

June 1979. These are the only breeding 

season records. 

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

resident. Dates range from 14 April to 5 

October. 

Nesting Records: One nest was reported on 15 June 1951. Schwilling found 

a nest with eggs on 7 June 1978. Ports 

observed three juveniles accompanied by 

an adult on 14 June 1978. 

High Counts: 30 were seen on 5 May 

1990. 

Remarks: The dead and dying cottonwood trees along the dry Cimarron River 

provide ideal nesting habitat for this species making it one of the most abundant 

birds in the riparian woodlands. In Elkhart, 

it is the common wren that not only nests 

in wren houses, but also garages, cans, 

pipes, mailboxes, and even hats and boots. 

The genus name Troglodytes refers to its 

Troglodyte tendencies to skulk into small 

dark places. In celebration of the House 

Wren's exuberant singing, the specific 

name 1/ aedon" refers to the Queen of 

Thebes who was changed into a nightingale by Zeus. 

Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) 

Status: Accidental; four records. One 

was seen by Schwilling on 15 September 

1984 at the Boy Scout area. Another bird 

was seen there on 28 September 1991. One 

73 
Part 3 

bird was along the North Fork on 17 October 1984, and Thompson had one there on 

28 October 1989. 

Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) 

Status: Accidental; two records. The 

Grabers reported the species" through la te 

May" in 1951. One was found at Middle 

Springs by Mick McHugh on 19 September 1986, and several additional observers 

saw it on 21 September 1986. 

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 

Status: Rare. Dates range from 10 October to 4 January. Although Morton 

County has only limited Marsh Wrenhabitat, primarily at a few small ponds along 

the Cimarron River, this species was seen 

on the Cimarron CBC in 10 consecutive 

years. 

High Counts: Five were seen on the 

Cimarron CBC's of 25 December 1963 and 

31 December 1982. 

Out of Season: One report on 13 May 

1995 by the Smiths is the only spring report and is late for migration. 

Muscicapidae - Kinglets, Thrushes 

Sylviinae - Kinglets, Gnatcatchers 

Golden-crowned Kinglet 

(Regulus satrapa) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates extend from 22 September to 2 January. 

High Counts: Seven were recorded on 

the Cimarron CBC of 1 January 1988. 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 

(Regulus calendula) 

Status: Common migrant. Dates range 

from 10 April to 28 May and from 10 

September to 3 January. The Smiths found 

six on 21 March. This is an unusually early 

record. This species has lingered until the 

Cimarron CBC on three occasions with 

dates from 31 December to 3 January. 

74 

High Counts: Cable and Seltmanfound 

more than 50 migrants on 10 October 1987. 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 

(Polioptila caerulea) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 25 April to 11 June and from 19 

August to 5 October. 

Nesting Records: Rising collected a 

breeding pair on 11 June 1965. They were 

near the Cimarron River. 

High Counts: Cable observed four on 

28 September 1986, and 5-6 were found on 

4 May 1996. 

Out of Season: One very late bird 

found by Crawford and Parker on 23 November 1987 still remained following a 

major snowstorm on 28 November 1987. 

This is the latest fall date for all of Kansas. 

Turdinae - Bluebirds, Solitaires, 

Thrushes 

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) 

Status: Uncommon resident. Numbers are somewhat higher during seasonal 

migrations. 

Nesting Records: One juvenile from a 

nest of three was collected on 8 June 1968. 

Ports observed juveniles in both 1978 and 

1979. Nest boxes erected by Schwilling 

have attracted several breeding pairs of 

bl uebirds each year since 1990. In the three 

breeding seasons of 1990, 1991, and 1993, 

the 32 bluebird boxes housed nine Eastern 

Bluebird nests. 

High Counts: Seltman found 30 on 20 

October 1984. 

Remarks: More than any other species 

found on the Cimarron NG, this species 

has inspired American nature writers for 

the past 200 years. John Burroughs wrote, 

"His gentle manners, his soft, appealing 

voice, not less than his pleasing hues, seem 

born of the bright and genial skies." 

Thoreau wrote, "The bluebird carries the 

sky on its back." He was also moved by the 

bluebird's song, " ... the blue curls of their 
warblings, - harbingers of serene and 

warm weather, little azure rills of melody 

trickling here and there from out the air, 

their short warble trilled in the air reminding of so many corkscrews assaulting and 

thawing the torpid mass of winter, assisting the ice and snow to melt and the streams 

to flow ... .1 hear more bluebirds and see 

their azure flakes settling on the fence 

posts." Birders on the Cimarron NG can 

also be inspired by these "azure flakes" 

thanks in large part to Marvin Schwilling's 

extensive trail of bluebird houses. 

The same 32 boxes that resulted in nine 

bluebird nests in three breeding seasons 

also housed 29 House Wren nests, five 

House Sparrow nests, and five or six Ashthroated Flycatcher nests (Schwilling 

1994). These bird houses ~till exist and will 

undoubtedly continue to support cavity 

nesting birds for several more years. 

Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates range from 15 October 

to 4 May. Two specimens were taken on 2 

April 1962. 

High Counts: More than 100 were seen 

along the Cimarron River on 21 October 

1989. More than 50 were seen on 15 October 1988. More than 25 were inside the 

Elkhart city limits on 10 October 1987. 

Remarks: Mountain Bluebirds are common migrants on the High Plains, but in 

Morton County they normally occur only 

within a narrow migration window. The 

species has been recorded only twice during March, but elsewhere in western Kansas migrating Mountain Bluebirds are often found during that month. 

Townsend's Solitaire 

(Myadestes townsendl) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates are scattered from 5 

September to 15 May. 

High Counts: Seltman counted more 

than 20 on 28 September 1991. Participants counted 14 on the Cimarron CBC of 

2 January 1987. 

Ornlthologicai History and the Birds 

Remarks: Although Townsend "s Solitaires are never abundant in Morton 

County, several may be seen during normal birding from late summer to early 

spring. Most sightings come from Elkhart 

or the Cimarron N G W or k Sta tIOn north of 

Elkhart, but Solitaires are also seen regularly along the Cimarron River. 

Veery (Catharus fuscescens) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Spring 

records range from 28 April to 23 May. 

One bird was netted and banded on 4 

September 1992 for the only summer-autumn record. 

High Counts: Ely collected two and 

observed several more on 14 May 1967. 

Gray-cheeked Thrush 

(Catharus minimus) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range 

through 6-26 May plus three records between 27 September and 10 October. 

High Counts: Two were seen on 11 

May 1973, 6 May 1990, and 26 May 1991. 

Remarks: Coloradans consider Graycheeked Thrush very rare with only 12 

accepted records as of 1991 (Andrews and 

Righter 1992). Evidence from Morton 

County would seem to contradict that 

notion and would suggest that Graycheeked Thrush IS a rare but regular migrant, at least along the Kansas-Colorado 

border. Many of the Morton County birds 

were singing and therefore positively identified. 

Swainson's Thrush 

(Catharus ustulatus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 25 April to 8 June and from 1 

September to 28 September. A bird on 15 

November 1992 occurred well beyond the 

usual migration period. 

High Counts: 10 were seen on both 28 

September 1986 and 26 May 1991. Ports 

reported "heavy migration" of this species on 23 May 1979. 

Remarks: The Swainson's Thrush is 

75 
Part 3 

the most common migrant thrush in 

Morton County with the Hermit Thrush 

being the second most common. 

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Records 

extend from 11 April to 8 June and from 12 

September to 17 October. The Grabers collected five specimens between 22 April 

and 9 May 1950, and they saw many additional birds. 

High Counts: Five were seen on 30 

April 1967. 

Out of Season: One found on the Cimarron CBC of 1 January 1988 and two birds 

seen on 1 December 1992 constitute the 

only winter records from Morton County. 

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Patti 

found one bird on 11 May 1988. 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 

Status: Abundant migrant and uncommon summer resident. In winter their 

status varies annually from uncommon to 

abundant. 

Nesting Records: Ports found an adult 

feeding two spotted juveniles on 25 June 

1978. 

High Counts: Seltman found more than 

500 throughout the county on 6 February 

1993. Long reported "several hundred 

daily in timber" in November 1934. 

Remarks: Ports found no breeding robins along the Cimarron River in 1978 and 

only encountered singing males in the 

town of Elkhart (Ports 1978). 

Mimidae - Catbirds, Mockingbirds, 

Thrashers 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

8 May to 13 June and from 15 September to 

10 October. 

Nesting Records: No nestings have 

76 

been recorded, but Schwilling's record on 

13 June 1991 suggests that some individuals may linger into the breeding season. 

High Counts: Cable found two or three 

birds on 28 September 1986. 

'Northern Mockingbird 

(Mimus po/yg/ottos) 

Status: Common resident spring to 

falL rare winter resident. Records exist for 

all months except February and March, 

but some mdividuals probably stay 

through mild wmters. 

Nesting Records: Of the many breedmg records most document fledged young. 

Ports found a nest with two eggs on 31 

May 1979. Ely found four small young on 

20 June 1982. Cable saw a family group of 

six on 30 June 1992. 

High Counts: Ports counted 35 along 

census routes on 22 June 1978, and he 

counted 139 individuals during the summer of 1978 (Ports 1978). The Seltmans 

saw more than 30 feeding in shrubs at 

Point of Rocks on 7 August 1982. 

Remarks: On 18 August 1990 Patti and 

the Seltmans heard a Mockingbird call 

note in the parking lot of the El Rancho 

Restaurant in Elkhart. They subsequently 

rescued a juvenile about ready to fledge 

from under the hood of a pickup truck 

with Morton County license plates. After 

being force-fed a hearty meal, the young 

mockingbird was released to an uncertain 

fate in shrubbery at the Morton County 

Courthouse. 

Sage Thrasher 

(Oreoscoptes montanus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant, very rare 

in summer and winter. The status of Sage 

Thrasher in Morton County is uncertain 

and may have changed over the last several decades. Sightings exist for every 

month except March. 

Nesting Records: A family group was 

observed and a specimen of a juvenile 

taken on 17 July 1963. 
Ornitnological History and the Birds

High Counts: Cable, Rader, and

Seltman observed 18 birds on 27 September 198<S. This is an unusually nigh number and probably represents migrants diverted by unusual weather.

Remarks: Several species associated

with sagebrush were formerly more common in Morton County. It is unknown

whether their decline results from the

dwindling sage habitat (mostly because of

eradication efforts by the Forest Service),

or whether these species ha ve experienced

more widespread declines throughout

their breeding ranges in adjacent states.

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Dates are scattered from 26

April to 5 October.

Nesting Records: Patti found a nest on

11 June 1972. A nest on the ground near

the Rolla bridge contained three chicks on

2 June 1978 (Ports 1978).

High Counts: Members of the KOS

found 20 on 5 May 1990.

Out of Season: Brown Thrashers have

been encountered on three Cimarron

CBC's on dates ranging from 28 December

to 1 January. These are the only records

between October and April.

Remarks: Although very common elsewhere in Kansas, Brown Thrashers can

occasionally be very scarce, even absent,

in Morton County.

Curve-billed Thrasher

(Toxostoma curvirostre)

Status: Uncommon resident declining

to very rare. This species first bred in the

county in the late 1970s, increased in numbers during the 1980s, and now is experiencing a decline.

Nesting Records: Schwilling found a

used nest in a cholla cactus on 27 April

1977. Ports found the first known active

nest near the Cimarron River northeast of

Rolla on 24 June 1978. In recent years one

or two pairs have nested in Elkhart, but no

nests have been found on Cimarron NG.

High Counts: Other than family groups,

the highest total is four adults seen on the

Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1987.

Remarks: Before 1977 only threeCurvebilled Thrashers had been encountered in

Morton County. The first state record was

reported on 1 May 1950 by the Grabers,

Patti and Cole observed one northwest of

Elkhart on 10 June 1972, and one was

found on the Cimarron CBC of 27 December 1975. The historical rarity of Curvebilled Thrashers prior to 1977 plus the

apparent decline of the 1990s collectively

suggest that the recent expansion of the

breeding range into southwestern Kansas

may have been brief and temporary. In

1991 and 1993 Schwilling (1994) searched

all known nest sites in Morton County and

found only one pair of nesting birds. That

pair was nesting in a residential section of

Elkhart. He concluded, "It now appears

that the Kansas population has decreased

High Counts: Cable, Rader, and 

Seltman observed 18 birds on 27 Septemh<'r lQR(;. This is an unusually high number and probably represents mtgrants diverted by unusual weather. 

Remarks: Several species associated 

with sagebrush were formerly more common in Morton County. It IS unknown 

whether their decline results from the 

dwindling sage habitat (mostly because of 

eradication efforts by the Forest Service), 

or whether these species have experienced 

more widespread declines throughout 

their breeding ranges in adjacent states. 

Brown Thrasher ( Toxostoma rufum) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Dates are scattered from 26 

April to 5 October. 

Nesting Records: Patti found a nest on 

11 June 1972. A nest on the ground near 

the Rolla bridge contained three chicks on 

2 June 1978 (Ports 1978). 

High Counts: Members of the KOS 

found 20 on 5 May 1990. 

Out of Season: Brown Thrashers have 

been encountered on three Cimarron 

CBC's on dates ranging from 28 December 

to 1 January. These are the only records 

between October and April. 

Remarks: Although very common elsewhere in Kansas, Brown Thrashers can 

occasionally be very scarce, even absent, 

m Morton County. 

Curve-billed Thrasher 

( Toxostoma curvirostre) 

Status: Uncommon resident declining 

to very rare. This species first bred in the 

county in the late 1970s, increased in numbers during the 1980s, and now is experiencing a decline. 

Nesting Records: Schwilling found a 

used nest in a cholla cactus on 27 April 

1977. Ports found the first known active 

nest near the Cimarron River northeast of 

Rolla on 24 June 1978. In recent years one 

or two pairs have nested in Elkhart, but no 

nests have been found on Cimarron NG. 

Ornltnolog1cal H1story and the 81rds 

High Counts: Other than tamiiy groups, 

the highest total is four adults seen on the 

Cimarron C'Tl("' of 2 lanuary F>R7. 

Remarks: Before 1977 onlv three Curvebilled Thrashers had been encountered m 

Morton County. The first state record was 

reported on 1 Mav 1950 by the Grabers, 

Patti and Cole observed one northwest of 

Elkhart on 10 June 1972, and one was 

found on the Cimarron CBC of 27 December 1975. The historical rarity of Curvebilled Thrashers prior to 1977 plus the 

apparent decline of the 1990s collectively 

suggest that the recent expansion of the 

breeding range into southwestern Kansas 

may have been brief and temporary. In 

1991 and 1993 Schwilling (1994) searched 

all known nest sites in Morton County and 

found only one pair of nesting birds. That 

pair was nesting in a residential section of 

Elkhart. He concluded, "It now appears 

that the Kansas population has decreased 

and the bird is retreating back into the 

desert southwest. This may be a natural 

population fluctuation." Curve-billed 

Thrashers are common in Cimarron 

County, Oklahoma; and sightings are 

likely to continue in Morton County even 

if the Curve-billed Thrasher disappears as 

a breeding species. 

Motacillidae - Pipits 

American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

7 April to 21 May and from 27 September 

to 5 November. 

High Counts: Six were seen on 5 May 

1990 and 4 May 1996. 

Remarks: This high count figure is low 

because small flocks should be encountered in migration. Birders, however, 

spend little time in the open fields preferred by this species in migration, so few 

records exist. A few American Pipits have 

been seen walking the water's edge at the 

Elkhart sewer ponds. 

77 
Part 3

Bombycillidae - Waxwings

Bohemian Waxwing

(Bombycilla garulus)

Status: Accidental; two records. One

bird was seen by many observers on the

Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1987 and another bird was reported on 1 January 1989.

This species regularly invades the Great

Plains in winter, but birds seldom reach as

far south as Morton County.

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident, accidental breeder. Records

exist for all months except March, June,

and July.

Nesting Records: Both Rader and

Seltman witnessed adults feeding fledged

juveniles in Elkhart in September 1992.

The young birds still had some downy

feathers and poorly developed tail feathers, indicating they were hatched locally.

In recent years Cedar Waxwings have been

sporadic nesters all across Kansas, and

this would seem to be just another incident in that trend.

High Counts: Seltman observed more

than 200 on 6 February 1993.

Ptilogonatidae - Silky-Flycatchers

Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens)

Status: Accidental. John Rakestraw

discovered a female at Middle Spring on 3

September 1994. This bird was seen and

photographed by six additional observers

before it disappeared the next day. This

was only the second documented state

record for Kansas at the time, but in the

following weeks two Phainopeplas were

reported from Haskell County and one

from Garden City in Finney County. All

Kansas records are from September. A

previous convincing report of a female at

Point of Rocks by Don and Fran Vannoy

on 10 September 1987 included a good

description of the plumage and the distinctive "purp" call-note. The KOS Records

Committee, which adds birds to the state

checklist only if supported by photograph,

recording, or specimen, rejected this first

sight record of Phainopepla for Kansas.

However, this sighting now seems to be

perfectly in line with the other Morton

County record and the three other southwestern Kansas records to date.

Laniidae - Shrikes

Laniinae - Typical Shrikes

Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor)

Status: Uncommon autumn and winter resident. Dates range from 15 October

to 1 January.

High Counts: Three were recorded on

27 December 1981 and 30 December 1989.

Out of Season: One report from the

Elkhart sewer ponds on 13 April 1986

needs confirmation. A record from 5 June

1952 is undoubtedly in error and may

refer to a recently fledged Loggerhead

Shrike.

Remarks: In late fall and early winter

Northern Shrikes are usually present in

Part 3 

Bombycillidae- Waxwings 

Bohemian Waxwing 

( Bombycilla garu/us) 

Status: Accidental; two records. One 

bird was seen by many observers on the 

Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1987 and another bird was reported on 1 January 1989. 

This species regularly invades the Great 

Plains in winter, but birds seldom reach as 

far south as Morton County. 

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and wmter resident, accidental breeder. Records 

exist for all months except March, june, 

and July. 

Nesting Records: Both Rader and 

Seltman witnessed adults teeding fledged 

juveniles in Elkhart m September 1992. 

The young birds still had some downy 

feathers and poorly developed tail feathers, indicating they were hatched locally. 

In recent years Cedar Waxwings have been 

sporadic nesters all across Kansas, and 

this would seem to be just another incident in that trend. 

High Counts: Seltman observed more 

than 200 on 6 February 1993. 

Ptilogonatidae - Silky-Flycatchers 

Phainopepla ( Phainopepla nitens) 

Status: Accidental. John Rakestraw 

discovered a female at Middle Spring on 3 

September 1994. This bird was seen and 

photographed by six additional observers 

before it disappeared the next day. This 

was only the second documented state 

record for Kansas at the time, but in the 

following weeks two Phainopeplas were 

reported from Haskell County and one 

from Garden City in Finney County. All 

Kansas records are from September. A 

previous convincing report of a female at 

Point of Rocks by Don and Fran Vannoy 

on 10 September 1987 included a good 

78 

description of the plumage and the distinctive "purp" call-note. The KOS Records 

Committee, which adds birds to the state 

checklist only if supported by photograph, 

recording, or specimen, rejected this first 

sight record of Phainopepla for Kansas. 

However, this sighting now seems to be 

perfectly in line with the other Morton 

County record and the three other southwestern Kansas records to date. 

Laniidae- Shrikes 

Laniinae- Typical Shrikes 

Northern Shrike (Lanius excubitor) 

Status: Uncommon autumn and wmter resident. Dates range tram 15 October 

to l january. 

High Counts: Three were recorded on 

27 December 1981 and 30 December 1989. 

Out of Season: One report trom the 

Elkhart sewer ponds on 13 April 1986 

needs confirmation. A record from 5 June 

1952 is undoubtedly in error and may 

refer to a recently fledged Loggerhead 

Shrike. 

Remarks: In late fall and early winter 

Northern Shrikes are usually present in 

low numbers on Cimarron NG. However, 

each shrike encountered between October 

and March should be studied carefully 

because both species may be present during that period. 

Loggerhead Shrike 

(Lanius ludovicianus) 

Status: Common resident with numbers supplemented by migrants in spring 

and fall. 

Nesting Records: Ports found a nest 

with seven eggs near the Cimarron River 

on 25 May 1978. 

High Counts: Participants counted 22 

on the Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1987, 

and 21 were seen on the CBC of 31 December 1993. A group of birders counted 20 

migrants on 19 September 1986. 
omitnoiooicai History am meBims

Sturnidae- Starlings

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Status: Abundant resident with highest numbers in winter.

Nesting Records: No definite records

exist, but Ports reported them nesting in

dead cottonwoods along the Cimarron

River with Red-headed Woodpeckers occupying adjacent holes.

High Counts: Participants counted

1,500 on the Cimarron CBC of 27 December 1975, 958 on the CBC of 31 December

1982, and 705 on the CBC of 29 December

1984.

Remarks: On 16 March 1890, Eugene

Schieffelen, a man devoted to introducing

to the U.S. every bird Shakespeare ever

mentioned, released 60 birds into New

York City's Central Park. Within weeks

they were nesting under the eaves at the

American Museum of Natural History.

The next year 40 more were released to

make sure they would survive. The descendants of these birds did not arrive in

Morton County until the mid-1950s.

Starlings were not noted by Long in

1934 or even by the Grabers in 1950-51.

Schwilling saw more than 25 on 27 September 1954. No more records existed until

the Cimarron CBC of 25 December 1963.

During the next 10 years, the numbers

exploded with the all-time high of 1,500

noted above. In recent years the numbers

of Starlings counted on the annual CBC

have diminished, which is encouraging

because they compete with a wide variety

of cavity-nesters during the breeding season.

Birders will encounter Starlings at the

Elkhart cemetery, the sewer ponds, at outlying feedlots, and in residential neighborhoods. Before dismissing them with

disgust, consider what Terry Tempest Williams wrote, "I admire Starlings' remarkable adaptability. Home is everywhere...

The man who wanted Shakespeare's birds

flying in Central Park and altruistically

brought Starlings to America from England is not to blame. We are â€” for creatine more and more habitat for a bird we

despise." Williams was able to even find

beauty in them. "The symmetry of Starling flocks takes my breath away, I lose all

track of time and space. They wheel and

turn, twist and glide, with no apparent

leader. They are the collective. A flight of

frenzy. They are black stars against a blue

sky."

Vireonidae - Vireos

Vireoninae - Typical Vireos

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

Status: Accidental; two records. Patti

found both birds: one in Elkhart on 12 May

1973 and another on 11 May 1988.

Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii)

Status: Accidental; four records. Graber

found one along the Cimarron River on 10

May 1950, and Seltman found another

below Point of Rocks on 12 September

Sturnidae • Starlings 

European Starling ( Sturnus vulgaris) 

Status: Abundant resident with highest numbers in winter. 

Nesting Records: No definite records 

exist, but Ports reported them nesting in 

dead cottonwoods along the Cimarron 

River with Red-headed Woodpeckers occupying adjacent holes. 

High Counts: Participants counted 

1,500 on the Cimarron CBC of 27 December 1975, 958 on the CBC of 31 December 

1982, and 705 on the CBC of 29 December 

1984. 

Remarks: On 16 March 1890, Eugene 

Schieffelen, a man devoted to introducmg 

to the U.S. every bird Shakespeare ever 

mentioned, released 60 birds into New 

York City's Central Park. Within weeks 

they were nesting under the eaves at the 

American Museum of Natural History. 

The next year 40 more were released to 

make sure they would survive. The descendants of these birds did not arrive in 

Morton County until the mid-1950s. 

Starlings were not noted by Long in 

1934 or even by the Grabers in 1950-51. 

Schwilling saw more than 25 on 27 September 1954. No more records existed until 

the Cimarron CBC of 25 December 1963. 

During the next 10 years, the numbers 

exploded with the all-time high of 1,500 

noted above. In recent years the numbers 

of Starlings counted on the annual CBC 

have diminished, which is encouraging 

because they compete with a wide variety 

of cavity-nesters during the breeding season. 

Birders will encounter Starlings at the 

Elkhart cemetery, the sewer ponds, at outlying feedlots, and in residential neighborhoods. Before dismissing them with 

disgust, considerwhatTerryTempest Williams wrote, "I admire Starlings' remarkable adaptability. Home is everywhere ... 

The man who wanted Shakespeare's birds 

flying in Central Park and altruistically 

brought Starlings to America from England is not to blame. We are- for creatinO more and more habitat for a bird we 

de~pi~e." William~ wa~ able to even find 

beauty in them. "The symmetry of Starling flocks takes my breath away, I lose all 

track of time and space. They wheel and 

tum, twist and glide, with no apparent 

leader. They are the collective. A flight of 

frenzy. They are black stars against a blue 

sky." 

Vireonidae- Vireos 

Vireoninae -Typical Vireos 

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. Patti 

found both buds: one in Elkhart on 12 May 

1973 and another on 11 May 1988. 

Bell's Vireo {Vireo belli!) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Graber 

found one along the Cimarron River on 10 

May 1950, and Seltman found another 

below Point of Rocks on 12 September 

1982. Young found a nest on 19 May 1992. 

Patti found one on 4 September 1995. 

Remarks: The rarity of this species is 

puzzling. Bell's Vireo nests regularly in 

parts of western Kansas, so one would 

think it would be a regular migrant in 

Morton County. This bird may be overlooked and probably is more common than 

the current paucity of records indicates. 

Solitary Vireo (Vireo solitarius) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 27 April to 18 May and from 24 

August to 27 October. 

Remarks: All three subspecies of Solitary Vireo are documented in Morton 

County, a matter of special interest to birders because of the possible elevation to full 

species status for each form. Birders should 

try to identify each Solitary Vireo to type. 

The gray "plumbeous" race is quite distinctive; but the "Cassin's" and "Eastern" 

races can be difficult to separate. 

79 
Part 3

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

Status: Very rare migrant. All reported

dates but one occur within the short period of 1-14 May. Ely encountered a singing bird on 16 June 1979.

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Records extend from 1 May

to 23 September.

Nesting Records: Young found a nest

on 19 May 1992, and Ports observed territorial males on 14 June 1979.

Philadelphia Vireo

(Vireo philadelphicus)

Status: Accidental; four records. Ely

collected a singing male on 5 May 1963,

one was found in the Elkhart Cemetery on

26 September 1990, one was seen by several observers on the North Fork on 16

September 1994, and one was seen on 3

May 1996.

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from

18 May to 8 June and from 24 August to 28

September.

Out of Season: A specimen collected

on 29 June 1956 and a bird seen on 4 July

1966 are the only summer records, but

they suggest possible breeding. The

Grabers collected two males in breeding

condition on 19 and 20 May 1950 but did

not find a nest (Graber 1951).

Emberizidae - Warblers, Tanagers,

Cardinals, Sparrows, Blackbirds

Parulinae - Warblers

Golden-winged Warbler

(Vermivora chrysoptera)

Status: Accidental; one record. Patti,

Seltman, and Sigler found a singing male

in Elkhart on 26 May 1991.

Tennessee Warbler

(Vermivora peregrina)

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from

26 April to 18 May and from 14 September

to 10 October.

High Counts: Cable found more than

10 on 28 September 1986.

Orange-crowned Warbler

(Vermivora celata)

Status: Common migrant. Dates range

from 23 April to 15 May and from 25

August to 30 October.

High Counts: Seltman observed more

than 20 on 8 October 1994, and Cable

estimated 10-15 on 28 September 1986.

Nashville Warbler

(Vermivora ruficapilla)

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates

range from 26 April to 14 May and from 14

September to 30 October.

Virginia's Warbler (Vermivora virginiae)

Status: Rare migrant. All reported

spring dates occur within the very short

period of 4-12 May, but late summer dates

range from 24 August to 20 September.

High Counts: The Grabers saw two

and collected one specimen on 8 May 1950.

Many observers saw two north of the

Elkhart Cemetery on 7 May 1990 and again

Part 3 

Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) 

Status: Very rare migrant. All reported 

dates but one occur within the short period of 1-14 May. Ely encountered a singing bird on 16 June 1979. 

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Records extend from 1 May 

to 23 September. 

Nesting Records: Young found a nest 

on 19 May 1992, and Ports observed territorial males on 14 June 1979. 

Philadelphia Vireo 

( Vireo philadelphlcus) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Ely 

collected a singing male on 5 May 1963, 

one was found in the Elkhart Cemetery on 

26 September 1990, one was seen by several observers on the North Fork on 16 

September 1994, and one was seen on 3 

May 1996. 

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

18 May to 8 June and from 24 August to 28 

September. 

Out of Season: A specimen collected 

on 29 June 1956 and a bird seen on 4 July 

1966 are the only summer records, but 

they suggest possible breeding. The 

Grabers collected two males in breeding 

condition on 19 and 20 May 1950 but did 

not find a nest (Graber 1951). 

Emberizidae · Warblers, Tanagers, 

Cardinals, Sparrows, Blackbirds 

Parulinae • Warblers 

Golden-winged Warbler 

( Vermivora chrysoptera) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Patti, 

Seltman, and Sigler found a singing male 

in Elkhart on 26 May 1991. 

80 

Tennessee Warbler 

( Vermivora peregrina) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

26 April to 18 May and from 14 September 

to 10 October. 

High Counts: Cable found more than 

10 on 28 September 1986. 

Orange-crowned Warbler 

( Vermivora celata) 

Status: Common migrant. Dates range 

from 23 April to 15 May and trom 25 

August to 30 October. 

High Counts: Seltman observed more 

than 20 on 8 October 1994, and Cable 

estimated 10-15 on 2H September 1986. 

Nashville Warbler 

( Vermivora ruficapilla) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 26 April to 14 May and from 14 

September to 30 October. 

Virginia's Warbler ( Vermivora virginiae) 

Status: Rare migrant. All reported 

spring dates occur within the very short 

period of 4-12 May, but late summer dates 

range from 24 August to 20 September. 

High Counts: The Grabers saw two 

and collected one specimen on 8 May 1950. 

Many observers saw two north of the 

Elkhart Cemetery on 7 May 1990 and again 

on 4 May 1996. 

Remarks: This species is rare in Kansas 

and is likely encountered only during the 

very narrow migration windows listed 

above. Virginia's Warblers are a common 

breeding bird in the lower elevations of 

Colorado's mountains and would be a 

good candidate for vagrancy in southwestern Kansas during migration. High 

numbers of this species migrate through 

the foothills near Trinidad, Colorado (Dan 

Bridges, personal communication). 

Northern Parula ( Parula americana) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Dates range 
Ornithological History and trie Birds

from 27 April to 3 June. Seltman discovered a single bird on 20 September 1986.

High Counts: Several people observed

two on 27 April 1985.

Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates extend from

26 April to 27 September.

Nesting Records: Apparently, no confirmed nests have been found. Ports recorded 12 territorial males on 14 June 1979.

High Counts: 50 were seen throughout

the county on 18 August 1990.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

(Dendroica pensylvanica)

Status: Very rare migrant. Five spring

records all occur in the period 6-24 May.

Two other records are from 14 September

1991 and 16 September 1989.

Magnolia Warbler

(Dendroica magnolia)

Status: Very Rare; six records. KOS

members watched two birds during 5-8

May 1990. Other spring birds were found

on 10 May 1995 and 4 May 1996. Three

records occurred within the period 12-18

September.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

(Dendroica caerulescens)

Status: Very rare migrant. The three

spring records occur between 29 April and

17 May. Four additional records range

between 17 September and 10 October.

Remarks: As strange as it may seem,

Morton County is perhaps the most likely

place in Kansas to encounter this beautiful

eastern warbler. A similar vagrancy pattern for this species exists in adjacent eastern Colorado (see Andrews and Righter

1992).

Yellow-rumped Warbler

(Dendroica coronata)

Status: Common to abundant migrant.

Dates range from 2 April to 28 May and

from 14 September to 10 November. Three

remained until the Cimarron CDC of 2

January 1993, and seven were counted on

the CBC of 31 December 1993.

High Counts: More than 350 were seen

on 4 May 1996. More than 200 were seen

on 28 September 1991, and 100 were seen

on 10 October 1987.

Remarks: Many records of the western

"Audubon's" form exist for Morton

County, and in migration perhaps 10-20

percent are of that type.

Black-throated Gray Warbler

(Dendroica nigrescens)

Status: Rare migrant. Seventeen

records occur between 28 April and 17

May. Other records are from 16 August to

28 September.

High Counts: The Grabers reported

three females on 13 May 1950.

Townsend's Warbler

(Dendroica townsendi)

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates

range from 25 April to 20 May and from 3

September to 2 October. Most records are

from 27 April to 3 June. Seltman discovered a smnle bird on 20 sertember 1986. 

High CoutZts: Severdl people observed 

two on 27 April 1985. 

Yellow Warbler (Oendroica petechia) 

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates extend from 

26 April to 27 September. 

Nesting Records: Apparently, no confirmed nests have been found. Ports recorded 12 territorial males on 14 June 1979. 

High Counts: 50 were seen throughout 

the county on 18 August 1990. 

Chestnut-sided Warbler 

(Oendroica pensylvanica) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Five spring 

records all occur in the period 6-24 May. 

Two other records are from 14 September 

1991 and 16 September 1989. 

Magnolia Warbler 

( Dendroica magnolia) 

Status: Very Rare; six records. KOS 

members watched two birds during 5-8 

May 1990. Other spring birds were found 

on 10 May 1995 and 4 May 1996. Three 

records occurred within the period 12-18 

September. 

Black-throated Blue Warbler 

( Dendrotca caerulescens) 

Status: Very rare migrant. The three 

spring records occur between 29 April and 

17 May. Four additional records range 

between 17 September and 10 October. 

Remarks: As strange as it may seem, 

Morton County is perhaps the most likely 

place in Kansas to encounter this beautiful 

eastern warbler. A similar vagrancy pattern for this species exists in adjacent eastem Colorado (see Andrews and Righter 

1992). 

Yellow-rumped Warbler 

(Dendroica coronata) 

Status: Common to abundant migrant. 

OrnithologiCal History and the B1rds 

Dates range from 2 April to 28 May and 

hom 14 Seftember to 10 November. Three 

ren1<1ined until the Cimanon CBC of 2 

January 1993. and seven were counted on 

the CBC of 31 December 1993. 

High Counts: More than 350 were seen 

on 4 May 1996. More than 200 were seen 

on 28 September 1991, and 100 were seen 

on 10 October 1987. 

Remarks: Many records of the western 

"Audubon's" form exist for Morton 

County, and in migration perhaps 10-20 

percent are of that type. 

Black-throated Gray Warbler 

(Dendroica nigrescens) 

Status: Rare migrant. Seventeen 

records occur between 28 April and 17 

May. Other records are from 16 August to 

28 September. 

High Counts: The Grabers reported 

three females on 13 May 1950. 

Townsend's Warbler 

( Dendroica townsendt) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 25 April to 20 May and from 3 

September to 2 October. Most records are 

from September. 

High Counts: Three were seen on 21 

September 1992 and on 18 September 1993. 

Remarks: Thts western spectes was 

once thought to be very rare m Kansas, but 

it has been a regular summer-autumn migrant wtth records from every year since 

1986. Townsend's Warbler is much more 

likely to be encountered than the similar 

Black-throated Green Warbler. 

Black-throated Green Warbler 

( Dendroica virens) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Three spring 

records occur within the very short period 

of 6-13 May, and summer-autumn records 

occur within the period 5-28 September. 

Blackburnian Warbler 

( Dendroica fusca) 

Status: Accidental; five records. Four 

81 
Part 3

records occur within the period 10-23 May.

The Grabers collected one specimen on 10

May 1950. Thompson found one bird at

the North Fork on 5 September 1993.

Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus)

Status: Accidental; three records.

McHugh found onebird at the North Fork,

which was seen by many observers on 10-

11 November 1989. An immature bird

found by Seltman along the Cimarron

River on 18 September 1993 was seen by

three observers. The same day Rader saw

another Pine Warbler in the Elkhart Cemetery.

Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)

Status: Accidental. Janzen and Yoder

found a singing male in the woods below

Point of Rocks on 14 May 1988. It remained on territory until at least 2 July

1988. No mate was seen. This bird, being

more than 500 miles from its normal breeding range, was seriously lost.

Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum)

Status: Accidental; three records. A

remarkably hardy individual was found

on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December

1977. Patti and Moore found one north of

the Elkhart Cemetery on 14 September

1990. Rader discovered one along the Cimarron River on 18 September 1993.

Bay-breasted Warbler

(Dendroica castanea)

Status: Accidental; four records. Dates

range from 6 May to 10 June. The Grabers

collected two specimens on 8 May 1950,

and Thompson collected one on 18 May

1978.

Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from

6 May to 23 May and from 15 September to

1 November.

High Counts: Patti found two on 17

May 1973.

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea)

Status: Accidental; one record.

Schwilling and Thompson visited the

North Fork on 18 May 1978 and found one

male Cerulean Warbler and a male Baybreasted Warbler. No other warblers were

present.

Black-and-white Warbler

(Mniotilta varia)

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates

range from 4 April to 26 May and from 17

August to 21 September.

American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates

range from 27 April to 26 May and from 17

August to 28 September.

High Counts: More than 100 American

Redstarts were seen during a remarkable

"fallout" of warblers witnessed by the

Seltmans on 11 September 1982. This

record appears to be an anomaly because

the next highest count on record is of five

American Redstarts seen on 19 September

1986.

Prothonotary Warbler

(Protonotaria citrea)

Part 3 

records occur within the period 10-23May. 

The Grabers collected one specimen on 10 

May 1950. Thompson found one bird at 

the North Fork on 5 September 1993. 

Pine Warbler ( Dendroica pinus) 

Status: Accidental; three records. 

McHugh found one bird at the North Fork, 

which was seen by many observers on 10-

11 November 1989. An immature bird 

found by Seltman along the Cimarron 

River on 18 September 1993 was seen by 

three observers. The same day Rader saw 

another Pine Warbler in the Elkhart Cemetery. 

Prairie Warbler (Oendro1ca disco/of) 

Status: Accidental. Janzen and Yoder 

found a singmg male in the woods below 

Point of Rocks on 14 May 1988. It remained on territory until at least 2 July 

1988. No mate was seen. This bird, being 

more than 500 miles from its normal breeding range, was seriously lost. 

Palm Warbler (Dendroica pa/marum) 

Status: Accidental; three records. A 

remarkably hardy individual was found 

on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 

1977. Patti and Moore found one north of 

the Elkhart Cemetery on 14 September 

1990. Rader discovered one along the Cimarron River on 18 September 1993. 

Bay-breasted Warbler 

( Dendroica castanea) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Dates 

range from 6 May to 10 June. The Grabers 

collected two specimens on 8 May 1950, 

and Thompson collected one on 18 May 

1978. 

Black poll Warbler ( Dendroica striata) 

Status: Rare migrant. Dates range from 

6 May to 23 May and from 15 September to 

1 November. 

High Counts: Patti found two on 17 

May 1973. 

82 

Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) 

Status: Accidental; one record. 

Schwilling and Thompson visited the 

North Fork on 18 May 1978 and found one 

male Cerulean Warbler and a male Baybreasted Warbler. No other warblers were 

present. 

Black-and-white Warbler 

( Mniotilta varia) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 4 April to 26 May and from 17 

August to 21 September. · 

American Redstart ( Setophaga ruticilla) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 27 April to 26 May and from 17 

August to 28 September. 

High Counts: More than 100 American 

Redstarts were seen during a remarkable 

"fallout" of warblers w1tnessed by the 

Seltmans on 11 September 1982. This 

record appears to be an anomalv because 

the next highest count on record is of five 

American Red starts seen on 19 September 

1986. 

Prothonotary Warbler 

( Protonotaria citrea) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A specimen was collected on 8 May 1970. 

Worm-eating Warbler 

( Helmitheros vermivorus) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Elizabeth and Robert Copper first reported this 

species on 22 April 1990. This bird may 

possibly have been the same individual 

that was discovered just north of the 

Elkhart Cemetery and was seen by dozens 

of KOS members during 5-6 May 1990. 

Rader and Seltman saw another individual 

in low shrubs at Point of Rocks on 11 May 

1991. At least two birds were seen by KOS 

members at Middle Spring on 4 May 1996. 
Ornithological History and the Birds

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)

Status: Rare migrant Ion records occur in very short migration windows of 5-

21 May and 4-14 September.

High Counts: Ely reported seeing "several" on 14 May 1967.

Northern Waterthrush

(Seiurus novebomcensis)

Status: Rare migrant. Of 10 spring

records all occur within the very short

period of 4-26 May. Additional sightings

have gone unrecorded.

High Counts: the Grabers saw as many

as five individuals daily in May 1950. Ely

saw two on 14 May 1967.

Louisiana Waterthrush

(Seiurus motacilla)

Status: Very rare migrant. Two spring

records document the species on 30 April

and 9 May 1950. Four records range from

4 September to 12 October. Richard Graber

remarked (1954) that this species occurs in

small numbers in both spring and fall, but

Louisiana Waterthrushes were only seen

twice between 1952 and 1992.

Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)

Status: Accidental; one record. One

male was collected on 30 April 1967.

Mourning Warbler

(Oporonis Philadelphia)

Status: Accidental; one record. The

Smiths closely observed a male on 11 May

1995.

MacGillivray's Warbler

(Oporornis tolmiei)

Status: Uncommon migrant. Spring

dates occur within the period 3-26 May.

Additional recorded dates range from 19

August to 12 October.

High Counts: Ely saw two on 4 May

1963.

Common Yellowthroat

(Geothlvpis tnehas]

Status: Uncommon migrant, rare summer resident. Dates range trom 22 April to

19 June and trom 23 September to 5 October, though only three tall sightings have

been recorded.

Nesting Records: No nestings have

been documented, although nesting is

possible. Ports had singing males on territories surrounding the small fishing ponds

on Cimarron NG throughout the summer

of 1978.

High Counts: Thompson reported three

on 18 May 1978. This total is very low and

could be exceeded easily during a good

migration.

Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina)

Status: Accidental; four records. Moore

had one on 16 May 1985. Many members

of KOS observed a female just north of the

Elkhart Cemetery during 5-6 May 1990.

The Smiths found a female on 11 May

1995. A singing bird was seen at the Boy

Scout area on 4 May 1996.

Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)

Status: Common to abundant migrant.

Dates range from 12 April to 26 Mav and

Ovenbird ( Sewrus aurocapillus) 

~tatus: R<~r<' migr<~nt. ·y <'n r<'cords occur in very short migration wmdows ot 5-

21 May and 4-14 September. 

High Counts: Ely reported seeing "several" on 14 May 1967. 

Northern Waterthrush 

( Seiurus noveboracensis) 

Status: Rare migrant. Of 10 spring 

records all occur within the very short 

period of 4-26 May. Additional sightings 

have gone unrecorded. 

High Counts: the Grabers saw as many 

as five individuals daily in May 1950. Ely 

saw two on 14 May 1967. 

Louisiana Waterthrush 

( Seiurus motacilla) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Two spring 

records document the species on 30 April 

and 9 May 1950. Four records range from 

4 September to 12 October. Richard Graber 

remarked (1954) that this species occurs in 

small numbers in both spring and fall. but 

Louisiana Waterthrushes were only seen 

twice between 1952 and 1992. 

Kentucky Warbler ( Oporornis formosus) 

Status: Accidental; one record. One 

male was collected on 30 April 1967. 

Mourning Warbler 

( Oporonis philadelphia) 

Status: Accidental; one record. The 

Smiths closely observed a male on 11 May 

1995. 

MacGillivray's Warbler 

( Oporornis tolmie1) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Spring 

dates occur within the period 3-26 May. 

Additional recorded dates range from 19 

August to 12 October. 

High Counts: Ely saw two on 4 May 

1963. 

Ornllhologtcal Htstorv and the Btrds 

Common Yellowthroat 

\ Geothlyp's mchas) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. rare summer res1dent. Dates range trom 22 Apnl to 

19 june and from 23 September to 5 Octnber. though onlv three tall s1ghtmgs havp 

been recorded. 

Nesting Records: No nestings have 

been documented, although nesting is 

possible. Ports had singing males on territories surrounding the small fishing ponds 

on Cimarron NG throughout the summer 

of 1978. 

High Counts: Thompson reported three 

on 18 May 1978. This total is very low and 

could be exceeded easily during a good 

migration. 

Hooded Warbler ( Wilsonia citrina) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Moore 

had one on 16 May 1985. Many members 

of KOS observed a female just north of the 

Elkhart Cemetery during 5-6 May 1990. 

The Smiths found a female on 11 May 

1995. A singing bird was seen at the Boy 

Scout area on 4 May 199h. 

Wilson's Warbler ( Wilsoma pustlla) 

Status: Common to abundant m1grant. 

Dates range from 12 Apnl to 26 Mav and 

from 17 August to 27 October 

High Counts: Cable and Seltrnan tound 

more than 300 on 21 September 1985. Cable 

estimated 200 or more on 2~ September 

1986. Rader and Seltman reported more 

than 200 on 14 September 1991. 

Remarks: Wilson's Warbler is certainly 

the most abundant warbler during summer-autumn migrations in Morton 

County, only occasionally being outnumbered by Yellow-rumped Warblers. Large 

gatherings probably result from migrating birds being blown onto the Great Plains 

from the Rocky Mountains. 

Yellow-breasted Chat (lcteria virens) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Records are scattered from 

13 May to 28 September. 

83 
Part 3

Nesting Records: No nestings have

been recorded although territorial males

and apparently mated pairs have been

observed. Ports monitored two males on

territory in June and July 1978 but observed no nest or young. Schwilling found

a singing territorial male north and about

30 yards west of the Cimarron River bridge

north of Elkhart on 19 June 1993. He returned to the same area the next day and

called in both a male and female. On June

21 he could only call in the male and

concluded they were nesting.

High Counts: Seltman estimated more

than lObirds on 8 September 1984 and also

on 20 September 1986. They are seen in

groups greater than five on many occasions.

Remarks: Western Tanagers seem to

migrate very quickly across southwestern

Kansas in the spring, but in late summer

many individuals seem to linger in the

area, making them much easier to find.

Very few adult males in alternate plumage are encountered in late summer, and

many birds appear to be immatures.

Thraupinae - Tanagers

Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

Status: Rare migrant. Typical dates

range from 27 April to 27 May plus one

late-summer record. The Grabers "noted

them frequently after 2 May 1950." Ely

collected one on 29 April 1967. Seltman

found a molting male along the Cimarron

River on 18 September 1993.

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

Status: Accidental; one record. The

Smiths observed one male north of Elkhart

on 8 May 1993.

Remarks: This bird was seen sitting in

the open on a fence near the Cimarron NG

Work Station. At first glance the Smiths

thought they had found another male Vermilion Flycatcher. (They found and photographed the only existing county record

of a male Vermilion Flycatcher.) However, they clearly saw it was a tanager.

According to the Smiths, they recognized

that this was a very unusual setting for a

tanager, so they made a special effort to

identify the bird carefully, specifically

making sure it wasn't a Vermilion Flycatcher.

Cardinalinae - Cardinals, Buntings

Northern Cardinal

(Cardinalis cardinalis)

Status: Uncommon resident late summer into spring. No summer sightings

have been recorded. Dates are scattered

from 15 August to 13 May.

High Counts: Three were found on the

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989.

Pyrrhuloxia (Cardinalis sinuatus)

Status: Accidental; two records. The

first record for Kansas was a female found

at the Cimarron NG Work Station north of

Elkhart by Patti and Thompson on 28 October 1989. This bird was seen by many

observers during the next two weeks but

Part 3 

Nesting Records: No nestings have 

been recorded although territorial males 

and apparently mated pairs have been 

observed. Ports monitored two males on 

territory in June and July 1978 but observed no nest or young. Schwilling found 

a singing territorial male north and about 

30 yards west of the Cimarron River bridge 

north of Elkhart on 19 June 1993. Hereturned to the same area the next day and 

called in both a male and female. On June 

21 he could only call in the male and 

concluded they were nesting. 

Thraupinae ·Tanagers 

Summer Tanager (Pi rang a rubra) 

Status: Rare migrant. Typical dates 

range from 27 April to 27 May plus one 

late-summer record. The Grabers "noted 

them frequently after 2 May 1950." Ely 

collected one on 29 April 1967. Seltman 

found a molting male along the Cimarron 

River on 18 September 1993. 

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) 

Status: Accidental; one record. The 

Smiths observed one male north of Elkhart 

on 8 May 1993. 

Remarks: This bird was seen sitting in 

the open on a fence near the Cimarron NG 

Work Station. At first glance the Smiths 

thought they had found another male Vermilion Flycatcher. (They found and photographed the only existing county record 

of a male Vermilion Flycatcher.) However, they clearly saw it was a tanager. 

According to the Smiths, they recognized 

that this was a very unusual setting for a 

tanager, so they made a special effort to 

identify the bird carefully, specifically 

making sure it wasn't a Vermilion Flycatcher. 

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 27 April to 13 May and from 19 

August to 28 September. 

84 

High Counts: Seltman estimated more 

than 10 birds on 8 September 1984 and also 

on 20 September 1986. They are seen in 

groups greater than five on many occasions. 

Remarks: Western Tanagers seem to 

migrate very quickly across southwestern 

Kansas in the spring, but m late summer 

many individuals seem to linger in the 

area, making them much easier to find. 

Very few adult males m alternate plumage are encountered in late summer, and 

many birds appear to be 1mmatures. 

Cardinalinae ·Cardinals, Buntings 

Northern Cardinal 

( Cardinalis cardinalis) 

Status: Uncommon resident late summer into spring. No summer sightings 

have been recorded. Dates are scattered 

from 15 August to 13 May. 

High Counts: Three were found on the 

Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1989. 

Pyrrhuloxia (Card ina/is sinuatus) 

Status: Accidental; two records. The 

first record for Kansas was a female found 

at the Cimarron NG Work Station north of 

Elkhart by Patti and Thompson on 28 October 1989. This bird was seen by many 

observers during the next two weeks but 

was apparently last seen alive on 11 November 1989. Pyrrhuloxia remains, presumably of this bird, were found on 30 

December 1989 and were preserved. 

Garrett and Johnson found a male 

Pyrrhuloxia north of the Elkhart Cemetery on 1 January 1993. This bird was 

seen through at least 15 March, also by 

many observers. It was usually seen in the 

company of a female Northern Cardinal. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 

(Pheucticus ludovicianus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 25 April to 26 May. 
Ornithological History and the Birds

High Counts: Two were seen on both

30 April 1983 and on 13 May 1987.

Oi(fo/5cfl8oniOnc5eenbj5cliwilling

13 June 1991 was presumably a late migrant; however, a pair seen by the Corders

22 June 1996 suggest possible breeding.

Black-headed Grosbeak

(Pheucticus melanocephalus)

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare

in summer. Dates range from 28 April to 3

June and from 24 August to 28 September.

Nesting Records: Only one nesting

recorded. The Seltmans observed a female

with three fledged juveniles along the

south river road on 7 August 1982. The

young were almost certainly fledged locally.

High Counts: Patti and Thompson

found large numbers of late migrating

Black-headed Grosbeaks on 3 June 1995.

More than 20 were seen on 6 June 1995.

Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea)

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates range from

29 April to 28 September.

Nesting Records: Patti found nesting

pairs on 11 June 1972. Ports found a nest

with four eggs on 5 June 1978 and a fledgling with an adult pair on 20 June 1978.

High Counts: The 20 birds recorded on

19 September 1986 is low. Higher numbers have gone unrecorded.

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare

summer resident. Dates range from 25

April to 21 September.

Nesting Records: Two pairs were

present on 15 June 1951 according to

Schwilling, but he found no nests. Thompson found a nest with one egg on 18 July

1958. Seltman saw a female carrying food

at Middle Spring on 3 August 1991.

High Counts: The five seen on 2 September 1989 is a lower figure than observations indicate. Higher tallies have gone

unrecorded.

Remarks: Range maps in field guides

may show Lazuli Buntings nesting in westcm Mm, but very little, if any, Hard

evidence supports these maps. Although

Lazuli Buntings migrate through Morton

County in good numbers, only a few midsummer birds have been recorded. A hybrid Indigo X Lazuli Bunting was collected on 14 May 1967.

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare

summer resident. Dates extend from 29

April to 19 September.

High Counts: Ports found five singing

males on 19 June 1979.

Remarks: Although Lazuli Buntings

may be more common in Morton County

during migration periods, Indigos Buntings are more likely to be encountered

during summer. No breeding has been

detected.

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Status: Accidental. One coming to a

High Counts: Two were seen on both 

30 April1983 and on 13 May 1987. 

Olft Of OCU~Oni One ftCEn by DChWillinb 

13 june 1991 was presumably a late migrant; however, a pair seen by the Corders 

22 June 1996 suggest possible breeding. 

Black-headed Grosbeak 

( Pheucticus melanocephalus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

in summer. Dates range from 28 April to 3 

June and from 24 August to 28 September. 

Nesting Records: Only one nesting 

recorded. The Seltmans observed a female 

with three fledged juveniles along the 

south river road on 7 August 1982. The 

young were almost certainly fledged locally. 

High Counts: Patti and Thompson 

found large numbers of late migrating 

Black-headed Grosbeaks on 3 June 1995. 

More than 20 were seen on 6 June 1995. 

Blue Grosbeak ( Guiraca caerulea) 

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates range from 

29 April to 28 September. 

Nesting Records: Patti found nesting 

pairs on 11 June 1972. Ports found a nest 

with four eggs on 5 June 1978 and a fledgling with an adult pair on 20 June 1978. 

High Counts: The 20 birds recorded on 

19 September 1986 is low. Higher numbers have gone unrecorded. 

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

summer resident. Dates range from 25 

April to 21 September. 

Nesting Records: Two pairs were 

present on 15 June 1951 according to 

Schwilling, but he found no nests. Thompson found a nest with one egg on 18 July 

1958. Seltman saw a female carrying food 

at Middle Spring on 3 August 1991. 

High Counts: The five seen on 2 September 1989 is a lower figure than observations indicate. Higher tallies have gone 

unrecorded. 

Ornithological H1story and the B1rds 

Remarks: Range maps in field guides 

may show Lazuli Buntings nesting in westrm Kama~, but vrry littlr, if any, hurd 

evidence supports these maps. Although 

Lazuli Buntings migrate through Morton 

County in good numbers. only a few midsummer birds have been recorded. A hybrid Indigo X Lazuli Bunting was collected on 14 May 1967. 

Indigo Bunting ( Passerina cyanea) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

summer resident. Dates extend from 29 

April to 19 September. 

High Counts: Ports found five singing 

males on 19 June 1979. 

Remarks: Although Lazuli Buntings 

may be more common in Morton County 

during migration periods, Indigos Buntings are more likely to be encountered 

during summer. No breeding has been 

detected. 

Painted Bunting (Passenna ciris) 

Status: Accidental. One corning to a 

backyard bird feeder in Elkhart on 4 May 

1996. Incredibly, the well-known cover of 

the Golden Field Gurde to the Birds of North 

carne to life as a male Lazuli Bunting and 

a male Indigo Bunting were also present 

in th1s yard. 

Dickcissel ( Spiza americana) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and summer resident. Dates range from 4 May to 

23 September. 

Nesting Records: Numerous singing 

males have been seen but no confirmed 

nesting records exist. 

High Counts: More than 20 were seen 

on 15 June 1951. 

Remarks: Dickcissels are common to 

abundant over most of Kansas, but Morton 

County seems to lack sufficient habitat to 

support this species as a breeding bird. 

Migrants are occasionally heard overhead, 

especially in late August and early September. 

85 
Part 3

Emberizinae - Sparrows

Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus)

Status: Uncommon migrant. All

records occur within narrow migration

windows of 25 April to 23 May and 5-30

September.

High Counts: Schwilling, witnessing a

remarkable migration of Green-tailed Townees, counted 22 on 12 May 1953. Seltman

and Rader had four on 25 September 1993.

Eastern Towhee

(Piplio erythrophthalmus)

Status: Accidental. Seltman saw an

unspotted mail Towhee at the Work Station on 21 October 1989 for the only record

for Morton County.

Remarks: In 1995, the A.O.U. split the

Rufous-sided Towhee into two separate

species, the Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee. This taxonomic split will cause

birders to look more carefully at the Towhees they encounter. Undoubtedly, this

additional attention will result in more

records of Eastern Towhee from Morton

County.

Spotted Towhee

(Pipilo maculatus)

Status: Common migrant and rare winter resident. Dates range from 17 September to 15 May.

High Counts: Seltman saw more than

50 on 28 September 1991, and 20 were

reported on 10 October 1987.

Canyon Towhee (Pipilo fuscus)

Status: Uncommon visitor with records

from 20 September to 17 June. There are no

records from July or August. This species

was first reported by Patti on 10 June 1972.

It is abundant in the Black Mesa country of

Oklahoma and at least nine additional

records suggest that Canyon Towhees occasionally move down the Cimarron in

early fall and may remain in Kansas until

early summer. Most Morton County

records involve brief stays, but two birds

remained at Point of Rocks from 15 October 1989 to 30 December 1989 and a single

towhee seen 14 April 1990 at the same

location may have been one of the same

individuals.

Nesting Records: Patti reported two

birds on 10 June 1972, and Al White found

one bird on 17 June 1978. These sightings

are intriguing because they lie within the

normal nesting period tor Canyon Towhees, but no nesting behavior was observed.

High Counts: Three birds were reported from the Cimarron NG Work Station in late November 1975 (date uncertain).

Remarks: Brown Towhee was separated (A.O.U. 1989) into two species, the

Canyon Towhee and the California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis). All Kansas records

pertain to Canyon Towhee.

Cassin's Sparrow (Aimophila cassinii)

Status: Abundant migrant and summer resident. Normal dates range from 14

Part 3 

Emberizinae- Sparrows 

Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. All 

records occur within narrow migration 

windows of 25 April to 23 May and 5-30 

September. 

High Counts: Schwilling, witnessing a 

remarkable migration of Green-tailed Towhees,counted22on 12May 1953. Seltman 

and Rader had four on 25 September 1993. 

Eastern Towhee 

(Piplio erythrophthalmus) 

Status: Accidental. Seltman saw an 

unspotted mail Towhee at the Work Station on 21 October 1989 for the only record 

for Morton County. 

Remarks: In 1995, the A.O.U. split the 

Rufous-sided Towhee into two separate 

species, the Eastern Towhee and the Spotted Towhee. This taxonomic split will cause 

birders to look more carefully at the Towhees they encounter. Undoubtedly, this 

additional attention will result in more 

records of Eastern Towhee from Morton 

County. 

Spotted Towhee 

( Pipilo maculatus) 

Status: Common migrant and rare winter resident. Dates range from 17 September to 15 May. 

High Counts: Seltman saw more than 

50 on 28 September 1991, and 20 were 

reported on 10 October 1987. 

Canyon Towhee ( Pipilo fuscus) 

Status: Uncommon visitor with records 

from 20 September to 17 June. There are no 

records from July or August. This species 

was first reported by Patti on 10 June 1972. 

It is abundant in the Black Mesa country of 

Oklahoma and at least nine additional 

records suggest that Canyon Towhees occasionally move down the Cimarron in 

early fall and may remain in Kansas until 

early summer. Most Morton County 

86 

records involve brief stays, but two birds 

remained at Point of Rocks from 15 October 1989 to 30 December 1989 and a single 

towhee seen 14 April 1990 at the same 

location may have been one of the same 

individuals. 

Nesting Records: Patti reported two 

birds on 10 June 1972, and AI White found 

one bird on 17 June 1978. These s1ghtings 

are intriguing because they lie within the 

normal nesting period tor Canyon Towhees, but no nesting behavior was observed. 

High Counts: Three birds were reported from the Cimarron NG Work Station in late November 1975 (date uncertain). 

Remarks: Brown Towhee was separated (A.O.U. 1989) into two species, the 

Canyon Towhee and the California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis). All Kansas records 

pertain to Canyon Towhee. 

Cassin's Sparrow (Aimophila cassinit) 

Status: Abundant migrant and summer resident. Normal dates range from 14 

April to 23 September. 

Nesting Records: Patti found a nest 

with four eggs on 8 June 1974. Ports found 

two nests with four and five eggs respectively on 7 June 1978 and a third nest with 

five eggs on 12 June 1978. He also found 

nests on 2 June 1979. 

High Counts: Ports counted 180 on 29 

May 1978 and 165 on 27 May 1978. 

Out of Season: Patti reported a bird 

seen on 10 November 1989. This extremely 

late bird represents the latest date for the 

species in Kansas. 

Remarks: During the nesting season, 

Cassin's Sparrows are one of the five most 

conspicuous birds on Cimarron NG. 

Rufous-crowned Sparrow 

(Aimophila ruficeps) 

Status: Uncommon. Dates range from 

8 September to 13 June. This species is 

common in the Black Mesa country of 

Oklahoma and southeastern Colorado. All 
Canyon Towhee. Photo by Bob Gress. 

Morton County records probably involve 

vagrants from those areas. 

Nesting Records: Lehman and 

Finnegan found a singing bird on 13 June 

1990 at Point of Rocks. Although this bird 

may have been defending a territory, no 

mate was seen and no subsequent nesting 

behavior was noted. 

High Counts: Three were recorded on 

the Cimarron CBC of 4 January 1975. Three 

were also seen at Point of Rocks on 29 

October i989. 

Remarks: Rufous-crowned Sparrows 

may occur more often in Morton County, 

but their secretive habits make them a 

very difficult bird to find and observe. At 

Point of Rocks they crawl beneath shrubs 

and hide in crevices, very seldom taking 

flight even when surrounded by eager 

birders. 

Omithotogicat History and the Birds 

American Tree Sparrow 

(Spizella arborea) 

Status: Abundant winter resident. 

Dates extend from 8 September to 5 May. 

Numbers tend to peak in mid-winter. 

High Counts: All high counts are from 

the Cimarron CBC's with 2,723 seen on 31 

December1976, 1,709on28December1991, 

and 1,836on31 December1993. Tree Sparrows have been seen in numbers exceeding 1,000 on four other occasions. 

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) 

Status: Common migrant. Dates range 

from 4 April to 26 May and from 18 August to 30 October. 

High Counts: Schwilling found more 

than 30 on 27 September 1954. Cable estimated 20-30 seen on 28 September 1986. 

These numbers are low. Numbers above 

100 have been observed, but the details 

have not been recorded. 

87 
Part 3

Out of Season: A specimen taken on 17

July 1963 and an adult seen by Ports on 26

July 1978 are the only summer records.

This species has bred in Cimarron County,

Oklahoma (Johnsgard 1979), but breeding

in Morton County would be unlikely.

Remarks: In late summer mixed flocks

of Spizella sparrows are a common sight

throughout Morton County. Chipping,

Clay-colored, and Brewer's Sparrows

have occasionally been seen together.

Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida)

Status: Common migrant. Dates range

from 9 April to 15 June and from 12 August to 5 October.

Nesting Records: Trautman (1969) reported seeing two adults feeding three

juveniles on 4 September 1964. This observation is extraordinary because the southern edge of this species' breeding range

lies several hundred miles north of Morton

County.

High Counts: Schwilling estimated

more than 50 on 17 September 1954. As

with the Chipping Sparrow, few birders

have bothered to count individuals so that

very high numbers have gone unrecorded.

Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri)

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare

summer resident. Dates range from 8 April

to 28 September.

Nesting Records: Schwilling and White

found nesting birds on 17 May 1978. During the summers of 1978 and 1979, Ports

found and mapped several breeding colonies in sagebrush habitat southeast of

Wilburton and northwest of Rolla. He discovered a nest with four eggs on 26 May

1979. These areas have not been monitored on an annual basis, but Schwilling

found five birds on territories on 10 June

1991 and four on 14 June 1991. This species

is almost always associated with mature

sagebrush, and the available habitat in

Morton County is isolated and vulnerable.

High Counts: Seltman saw more than

20 migrants in scattered groups on 19 September 1992.

Out of Season: No details are known

for one bird reported on the Cimarron

CBCof31 December 1988.

Remarks: When nesting, this species is

almost always associated with dense and

healthy sagebrush. The available breeding habitat in Morton County is limited to

a few isolated areas. A sagebrush eradication program to enhance grazing may have

negatively affected this and other sagedependent species. Several years ago, the

Forest Service stopped the eradication program.

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

Status: Uncommon resident. The local

population is small and is reinforced by

migrants in spring and fall. Records exist

for every month.

Nesting Records: Ports found two juveniles with two adults northwest of

Part 3 

Out of Season: A specimen taken on 17 

July 1963 and an adult seen by Ports on 26 

July 1978 are the only summer records. 

This species has bred in Cimarron County, 

Oklahoma (Johnsgard 1979), but breeding 

in Morton County would be unlikely. 

Remarks: In late summer mixed flocks 

of Spizella sparrows are a common sight 

throughout Morton County. Chipping, 

Clay-colored, and Brewer's Sparrows 

have occasionally been seen together. 

Clay-colored Sparrow ( Spizella pallid a) 

Status: Common migrant. Dates range 

from 9 April to 15 June and from 12 August to 5 October. 

Nesting Records: Trautman (1969) reported seeing two adults feeding three 

juveniles on 4 September 1964. This observation is extraordinary because the southem edge of this species' breeding range 

lies several hundred miles north of Morton 

County. 

High Counts: Schwilling estimated 

more than 50 on 27 September 1954. As 

with the Chipping Sparrow, few birders 

have bothered to count individuals so that 

very high numbers have gone unrecorded. 

Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

summer resident. Dates range from 8 April 

to 28 September. 

Nesting Records: Schwilling and White 

found nesting birds on 17 May 1978. During the summers of 1978 and 1979, Ports 

found and mapped several breeding colonies in sagebrush habitat southeast of 

Wilburton and northwest of Rolla. He discovered a nest with four eggs on 26 May 

1979. These areas have not been monitored on an annual basis, but Schwilling 

found five birds on territories on 10 June 

1991 and four on 14 June 1991. This species 

is almost always associated with mature 

sagebrush, and the available habitat in 

Morton County is isolated and vulnerable. 

88 

High Counts: Seltman saw more than 

20 migrants in scattered groups on 19 September 1992. 

Out of Season: No details are known 

for one b1rd reported on the Cimarron 

CBC of 31 December 1988. 

Remarks: When nesting, th1s species is 

almost always assonated with dense and 

healthy sagebrush. The available breedmg habitat in Morton County IS limited to 

a few isolated areas. A sagebrush eradication program to enhance grazing may have 

negatively affected this and other sagedependent species. Several years ago, the 

Forest Service stopped the eradication program. 

Field Sparrow ( Spizella pus ilia) 

Status: Uncommon resident. The local 

population is small and is reinforced by 

migrants in spring and fall. Records exist 

tor every month. 

Nesting Records: Ports found two juveniles with two adults northwest of 

Elkhart on 19 June 1979. Singing males 

have been recorded on 14 May 1967, 14 

June 1978, and 13 July 1978. 

High Counts: More than 20 were seen 

on 28 September 1991. 

Remarks: The conventional wisdom 

about Field Sparrows is that they should 

not reside on the arid High Plains. In 

Morton County, however, Field Sparrows 

are apparently present in low numbers 

year-round; and the population appears 

to have remained stable for at least several 

decades. 

Vesper Sparrow 

( Pooecetes gramineus) 

Status: Abundant migrant and very 

rare summer and winter resident. Records 

exist for all months. 

High Counts: Young estimated 1,000 

on 28 September 1992. Other large flights 

of migrants have gone unrecorded. 

Out of Season: An adult male was 

collected on 17 July 1963. This and other 

summer records may suggest breeding, 
Lark Sparrow. Photo by David A. Rintoul. 

but no nest or young have ever been reported. Vesper Sparrows have been recorded on the Cimarron CBC a total of 10 

times with a high of 11 seen on 30 December 1979. Small numbers may overwinter 

in Morton County. 

Remarks: This is the most abundant 

grassland sparrow during migration. Even 

beginners have been known to lament "Oh, 

its only another Vesper Sparrow" by the 

end of a long day of birding. 

Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

resident. Dates range from 10 April to 28 

September. 

Nesting Records: Two nests were found 

on 14 July 1964. Patti found two nests, 

each with four eggs, on 8 June 1974. Ports 

had a nest with five eggs on 31 May 1979. 

High Counts: Young saw 100 on 28 

September 1992. During the breeding seaOrnilhOIDgiOOI ~ anO lhD OD 

son, a high of 25 were counted by Ports on 

6 June 1978. This species can occasionally 

be abundant in migration. but greater numbers have not been recorded. 

Black-throated Sparrow 

(Amphispiza bilineata) 

Status: Accidental. A report of a Blackthroated Sparrow on 12 September 1992 

by Corder was accepted by the KOS 

Records Committee. Gerald Horak and Ed 

Miller reported two nea r the Boy Scout 

area on 4 May 1996. 

Remarks: This species breeds at Black 

Mesa, Oklahoma, and is expected in 

Morton County, but all records need confirmation. 

Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli) 

Status: Accidental; five records. Two 

specimens were taken from a flock of four 

birds on 1 November 1956. This was a 

89 
Part 3

winter when this species invaded southwestern Kansas. Martinez reported one in

extreme southwestern Morton County on

1 July 1969. Six were counted on the Cimarron CBC of 8 January 1974, and one on the

CBC's of 30 December 1977 and 30 December 1995.

Remarks: The Sage Sparrow is not

known to breed anywhere near Morton

County, so any birds seen are most prudently classified as vagrants. This species

may occasionally invade southwestern

Kansas.

Lark Bunting

(Calamospiza melanocorys)

Status: Abundant migrant and summer resident and common to abundant

winter resident.

Nesting Records: Ports found a nest

with five eggs on 7 June 1978.

High Counts: Seltman estimated more

than 10,000 migrants on 3 August 1991

with more than 1,000 seen in a single flock.

He further reported many flocks exceeded

100 birds. "Hundreds" were seen on 8

May 1977. Ports counted a total of 415 on

24 June 1978.

Out of Season: Prior to 1976, no records

documented Lark Bunting in Morton

County during winter; but since the 209

recorded on 31 December 1976, this species has appeared on almost every Cimarron CBC. Wintering flocks numbering in

the hundreds can also be seen in adjacent

Colorado and Oklahoma. Severe weather

seems to have little effect on Lark Buntings. Large wintering flocks have remained through blizzards and sub-zero

cold. This behavior appears to be new and

is somewhat puzzling. The historic winter

range of Lark Buntings begins several

hundred miles south of Morton County.

Remarks: The skylarking of Lark Buntings and Cassin's Sparrows is an unforgettable experience for birders visiting the

grasslands at the height of the breeding

season.

Savannah Sparrow

(Passerculus sandwichensis)

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates

range from 3 April to 6 June and from 7

September to 12 November.

High Counts: 10 were recorded on 10

October 1987.

Out of Season: Four were recorded on

the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1979,

the only winter record.

Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii)

Status: Accidental; three records.

Schwilling observed one at length north of

Wilburton on 6 May 1990 while other KOS

members watched courting Lesser Prairie-Chickens from their cars. The bird was

under the parked car of one of the prairiechicken watchers! Most of the group, engrossed with the prairie-chickens, remained oblivious to the sparrow. Patti

had another early May sighting, but the

exact date is uncertain. James Zellmer re

Part 3 

winter when this species invaded southwestern Kansas. Martinez reported one in 

extreme southwestern Morton County on 

1 July 1969. Six were counted on the Cimarron CBC of 8 January 1974, and one on the 

CBC' s of 30 December 1977 and 30 December 1995. 

Remarks: The Sage Sparrow is not 

known to breed anywhere near Morton 

County, so any birds seen are most prudently classified as vagrants. This species 

may .occasiOnally invade southwestern 

Kansas. 

Lark Bunting 

( Calamospiza melanocorys) 

Status: Abundant migrant and summer resident and common to abundant 

winter resident. 

Nesting Records: Ports found a nest 

with five eggs on 7 June 1978. 

High Counts: Seltman estimated more 

than 10,000 migrants on 3 August 1991 

with more than 1,000 seen in a single flock. 

He further reported many flocks exceeded 

100 birds. "Hundreds" were seen on 8 

May 1977. Ports counted a total of 415 on 

24 June 1978. 

OutofSeason: Prior to 1976,norecords 

documented Lark Bunting in Morton 

County during winter; but since the 209 

recorded on 31 December 1976, this species has appeared on almost every Cimarron CBC. Wintering flocks numbering in 

the hundreds can also be seen in adjacent 

Colorado and Oklahoma. Severe weather 

seems to have little effect on Lark Buntings. Large wintering flocks have remained through blizzards and sub-zero 

cold. This behavior appears to be new and 

is somewhat puzzling. The historic winter 

range of Lark Buntings begins several 

hundred miles south of Morton County. 

Remarks: The skylarking of Lark Buntings and Cassin's Sparrows is an unforgettable experience for birders visiting the 

grasslands at the height of the breeding 

season. 

90 

Savannah Sparrow 

( Passerculus sandwichensis) 

Status: Uncommon migrant. Dates 

range from 3 April to 6 June and from 7 

September to 12 November. 

High Counts: 10 were recorded on 10 

October 1987. 

Out of Season: Four were recorded on 

the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1979, 

the only winter record. 

Baird's Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdi1) 

Status: Accidental; three records. 

Schwilling observed one at length north of 

Wilburton on 6 May 1990 while other KOS 

members watched courting Lesser Prairie-Chickens from their cars. The bird was 

under the parked car of one of the prairiechicken watchers! Most of the group, engrossed with the prairie-chickens, remained oblivious to the sparrow. Patti 

had another early May sighting, but the 

exact date is uncertain. James Zellmer reported one north of the Wilburton Crossing on 5 September 1992. Zellmer got excellent views of the bird and several other 

birders got supporting glimpses of it. 

Remarks: This species is probably more 

common during migration than the records 

indicate. It is difficult to flush and once 

flushed typically flies or gets blown across 

the grassland before dropping back into 

the thick vegetation. Birders have spent 

hours chasing "short-tailed sparrows" 

around the grasslands in futile attempts to 

identify this species. 

Grasshopper Sparrow 

(Ammodramus savannarum) 

Status: Common summer resident. 

Records extend from 2 April to 20 August. 

Incredibly, no records document the species after 20 August. 

Nesting Records: No confirmed nesting records exists. Ports estimated 33 territorial males per 100 acres on 19 June 1979. 

High Counts: Ports counted 64 on 12 

June 1979. 
Ornithological History

sqical and the Birds

History Le Conte's Sparrow

Status: Accidental; one record. Cox

and Patti saw one bird in tall grass at a

pond near the Cimarron River during the

Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1976.

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

Status: Verv rare. Six records span the

period from 2 October to 2 January. This

species was recorded on the Cimarron

CBC of 30 December 1977 and of 2 January

1987.

High Counts: Raderand Seltman found

two at the Cimarron NG Work Station on

5 October 1991.

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Status: Common migrant and winter

resident. Dates range from 19 September

to 15 May.

High Counts: Participants counted 86

on the Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1987

and 76 on the CBC of 30 December 1977.

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

Status: Common migrant and very

rare winter resident. Dates range from 23

September to 8 June. The species has been

recorded on three Cimarron CBC's on dates

from 30 December to 2 January.

High Counts: Seltman observed more

than 30 on 28 September 1991.

Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

Status: Rare migrant and winter resident. Dates range from 2 October to 4

January.

High Counts: Four were recorded on

the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1977

and three on the CBC of 4 January 1975.

White-throated Sparrow

(Zonotrichia albicollis)

Status: Very rare migrant. Spring dates

occur within the very short period of 16-29

April and fall dates range from 28 SeptemHigh Counts: 15 were seen in Elkhart

and at Point of Rocks on 10 October 1987.

Golden-crowned Sparrow

(Zonotnchia atncapilla)

Status: Accidental; one record. Rader

found one adult among a flock of Whitecrowned Sparrows on 7 February 1988.

This species has been documented in western Kansas before, and this sighting followed one in Scott County bv about one

month.

White-crowned Sparrow

(Zonotnchia leucophrys)

Status: Abundant migrant and winter

resident. Dates range from 16 September

to 26 May.

High Counts: Participants counted

1,158 on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1988, 734 on the CBC of 30 December

1990, and 628 on the CBC of 30 December

1977.

Remarks: White-crowned Sparrows

winter in very high numbers in Morton

County and can be encountered in every

habitat. From October to April it would be

difficult to venture far into the field without seeing one of these birds.

LeConte's Sparrow 

(Ammoarumuj tewnrcm 

Status: Accidental; one record. Cox 

and Patti saw one btrd in tall grass at a 

pond near the C1marron River durmg the 

Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1Y76. 

Fox Sparrow ( Passere/la 1/iaca) 

Status: Verv rare. Six records span the 

period from 2 October to 2 January. Th1s 

species was recorded on the Cimarron 

CBC of 30 December 1977 and of 2 January 

1987. 

High Counts: Rader and Seltman found 

two at the Cimarron NG Work Station on 

5 October 1991. 

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 

Status: Common migrant and winter 

resident. Dates range from 19 September 

to 15 May. 

High Counts: Participants counted 86 

on the Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1987 

and 76 on the CBC of 30 December 1977. 

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) 

Status: Common migrant and very 

rare winter resident. Dates range from 23 

September to 8 June. The species has been 

recorded on three Cimarron CBC's on dates 

from 30 December to 2 January. 

High Counts: Seltman observed more 

than 30 on 28 September 1991. 

Swamp Sparrow ( Melospiza georgiana) 

Status: Rare migrant and winter resident. Oates range from 2 October to 4 

january. 

High Counts: Four were recorded on 

the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1977 

and three on the CBC of 4 January 1975. 

White-throated Sparrow 

(Zonotrichia albicol/is) 

Status: Very rare migrant. Spring dates 

occur within the very short period of 16-29 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

April and fall dates range from 28 Septemhff to 1 Norrmutr, 

High Counts: 15 were ~een m Elkhdft 

and at Pomt of Rocks on 10 October 1987. 

Golden-crowned Sparrow 

(lonotrichia atncapil/a) 

Status: AcCidental; one record. Rader 

tound one adult among a flock ol Whitecrowned Sparrows on 7 Februarv 198R. 

This species has been documented in western Kansas before. and this sighting followed one in Scott County bv about one 

month. 

White-crowned Sparrow 

(Zonotnch1a leucophrys) 

Status: Abundant migrant and winter 

resident. Dates range from 16 September 

to 26 May. 

High Counts: Participants counted 

1,158 on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1988, 734 on the CBC of 30 December 

1990, and 628 on the CBC of 30 December 

1977. 

Remarks: White-crowned Sparrows 

winter in very high numbers in Morton 

County and can be encountered in every 

habitat. From October to April it would be 

difficult to venture far into the field without seeing one of these birds. 

Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) 

Status: Common resident from fall 

through spring and occasionally abundant in mid-winter. Dates range from 5 

October to 11 May. 

High Counts: A very high total of 957 

was tallied on the Cimarron CBC of 31 

December 1976, and 212 were counted on 

the CBC of 30 December 1989. 

Remarks: Morton County is on the 

periphery of the species' normal wintering range, so its local numbers vary. 

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) 

Status: Abundant resident from fall 

through spring. Dates range from 11 Sep91 
Part 3 

Lapland Longspur showing the claws from which three species get their name. Photo by David A. 

Rintoul. 

tember to 13 May. All forms of this species 

have been documented in the county. 

High Counts: An amazing totalof2,337 

was recorded on the Cimarron CBC of 30 

December 1989. Participants found 1,683 

on theCBCof31 December1993and 1,404 

on the CBC of 28 December 1991. 

Remarks: Oregon types often outnumber Slate-coloreds. White-winged and 

Gray-headed types have been seen many 

times but in small numbers. 

McCown's Longspur 

( Calcarius mccowni1) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and winter resident. Dates range from 17 October 

to 8 January. No spring records exist, but 

this species moves northward across western Kansas in small flocks from late February through early April each year. 

High Counts: Participants counted 801 

on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 

92 

1993. Ely reported a flock of several hundred on 31 December 1978. Seltman saw 

several hundred on 17 October 1987. 

Lapland Longspur 

( Calcarius lapponicus) 

Status: Abundant resident from late 

fall to early spring. Dates range from 9 

November to 10 February. 

High Counts: Observers tallied 13,685 

on the Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1979 

and 4,340 on the CBC of 31 December 

1982. 

Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus} 

Status: Accidental; two records. 

Schwilling reported a flock of 32 in grasslands at the North Fork on 31 October 

1989. Seltman and Cable found one in a 

field south of North Fork on 11 November 

1989. 
Chestnut-collared Longspur 

(Ca/carius ornatus) 

Status: Common resident from fall 

through spring. Occasionally abundant. 

Dates range from 25 September to 23 April. 

High Counts: Participants counted 

1,358 on the Cimarron CBt of 30 December 1979. A more typical count of 145 was 

tallied for the CBC of 30 December 1977. A I 

flock of 30 on 25 September was very 

early. 

Icterinae - Blackbirds, 

Meadowlarks, Orioles 

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) 

Status: Accidental; one record. Combs 

and Kruger discovered a small flock comprised of two males and four females on 2 

April 1977. The birds lingered until 16 

April 1977. 

Red-winged Blackbird 

(AgeJaius phoeniceus) 

Status: Abundant. 

Nesting Records: Ports found a nest 

containing three nestlings in cattails at the 

fish ponds on 20 July 1978. 

High Counts: A count of 3,152 was 

tallied on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1982. Numerous daily totals range 

between 500 and 1,000 individuals. 

Remarks: The Red-winged Blackbird 

is not a common breeding bird on Cimarron NG. During the summer, it is more 

likely to be encountered around irrigated 

fields away from the Cimarron River. 

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) 

Status: Very rare summer resident. 

Dates range from 7 April to 2 October. All 

records are of singing birds. 

Remarks: Eastern Meadowlarks are 

apparently very scarce in Morton County. 

Only a few singing birds have been encountered, but this species is common as 

far west as nearby Seward County and 

should be watched or listened for in the 

future. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Western Meadowlark 

(Sturnella neglecta) 

Status: Abundant resident. Some local 

birds may withdraw farther south in the 

winter, but they are replaced by northern 

birds making this one of the more numerous and probably the very most conspicuous avian inhabitant of Morton County. 

Nesting Records: Only one nesting 

record exists despite the fact that immatures and family groups abound in late 

summer. Young found a nest on 19 May 

1992. 

High Counts: Ports found more than 

100 per day on census routes during the 

summers of 1978 and 1979, but all of the 

highest daily totals are from the Cimarron 

CBC. High CBC totals include 2,210 on 30 

December 1977, 1,274 on 30 December 1979, 

and 1,082 on 30 December 1990. 

Remarks: The Western Meadowlark is 

the State Bird of Kansas and five other 

states. Its abundance, conspicuous habits, 

bright coloration, and pleasant song all 

make it the logIcal chOIce for the distinction of being "the state bird." But, a character in William Least Heat Moon's 

PrairyErth upon learning that this species 

was the Kansas State Bird was not impressed saying, "That's disappointing. I~d 

have thought it would be something bigger, wilder, - a hawk or at least the prairie 

chicken- Fifty states have totem birds 

and not one of them is a raptor. We're a 

Caucasian nation of titmice." 

Yellow-headed Blackbird 

(XanthocephaJus xanthocephaJus) 

Status: Common migrant and uncommon summer resident. Dates range from 5 

April to 28 October. 

High Counts: Cable found more than 

200 on 28 September 1986. 

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus caro/inus) 

Status: Accidental; one record. The 

Grabers collected one male on 7 April 

1950. 

93 
Part 3 

Brewer's Blackbird 

(Euphagus cyanocephalus) 

Status: Uncommon migrant and rare 

winter visitor. Migration dates range from 

7 April to 21 May and from 8 September to 

28 October. This species has been recorded 

in small numbers eight times on the Cimarron CBC with dates 28 December to 4 

January. No additional winter records 

exist. 

High Counts: Cable found 100 on 28 

September 1986. 

Great-tailed Grackle 

(Ouiscalus mexican us) 

Status: Uncommon resident spring 

through fall, very rare winter resident. 

Dates exist for every month except March. 

A few birds may have overwintered for 

the first time in 1990-91. This species has 

only been in Kansas for about 30 years and 

first arrived in Morton County in 1978. 

Nesting Records: The first individuals 

seen in Morton County attempted to nest 

but failed. Ports saw a male and female at 

a nest in Elkhart on 25 June 1978. The male 

was still present but the nest was abandoned on 9 August 1978. A few young 

have been recorded around Elkhart in recent years, and Schwilling found a nesting 

colony of "over 50 birds" in Rolla City 

Park on 27 May 1991. 

High Counts: Except for the 50 birds in 

the Rolla City Park colony, numbers have 

remained fairly low with the next highest 

counts being 10 seen on 15 May 1987 and 

15 October 1988. 

Remarks: Great-tailed Grackles are 

closely associated with cattle feedlots in 

most of southwestern Kansas. Because 

Morton County has no major feedlots, this 

species is unlikely to become abundant 

locally. 

Common Grackle (Ouiscalus quiscula) 

Status: Abundant resident spring 

through fall, uncommon winter resident. 

Large numbers of migrants supplement 

the local population in spring and fall. 

94 

Dates exist for every month except February. 

Nesting Records: Ely reported finding 

one nest in Elkhart on 10 May 1979. Ports 

observed a nest along the Cimarron River 

on 12 June 1979. 

, High Counts: No definitive high numbers are on record, although several hundred per day have been seen by Seltman. 

The Cimarron CBC of 30 December 1979 

recorded 49, an unusually high winter 

total. 

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus atet) 

Status: Common resident. Numbers 

are lower in winter. 

Nesting Records: No records exist, but 

it surely parasitizes many local nesting 

birds. 

High Counts: Numbers far more than 

100 would be expected during migration, 

but no exact numbers have been recorded. 

The Cimarron CBC of 2 January 1987 recorded 19. 

Remarks: For hundreds of years, 

Brown-headed Cowbirds, along with enormous herds of bison, roamed what IS now 

Morton County. Brown-headed Cowbirds 

fed on insects and seeds exposed by bison 

hooves tearing up the sod. They also ate 

ticks and other pests from the bison hides. 

Because the herds, and hence the Brownheaded Cowbirds, moved constantly, it 

was necessary for female Brown-headed 

Cowbirds to lay eggs in the nests of smaller 

birds. The adults would continue to survive by following the moving food source, 

whereas the young would be raised by the 

host species. The mutually beneficial relationship between bison and bird was broken when the bison were exterminated. 

Settlers, rather than bison, broke the sod. 

Because Brown-headed Cowbirds now had 

an abundant, stationary food source their 

numbers increased. They also expanded 

into new open areas as forests were cleared. 

Because of these human alterations to the 

land, Brown-headed Cowbirds are not responsible for declines in several species of 

warblers and other small birds. 
. ',: .. , ..... 

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) 

Status: Common migrant and summer 

resident. Dates range from 10 April to 19 

September. 

Nesting Records: Ports observed adults 

feeding fledglings on 14 June 1978, and 

Young found a nest on 19 May 1992. 

High Counts: Seltman estimated more 

than 200, mostly along the Cimarron River, I 

on 3 August 1991. More than 40 were 

reported on 18 May 1978. 

Remarks: Despite the few nesting 

records, Orchard Orioles are a common 

and easily observed bird on Cimarron NG 

throughout the spring and summer. 

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) 

Status: Very rare summer resident; 

uncommon migrant. Most Baltimore Orioles have been seen during August and 

September. Seltmanhas identified as many 

as 10 male Baltimore Orioles in a day in 

Morton County. 

Nesting Records: One record of a mixed 

pair of Bullock's and Baltimore Orioles 

producing four eggs on 16 June 1979 (Ports 

1979). 

Remarks: In 1995, the A.O.D. restored 

Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles as separate species. They were previously lumped 

under the name Northern Oriole. 

Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockil) 

Status: Abundant migrant and summer resident. Dates extend from 10 April 

to 28 September. 

Nesting Records: Numerous nesting 

records exist beginning with two nests 

reported on 14 June 1951. The cries of two 

fledglings captured by Ports on 4 August 

1978 brought a mob of 19 additional birds. 

Almost all nesting records specifically 

mention Bullock's types. 

High Counts: Schwilling (1991) saw 46 

in riparian habitat on 13 June 1991, butthis 

total is low and numbers above 100 could 

easily be found during the breeding season. 

Ornithological History and the Birds 

Remarks: Rising examined numerous 

specimens of orioles from western Kansas 

and found many birds with intermediate 

characteristics. In Morton County, 

Bullock's were found to be very predominant in summer (Rising 1974). 

ScoU's Oriole (Icterus parisorum) 

Status: Accidental; one record. A female Scott's Oriole was collected by Larry 

Anthony on 16 April 1967. The bird was 

identified after being collected. This is the 

only record for Kansas . 

Fringillidae - Finches 

Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) 

Status: Accidental; one record. 

Remarks: Eddie Stegall and Steve 

Kingswood found one 'male and two females at the Cimarron NG Work Station 

north of Elkhart on 26 May 1979 

(Kingswood 1979). This sighting was made 

by experienced observers and is considered valid. The very late date of this record 

is exceptional. Based on reported plumage characteristics, these birds may have 

been of the Rocky Mountain race, which 

would also be very unusual for Kansas 

(Thompson and Ely 1992). 

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) 

Status: Very rare late fall and early 

winter visitor. Eight records range from 27 

October to 31 December. All birds observed have been singles. One male found 

by the Shanes on 1 November 1987 was 

seen again by the Seltmans on 27 November 1987. 

Remarks: Purple Finches were formerly rare but regular visitors to extreme 

western Kansas, but the species seems to 

be declining. Some probably go unnoticed 

among the huge numbers of House Finches 

present in most towns. 

95 
Part 3 

Cassin's Finch (Carpodacus cassinii) 

Status: Accidental; two records. Ely 

collected a brown male along the Cimarron River on 15 April 1967. A male at 

North Fork gave the species' loud 

"cheedup" call on 11 November 1989 and 

was seen by several observers. 

Remarks: As with the Purple Finch, 

only bIrders extremely familiar with 

Cassin's Finch call notes are likely to pick 

one out of the crowd of House Finches. 

This species should be watched for at 

Elkhart feeders. 

House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) 

Status: Abundant resident. Although 

House Finches arejustnow becoming common in eastern Kansas, they were present 

at least in winter as early as 1934 in Morton 

County. Long collected several specimens 

between 12 and 14 November 1934. The 

Grabers found House Finches in spring of 

1950 but mentioned no evidence of nesting. 

Nesting Records: Nests and many juveniles have been observed in Elkhart; but 

because they are so common, they have 

been ignored so details have not been 

recorded. Young found a nest in a cholla 

cactus. 

High Counts: Participants counted 736 

on the Cimarron CBC of 28 December 

1991. 

Remarks: House Finches may have 

once been uncommon in the area, but they 

are now firmly established. First published 

summer records were in 1979 (Ports 1979). 

Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) 

Status: Very rare fall and winter visitor. Three records exist from 11 November 

to 29 December. Patti found one female on 

12 May 1988, the only spring record. 

High Counts: Bryan and Seltman found 

at least five at the Cimarron NG Work 

Station on 23 November 1984. Seltman 

found two males and a female in Elkhart 

on 29 December 1984. This was an invasion year in western Kansas. 

96 

Common Redpoll (Carduelis flam mea) 

Status: Accidental; four records. Dates 

range from 20 November to 30 December. 

Three records are from Cimarron CBC's 

with dates from 27 to 30 December. 

High Counts: A flock of 12 was seen on 

29 December 1984. 

Pine Siskin (Cardue/is pinus) 

Status: Common migrant and abundant winter resident. Records exist for 

every month except August. 

Nesting Records: Rader and Seltman 

watched a pair building a nest in a juniper 

in the Elkhart Cemetery on 14 April 1990. 

A second pair was seen nearby. The nest 

failed or was abandoned a few weeks la ter. 

High Counts: Participants counted 492 

on the Cimarron CBC 30 December 1977. 

Out of Season: Schwilling heard one 

bird on 7 June 1978. One was reported on 

6 July 1978. No other summer records 

exist. 

Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) 

Status: Accidental; five records. The 

only spring record occurred 12 May 1995. 

An invasion occurred in September 1989 

when Corder and the Seltmans estimated 

more than 20 on 16 September 1989 plus 14 

birds seen by Schwilling on 31 October 

1989. Corder found one on 11 September 

1992. Kilby, Northrup, and Smith found a 

single bird on 19 September 1993. Lesser 

Goldfinches are known to breed at Black 

Mesa, Oklahoma, so they are not unexpected in Morton County. 

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) 

Status: Common migrant and winter 

resident. No records exist for July or August. 

Nesting Records: Goldfinches are late 

nesters, so the absence of late summer 

records indicates no breeding in the area. 

High Counts: Participants counted 183 

on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 

1976. 
Evening Grosbeak 

(Coeeothraustes vespertinus) 

Status: Accidental; five records. Two 

spring records are from 13 May 1973 and 

12 May 1988. Three fall records are from 28 

October 1985, 15 October 1989, and 4 November 1989. In 1989 this species invaded 

western Kansas. 

High Counts: Patti discovered a flock 

of 15 along the Cimarron River on 13 May 

1973. Patti and Rader found four at the 

Cimarron NG Work Station on 15 October 

1989. 

Passeridae - Old World Sparrows 

House Sparrow (Passer domestieus) 

Status: Abundant resident. This species was already "common at ranch 

houses" according to Long in November 

1934. House Sparrows were not recorded 

by the Grabers in the early 1950s and may 

have been scarce until the 1970s. Today, 

they are an unwanted nuisance in Elkhart 

and are encountered in every habitat in 

the county. 

Nesting Records: The House Sparrow 

is probably the most common nesting species in every town and around every farmstead in the area. On2 May 1991 Schwilling 

removed incomplete House Sparrow nests 

from four bluebird nest boxes and found a 

House Sparrow nest with three young in 

another box. On 27 May 1991 Schwilling 

found "many House Sparrow (weaver 

finch) round nests in isolated trees far 

away from people." 

High Counts: Participants counted 

3,027 on the Cimarron CBC of 31 December 1982. Several other totals above 2,000 

have been recorded. 

Remarks: The advent of the Breeding 

Bird Atlas surveys will undoubtedly provide numerous nest records for this species. 

OrnithOlogical History and the Birds 

Other Reported Species 

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis faleinellus) 

Status: Probable. On 15 August 1991 

an ibis with a broken wing was brought 

into the Cimarron NG offices in Elkhart. 

Cable identified the bird as a Glossy Ibis 

based on the field marks mentioned in 

Kaufman (1990). This bird subsequently 

died and was sent to the University of 

Kansas Museum of Natural History. From 

there it was sent to Louisiana State University, which has an extensive collection 

of both Glossy and White-faced Ibises. 

The curators at LSU said" all signs point 

toward Glossy." However, because they 

could not observe some of the "soft parts" 

first hand (e.g., the eye) they did not identify it to species. The specimen was returned and is now in the collection at the 

University of Kansas Museum. 

Fulvous Whistling-Duck 

(Oendroeygna bie%r) 

Status: Uncertain. StuartJ. Adams and 

J.F. Buttery reported a pair of Fulvous 

Whistling-Ducks nested successfully during the summer of 1971 in Elkhart in a 

child's tree house! An accoun t of this record 

was published in American Birds (vol. 25, 

page 873). 

Remarks: This is without question the 

oddest bird record from Morton County. 

Normally, Fulvous Whistling-Ducks nest 

on the ground in marshes. The closely 

related Black-bellied Whistling Duck nests 

in cavities and uses nest boxes and therefore would be more likely. The Fulvous 

Whistling-Duck is considered accidental 

at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area and at 

Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in central Kansas, but it would not be expected 

in Morton County. We believe this record 

probably involved an exotic species or a 

domesticated duck. Alternatively, the 

question might be less a matter of whether 

they were Fulvous Whistling-Ducks and 

more a matter of where they came from. 

97 
Part 3 

Blue Grouse (Oendragapus obscurus) 

Status: Unlikely. The published report 

of a pair of Bl ue Grouse from the Cimarron 

NG Work Station 2.5 miles north of Elkhart 

on 25 June 1981 is believed to be a 

misidentification. Details of the sighting 

fail to mention both size of the birds and 

important diagnostic plumage features. 

Even if the identification were correct, one 

would wonder about the ongin of these 

birds. The range of Blue Grouse comes no 

nearer to Morton County than the mountains west of Trinidad, Colorado. Blue 

Grouse are notoriously weak flyers with 

underdeveloped breast muscles that are 

used only to escape predators or for flying 

up into trees to feed or roost. To arrive in 

Morton County, a pair of grouse would 

have had to walk approximately 170 miles 

in a straight line across some forbidding 

terrain. 

Greater Prairie-Chicken 

(Tympanuchus cupido) 

Status: Uncertain. Both of the two 

existing specimens are preserved as skeletons. One, collected in 1927, is in the 

University of Kansas Museum of Natural 

History; and the other, collected in 1966, is 

at the University of Nebraska. They may 

be mislabeled Lesser Prairie-Chickens. 

However, before settlement days and the 

plowing of the prairies, the plains grouse 

intermingled freely and many were recorded far from their normal ranges. Some 

authorities believe that prairie-chickens 

may have been somewhat migratory prior 

to grain crops being planted by settlers. 

These crops now provide a winter food 

source that did not exist prior to settle.., 

ment. Greater Prairie-Chickens may have 

occurred in Morton County at one time, 

but now do not occur anywhere south of 

the Arkansas River in western Kansas. 

Ringed Turtle-Dove 

(Streptopelia risoria) 

Status: Escape. Seltman photographed 

a bird in Elkhart in the fall of 1989. The 

98 

Smiths reported the bird again on 27 January 1990. This species is a common cagebird, and all Kansas sightings involve birds 

that have escaped from captivity. This 

species does not appear on the Kansas 

checklist. 

Lesser Nighthawk 

I (Chordeiles acutipennis) 

Status: Probable. The Seltmans and 

Linda Vidal heard the distinctive flighttrill of the Lesser Nighthawk on the night 

of 18 September 1993 at Point of Rocks. 

The bird was heard flying along the east 

edge of the point at close range; but because of total darkness at the time, no 

visual confirmation of fieldmarks was 

made. Many Common Nighthawks were 

also in the area. This is the only report of 

this species for Kansas. Lesser Nighthawks 

have been reported at Two Buttes Reservoir in nearby Baca County, Colorado, on 

several occasions with at least one specimen record (Andrews and Righter 1992); 

so this species will probably be confirmed 

for Morton County. 

Whip-poer-will 

(Caprimu/gus vociferous) 

Status: Probable. A bird deemed too 

large to be a Common Poorwill with the 

tail pattern of a Whip-po or-will was 

flushed at the Cimarron NG Work Station 

by John Northrup on 9 September 1993, 

but it was seen too briefly for a positive 

identification. 

Acadian Flycatcher 

(Empidonax virescens) 

Status: Uncertain. A published report 

(KOS Newsletter, May 1977, Vol. 4, No.4, 

p. 5) included a question mark placed by 

the observer. This record should not be 

considered as valid since apparently some 

doubt remains about the bird's identity. 
Brown-crested Flycatcher 

(Myiarchus tyrannulus) 

Status: Probable. Sebastian Patti and 

others saw a bird identified as this species 

on one of the highline wires at the Cimarron NG Work Station on 25 May 1975. It 

was described as "singing its head oW/I 

Members of this genus can be difficult to 

identify visually but the fact that the observers heard it singing lends credence to 

this record. This species occurs regularly 

in south Texas and occasionally wanders 

along the Gulf Coast as far east as Florida. 

This is the only report of this species in 

Kansas and it does not appear on the Kansas state checklist. 

Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana) 

Status: Probable. On 11 April 1990 a 

male Western Bluebird was observed by 

Schwilling along the north river road about 

three miles east of state highway 27. This 

sighting by a highly experienced observer 

is considered valid. However, this species 

is considered hypothetical for Kansas and 

does not appear on the Kansas checklist. 

Gray Vireo (Vireo vicinior) 

Status: Probable. One found by 

Seltman, Cable, and Rader was subseOrnithological History and the Birds 

quently photographed by Cable and seen 

by many KOS members on 5 May 1996. 

This species has been collected at nearby 

locations in Oklahoma and eastern Colorado. It has been expected to be found in 

Kansas. 

Grace's Warbler (Dendroica graciae) 

Status: Uncertain. A published account 

of a bird believed to be of this species is in 

the KOS Bulletin (Vol. 22, No.2, p.10). The 

sighting occurred along the Cimarron 

River on 29 Apri11967, but the bird was 

poorly seen and not positively identified. 

A second report for 11 September 1992 

was rejected by the KOS Records Committee. This species does not appear on the 

Kansas checklist. 

Black-chinned Sparrow 

(Spizella atrogularis) 

Status: Unlikely. A report of a Blackchinned Sparrow on 6 May 1990 was rejected by the KOS Records Committee. 

This species has shown no pattern of longdistance vagrancy and would be very unlikely in Morton County. No additional 

reports exist for this species in Kansas or 

surrounding states. 

99 
Part 4 

0 

100 

0 0 

OKlAHOMA 

General map of Cimarron National Grassland, Kansas. Dam areas indicate 

federal lands. 

Maps of the Cimarron National Grassland may be obtained from: 

District Ranger 

Cimarron National Grassland 

242 Hwy 56 East, 

BoxJ, Elkhart, KS 67950 

Phone: (316) 697-4621 
Finding Cimarron's Birds

PM4

Finding Cimarron's Birds

Preparation

Many first-time visitors to Cimarron

NG have been overwhelmed by the size of

the area. Miles and miles of pastures and

agricultural fields combine with a long

river corridor to provide an enormous challenge to someone wanting to "see it all."

Kansas birders have found that by visiting

just a few locations along the major roads

one can probably see most of the bird

species present in Morton County on a

given day A description of those sites

follows.

Bird numbers in Morton County are

highlv variable depending on the season

and the weather. Late winter and late summer can, at times, be very dull, especially if

the region has received too little rain and

the food crops are poor. Bird numbers may

also vary dramatically from day to day

and birders venturing out into the countryside on the "wrong" day may be disappointed. But at the peak of migration or

during a western invasion, the birding can

be exciting. During an invasion, hundreds

of warblers and sparrows can be seen in a

single day. The large checklist rivals those

from famous wildlife refuges in the nation's

interior and is growing rapidly. This is one

place where the phrase "Anything is possible!" can almost be believed. No matter

how many birds are seen, Cimarron NG

affords many birders intimate looks at

many species that are considered rare or

elusive elsewhere in North America.

When to Visit

Birders who are unfamiliar with the

birds of the High Plains and who want to

see Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Cassin's Sparrow, and other grassland specialties, will

probably want to visit Cimarron NG in

spring or early summer when breeding

birds are the most conspicuous. Birders

wanting to see vagrants or western migrants will probably want to plan a fall

visit. Spring migration is best from 15 April

through 10 June. Late-season migration

lasts longer and can be good from 15 August through 15 November. The Cimarron

NG Christmas Bird Count, usually conducted sometime around New Year's Day,

provides an excellent opportunity for

someone to see the wintering birds of the

area. Birders looking for a particular species can time their visit according to the

occurrence dates and high count dates

tound in this book.

Weather

The weather can be extreme in southwestern Kansas and is characterized by

wide temperature swings, high winds, and

sudden storms. Sunburn and dehydration

can be a problem for birders in summer

and hypothermia can occur in winter. Wear

appropriate clothes and take along plenty

of food and drink.

Driving Hazards

Find1ng Cimarron's Birds 

f'irt i 

Finding Cimarron's Birds 

Preparation 

Manv first-time VISitors to Cimarron 

NG have been overwhelmed by the size of 

the area. Miles and miles of pastures and 

agricultural fields combine with a long 

river corridor to provide an enormous challenge to someone wanting to "see it all." 

Kansas birders have found that by visiting 

just a few locations along the major roads 

one can probably see most of the bird 

species present in Morton County on a 

given day. A descnption of those sites 

follows. 

Bird numbers in Morton County are 

highly variable dependmg on the season 

and the weather. Late wmter and late summer can, at times, be very dull, especially if 

the region has received too little rain and 

the food crops are poor. Bird numbers may 

also vary dramatically from day to day 

and birders venturing out into the countryside on the "wrong" day may be disappointed. But at the peak of migration or 

during a western invasion, the birding can 

be exciting. During an invasion, hundreds 

of warblers and sparrows can be seen in a 

single day. The large checklist rivals those 

from famous wildlife refuges in the nation's 

interior and is growing rapidly. This is one 

place where the phrase "Anything is possible!" can almost be believed. No matter 

how many birds are seen, Cimarron NG 

affords many birders intimate looks at 

many species that are considered rare or 

elusive elsewhere in North America. 

When to Visit 

Birders who are unfamiliar with the 

birds of the High Plains and who want to 

see Lesser Prairie-Chicken, Cassin's Sparrow, and other grassland specialties, will 

probably want to visit Cimarron NG in 

spring or early summer when breeding 

birds are the most conspicuous. Birders 

wanting to see vagrants or western migrants will probably want to plan a fall 

visit. Spring migration is best from 15 April 

through 10 June. Late-season migration 

lasts longer and can be good from 15 August through 15 November. The Cimarron 

NG Christmas Bird Count usually conducted sometime around New Year's Day, 

provides an excellent opportunity for 

someone to see the wintering birds of the 

area. Birders lookmg for a particular speoes can t1me their v1sit accordmg to the 

occurrence dates and h1gh count dates 

tound m th1s book. 

Weather 

The weather can be extreme in southwestern Kansas and is characterized by 

w1de temperature swings, high winds, and 

sudden storms. Sunburn and dehydration 

can be a problem for birders in summer 

and hypothermia can occur in winter. Wear 

appropriate clothes and take along plenty 

of food and drink. 

Driving Hazards 

Many birders have damaged their cars 

or gotten stuck while birding Morton 

County by failing to recognize their 

automobile's limitations. The main roads 

through Cimarron NG are well maintained 

and can be negotiated with a passenger car 

almost every day of the year, but they can 

become very muddy following heavy rain 

or snow. Deep ruts and large rocks on 

some roads require drivers to remain alert. 

Many lesser roads are also open to the 

public but can only be safely driven with 

high clearance vehicles, preferably those 

101 
Part 4

with four-wheel drive. Unimproved tracts

through the sandhills south of the Cimarron River as well as the Turkey Trail east of

state highway 27 and the Cimarron River

stream bed east of the Wilburton Crossing

are all open to the public but can be very

challenging. Unless you have an excellent

four-wheel drive vehicle and considerable

off-road driving experience, it is best to

proceed on foot.

Hiking Hazards

The most enjoyable method of birding

Morton County is on foot. In fact, it is the

only way you are likely to find many birds

along the river. But hikers need to be prepared for some problems that may arise.

Good shoes are a must as this area is a

paradise for plants with stickers, spines,

and needles. Long pants are recommended

even in hot weather. Loose soil and rocks

on many slopes make walking difficult

and somewhat dangerous. Some birding

spots are so seldom visited by other people

that if you fall or become stranded you

cannot count on being found. Use the same

caution you would when hiking in a wilderness area.

Prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) are

common in the area. Birders may be the

most likely Cimarron visitors to encounter

this reptile because the rocky outcrops and

brushy draws that are its primary habitat

also provide good birding opportunities.

As local folks say, it is foolish to walk

around in this area without keeping one

eye on the ground in front of you. Bites

from these rattlesnakes usually pose little

threat to human life but can cause painful

swelling and permanent tissue and nerve

damage in the area of the wound. Health

complications are worse in children, so

youngsters should be supervised at all

times during warm weather.

Emergencies

Towing services and car repair are available in Elkhart, and Morton County Hospital on the west side of Elkhart can treat

most medical problems. Morton County

has excellent cellular phone service; so if

your car quits or if you need medical care,

help is only a phone call away.

Best Birding Stops

Elkhart Cemetery and Shelterbelt

Location: The Elkhart Cemetery is on

the north edge of town along the northernmost street that connects state highway 27

and U.S. 56.

Description: The cemetery is a good

place to look for birds during migration

and in the winter. Red-naped Sapsucker,

Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, and

Mountain Chickadees have all been recorded here. The shelterbelt across the

street to the north is also on city property.

Horses are sometimes allowed to graze

here so the fence may be electrified, but

access is unrestricted. This shelterbelt appears unremarkable, but it has produced a

long list of rarities in recent years. A male

Part 4 

with four-wheel drive. Unimproved tracts 

through the sandhills south of the Cimarron River as well as the Turkey Trail east of 

state highway 27 and the Cimarron River 

stream bed east of the Wilburton Crossing 

are all open to the public but can be very 

challenging. Unless you have an excellent 

four-wheel drive vehicle and considerable 

off-road driving experience, It is best to 

proceed on foot. 

Hiking Hazards 

The most enjoyable method of birding 

Morton County is on foot. In fact, it is the 

only way you are likely to find many birds 

along the river. But hikers need to be prepared for some problems that may arise. 

Good shoes are a must as this area is a 

paradise for plants with stickers, spines, 

and needles. Long pants are recommended 

even in hot weather. Loose soil and rocks 

on many slopes make walking difficult 

and somewhat dangerous. Some birding 

spots are so seldom visited by other people 

that if you fall or become stranded you 

cannot count on being found. Use the same 

caution you would when hiking in a wilderness area. 

Prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) are 

common in the area. Birders may be the 

most likely Cimarron visitors to encounter 

this reptile because the rocky outcrops and 

brushy draws that are its primary habitat 

also provide good birding opportunities. 

As local folks say, it is foolish to walk 

around in this area without keeping one 

eye on the ground in front of you. Bites 

from these rattlesnakes usually pose little 

threat to human life but can cause painful 

swelling and permanent tissue and nerve 

damage in the area of the wound. Health 

complications are worse in children, so 

youngsters should be supervised at all 

times during warm weather. 

Emergencies 

Towing services and car repair are available in Elkhart, and Morton County Hos102 

pital on the west side of Elkhart can treat 

most medical problems. Morton County 

has excellent cellular phone service; so if 

your car quits or if you need medical care, 

help is only a phone call away. 

Best Birding Stops 

Elkhart Cemetery and Shelterbelt 

Location: The Elkhart Cemetery is on 

the north edge of town along the northernmost street that connects state highway 27 

and U.S. 56. 

Description: The cemetery is a good 

place to look for birds during migration 

and in the winter. Red-naped Sapsucker, 

Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches, and 

Mountain Chickadees have all been recorded here. The shelterbelt across the 

street to the north is also on city property. 

Horses are sometimes allowed to graze 

here so the fence may be electrified, but 

access is unrestricted. This shelterbelt appears unremarkable, but it has produced a 

long list of rarities in recent years. A male 

Pyrrhuloxia was here for several months 

in 1993. A wide diversity of flycatchers, 

thrushes, warblers, and sparrows has been 

recorded here. Bam Owls are often present 

in the juniper trees. 

Elkhart Sewer Ponds 

Location: The sewer ponds are north of 

the Elkhart Cemetery. To get there, turn 

north on the dirt road just west of the 

cemetery, jog left and back right and continue to the parking area and walk-through 

gate that have been specifically provided 

for birders. 

Description: These cement-lined evaporation ponds are the largest body of water 

for many miles in every direction. They act 

like a magnet for migrating waterbirds. 

The duck and shorebird list is impressive. 

Red Phalarope and Sabine's Gull have both 

been recorded here twice. Because many 

migrants often stop very briefly, it is sometimes productive to make more than one 
Finding Cimarron s Birds

ip to these ponds on a given day to check Point of Rocks

{rip to these pc

for new arrivals.

i eiven day

Cimarron NG Work Center

Location: Local residents and birders

who regularly visit the area know the facility as "the Work Center." It lies 2.5 miles

north of Elkhart east of state highway 27.

Birders may park at the entrance but must

leave room for other vehicles to pass

through the gates.

Description: The Work Center is the

maintenance headquarters for the Forest

Service ranching operations. The large

plantings of junipers and pines provide

refuge for many birds in winter and can

attract migrants as well. Birders are welcome to walk around the buildings. Several records of Scrub Jay, Canyon and

Green-tailed Towhees come from here. All

the finch species have been seen here and

large numbers of sparrows can be expected

in winter. Townsend's Solitaires are normally present from September through

April, and Curve-billed Thrashers sometimes reside here. The first Pyrrhuloxia for

Kansas was found here in October 1989.

Middle Spring

Location: Middle Spring is reached by

turning west from state highway 27 about

eight miles north of Elkhart and just north

of the Cimarron River. Follow the winding

road about two miles southwest. The road

is well marked with signs.

Description: The willows and cottonwoods that line this small spring-fed stream

create a classic migrant trap that has produced many rarities. A new foot trail

around this area has enhanced access for

birders. Flycatchers seem to be especially

drawn to this location. Cassin's Kingbird,

Ash-throated Flycatcher, and western

empids have all been seen here. A Great

Kiskadee was at Middle Spring for about

two weeks in late May 1995. This is a good

place to look for rare warblers and sparrows.

Location: Point of Rocks is about one

mile west of Middle Spring.

Description: Point of Rocks is the most

prominent outcropping of rocks in Morton

County. A walk around the rimrock can

occasionally produce good birds. Rock

Wrens nest here and can be seen from

April through October. The shrubs that

cover the slopes and ravines are the place

to look for elusive migrants such as Sage

Thrasher, Green-tailed and Canyon Towhees, Rufous-crowned Sparrow and

MacGillivray's Warbler. Greater Roadrunners have been seen here several times.

The river below the point has also produced many rarities. Cassin's Kingbirds

are regularly seen here during September.

Point of Rocks is a good place to watch and

listen for birds migrating overhead and

along the Cimarron River corridor.

Boy Scout Area

Hip to these ponds on a 0iven day to check 

for new arrivals. 

Cimarron NG Work Center 

Location: Local residents and birders 

who regularly visit the area know the facility as "the Work Center." It lies 2.5 miles 

north of Elkhart east of state highway 27. 

Birders may park at the entrance but must 

leave room for other vehicles to pass 

through the gates. 

Description: The Work Center is the 

maintenance headquarters for the Forest 

Service ranching operations. The large 

plantings of junipers and pines provide 

refuge for many birds in winter and can 

attract migrants as well. Birders are welcome to walk around the buildings. Several records of Scrub Jay, Canyon and 

Green-tailed Towhees come from here. All 

the finch species have been seen here and 

large numbers of sparrows can be expected 

in winter. Townsend's Solitaires are normally present tram September through 

April, and Curve-billed Thrashers sometimes reside here. The first Pyrrhuloxia tor 

Kansas was found here in October 1989. 

Middle Spring 

Location: Middle Spring is reached by 

turning west from state highway 27 about 

eight miles north of Elkhart and just north 

of the Cimarron River. Follow the winding 

road about two miles southwest. The road 

is well marked with signs. 

Description: The willows and cottonwoods that line this small spring-fed stream 

create a classic migrant trap that has produced many rarities. A new foot trail 

around this area has enhanced access for 

birders. Flycatchers seem to be especially 

drawn to this location. Cassin's Kingbird, 

Ash-throated Flycatcher, and western 

empids have all been seen here. A Great 

Kiskadee was at Middle Spring for about 

two weeks in late May 1995. This is a good 

place to look for rare warblers and sparrows. 

Point of Rocks 

Location: Point of Rocks is about one 

mile west of Middle Spnng. 

Description: Point of Rocks is the most 

prominent outcropping of rocks in Morton 

County. A walk around the rimrock can 

occasionally produce good birds. Rock 

Wrens nest here and can be seen from 

April through October. The shrubs that 

cover the slopes and ravines are the place 

to look for elusive migrants such as Sage 

Thrasher, Green-tailed and Canyon Towhees, Rufous-crowned Sparrow and 

MacGillivray's Warbler. Greater Roadrunners have been seen here several times. 

The river below the point has also produced many rarities. Cassin's Kingbirds 

are regularly seen here during September. 

Point of Rocks is a good place to watch and 

listen for birds migrating overhead and 

along the Cimarron River corridor. 

Boy Scout Area 

Location: This area is reached by turning east from state highway 27 about eight 

miles north of Elkhart JUSt north of the 

Cimarron R1ver. Follow the windmg road 

northeast for 4.5 miles. An inconspicuous 

trail about a half mile east of the cattle 

guard on the main road leads down to the 

river, or one can continue on to where the 

road comes close to a fence, park the car, 

and walk. 

Description: Nicknamed the "Boy Scout 

area" because of the large numbers of scouts 

that formerly gathered for camp-outs here, 

this section of the Cimarron River has long 

been a favorite of Kansas birders. The riparian habitat is some of the best in Morton 

County and this may be the most likely 

place to see Ladder-backed Woodpecker. 

A walk east along the north edge of the 

flood plain leads to a high soil embankment created by a meander of the river. 

Barn Owls reside in the many holes in the 

bank but may be difficult to see. Greater 

Roadrunner, Rock and Bewick's Wrens, 

and Rufous-crowned Sparrow have been 

103 
Part 4 

seen along the cliff and the first Canyon 

Wren for Kansas was found here in 1992. 

Mixed flocks of migrants often move 

through the underbrush; a good strategy is 

to follow the flock until all of the birds have 

been identified. Most of the passerines on 

the county checklist have been recorded 

here at least once. 

Forest Service Campgrounds and 

Fishing Ponds 

Locations: The Point of Rocks Fishing 

Ponds are west of state highway 27 on the 

road to Middle Spring. The Cimarron Recrea tion Area and the Mallard and Wilburton 

Ponds are along the south river road east 

of state highway 27. 

Description: All of these locations have 

water and cattails and afford birders the 

opportunity to look for waterfowl and 

marsh birds. Wintering Marsh Wrens can 

be expected. 

River Crossings 

Locations: The Western Crossing is a 

low-water crossing two miles east of the 

Colorado line or about five miles southwest of Point of Rocks. The Cimarron River 

Picnic Area is just east of the state highway 

27 bridge. The Wilburton Crossing is five 

miles north of Wilburton. 

Description: All of these spots provide 

easy access to the Cimarron River and are 

good places to hike. The Western Crossing 

has few trees but can still be good in migration. Ash-throated Flycatchers have been 

nesting in boxes along the fence line south 

of the river for several years. The Cimarron River Picnic Area is accessible in all 

weather and leads to the head of Turkey 

Trail. The Wilburton Crossing is probably 

the best of the three for general birding. 

North Fork 

Location: This birding area is reached 

by driving 14 miles north of Elkhart on 

104 

state highway 27 and then five miles west 

on a gravel road. From this point an 

unmaintained track leads north 1.5 miles 

to a dense stand of trees. Park by the windmill and walk north and west through the 

trees. 

f Description: This spot is not for everyone. The road can be very bad and is usually impassable in wet weather, and walking is difficult. However, this isolated riparian area has proven to be an excellent 

migrant trap through the years and may 

produce unusual birds at any season. The 

road leading west from state highway 27 

often produces Long-billed Curlews. 

Mountain Plovers should be watched for 

in this part of the county. 

Lesser Prairie-Chicken Blinds 

Location: The Forest Service places 

two observation blinds each spring for 

people to view prairie-chickens. The locations of the blinds may change year to 

year. Currently, one viewing area is 

reached by driving two miles north of 

Elkhart then 2.5 miles west. From this point 

drive north one mile, jog left at the windmill and then continue north for a short 

distance. An active lek is on the east side of 

the road here. The second viewing area is 

reached by driving a little more than three 

miles north of Wilburton, then turning 

east on a winding road for a little over a 

mile. An active lek is usually near the road 

here. 

Description: Each blind is a portable 

wooden structure with bench seats and 

openings through which to view the 

prairie-chickens. It is best to arrive well 

before dawn to avoid disturbing birds on 

the lek. Photography opportunities are 

excellent from these blinds. Some birds 

normally return to these leks at sundown 

each day. Birders traveling to Cimarron 

NG specifically to see these birds should 

contact or visit the Forest Service office 

along U.S. 56 in Elkhart for current information. 
Managing Cimarron National Grassland. 

PartS 

Managing Cimarron National Grassland 

The Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act 

identified a need for government presence 

in the grassland ecosystems of the United 

States. The Act created the basis for the 

national grassland system, but it does not 

determine the means for daily or even 

annual management actions. Specific management actions derive from clearly defined policies. These policies are determined through a process that includes professional planning within the Forest Service 

augmented by public review and comment. The results are published in a document that undergoes periodic review and 

revision. The review-revision process typically occurs at about 10-12 year intervals, 

but by law must be done by year 15. The 

policy document for guiding Cimarron NG 

management is the Pike and San Isabel, Cimarron and Comanche Land Management Plan. 

Approved in 1982, the document would 

normally be due for review and revision in 

1997; but budget constraints will probably 

delay the process until 1998 or 1999. 

Planning for resource management requires that all users and user groups who 

use the resource be identified. The multiple use concept fundamental to the USDA 

Forest Service mission then mandates that 

all uses be accommodated as productively 

as possible. 

People use Cimarron NG primarily for 

livestock grazing, mineral extraction, research, education, and recreation. Five 

important factors collectively explain the 

high recreation value of Cimarron NG: 

1. Cimarron NG accounts for approximately one third of all public land in 

Kansas. 

2. Cimarron's expansiveness allows 

people to spread out from other 

recrea tionists. 

3. Cimarron NG offers the largest, 

longest stretch of public land along 

the Santa Fe Historic Trail. 

4. Diverse opportunities exist for both 

big game and small game hunting. 

5. Being close to three major ecoregions 

enriches the bird life of Cimarron NG, 

and the nature of birding attracts 

birders to such areas. 

These factors present certain recreation 

opportunities that create a regIOnal appeal 

extending beyond the local communities. 

The geographic area encompassing southeastern Colorado, the Oklahoma panhandle, the Texas panhandle, and southwestern Kansas is sparsely populated but 

people from all over this area identify Cimarron NG as a recreation destination. 

Birders particularly target Cimarron NG 

as a destination because of its blended 

avifauna. This interest stimulates the local 

economy, a claim easily demonstrated by a 

real event. When the first Canyon Wren 

known to occur in Kansas was found along 

the Cimarron River in Cimarron NG, the 

sighting was reported to the Kansas rare 

bird hotline. Within days, birders were 

using local motels, restaurants, and gasoline stations. The bird stayed for five 

months, and local merchants came to appreciate the business generated by birds 

and birders. 

Though hunting accounts for most recreational use on Cimarron NG, birding 

qualifies as the fastest growing recreation 

use in terms of popularity and numbers of 

visitors (Joe Hartman, personal communication). All these people, in pursuit of their 

chosen recreation, exert some pressure on 

resources and facilities. As interest in any 

given recreation grows, the pressure ex105 
Part 5 

erted will necessarily increase, too. The 

demand for potable water, restrooms, 

camping sites, road maintenance, and other 

services requires attentIon from resource 

managers. Additional attention may also 

accrue from conflicts among users and user 

groups. 

Conflict occurs when one set of interests interferes with another set of interests. 

Wildlife management, for example, creates some conflicts among user groups. 

Access to certain areas requires seasonal 

restrictions to protect breeding. Livestock 

grazing must be restricted at certain seasons to allow enough vegetation to recover 

for the next year's nesting cover. Livestock 

grazing presents ample opportunity for 

conflict, too. However, Cimarron NG benefits from negotiating with a single private 

grazing association. Sharing costs among 

affected user groups has also encouraged 

cooperative resolution of potential conflict. Assuming a ga te tha t is too difficult to 

open won't get closed, the grazing association works to install gates that both open 

and close easily, which improves access 

across grazing allotments for everyone. 

Oil companies work with the Forest Service 

and grazing association to install cattle 

guards at heavily used fence crossings. 

Trespassing seldom causes problems at 

Cimarron NG. The public land is more 

consolidated with fewer private inholdings 

than most national grasslands, and good 

public roads reduce the need to cross private land to reach public land. Further, 

local people realize the economic benefits 

their communities derive from the birding 

public, so private landowners nearly always grant permission to courteous 

birders. 

Because recreation figures so prominently in public use of Cimarron NG, appropriate attention has been devoted to 

the facilities essential to support that recre106 

ation. Basic facilities such as improved 

roads, parking areas, restrooms, potable 

water, improved campsites, picnic tables, 

and trails not only enhance recreatIOn expenences for people, but they also protect 

the public resources from over-use. Spe-

,cifically. public interest in the Santa Fe 

Historical Trail and in birding prompted a 

I complete recreation plan update In the 

early 1990s. Since then, the Forest Service 

built a recreation complex with a groupuse site, picniC ground, and 14-unit campground with handicap access. The Cottonwood Picnic Area was then rebuilt. Middle 

Spring Picnic Area, which ties into the 

Santa Fe Historical Trail, was upgraded. 

The Forest Service put in restrooms, picnic 

tables, and a walking trail. The trail was 

installed largely because of birding traffic. 

It was needed for protecting the resource 

by concentrating birders and birding foot 

traffic out of the area that birds use and 

need. These improvements will take care 

of the main recreation needs into the future, though sanitation facilities are needed 

at the fishing ponds. According to Forest 

Service assessments, these recreation facilities are designed to accommodate increasing use and can handle approximately 

50 percent more use than they now receive. 

Cimarron NG lies far off the main traveled roads. Its finest features appeal to 

only a select portion of the American public. These points guarantee Cimarron NG 

will never attract the crowds so familiar at 

larger National Parks and National Forests. The birding public that does visit 

Cimarron NG has established a productive relationship with the Forest Service. 

The information gathered by birders and 

shared with the staff at Cimarron NG has 

enhanced the ability of the Forest Service 

to refine its resource management. Recreational birding has earned its niche in the 

management formula. 
References 

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A.O.U. Check-list of North American 

Birds. Sixth edition. The American Ornithologists' Union, Allen Press. 

Lawrence, Kansas. 

American Ornithologists' Union. 1985. 

Thirty-fifth supplement to the A.O.U. 

Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 

102(3):680-686. 

American Ornithologists' Union. 1989. 

Thirty-seventh supplement to the 

A.O.U. Check-list of North American 

Birds. Auk 106(3): 

American Ornithologists' Union. 1993. 

Thirty-ninth supplement to the A.O.U. 

Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 

110(3):675-682. 

American Ornithologists' Union. 1995. 

Fortieth supplement to the A.O.U. 

Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 

112(3):819-830. 

Andrews, Rand R Righter. 1992. Colorado Birds. Denver Museum of Natural 

History, Denver, CO 

Bailey, RG. 1996. Ecosystem Geography. 

Springer-Verlag. New York. 

Bent, A.C 1932. Life Histories of North 

American Gallinaceous Birds. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C 

Collins, J.T., and S.L. Collins. 1991. Reptiles and amphibians of the Cimarron 

National Grassland, Morton County, 

Kansas. USDA Forest Service. 

Diehnel, E.W. 1983. Before the Railroad 

Came to Morton County. Self-published. 

Dobkin, D.s. 1994. Conservation and 

management of Neotropical migrant 

landbirds in the Northern Rockies and 

Great Plains. Univ. Idaho Press. Moscow,ID. 

Ely, CA. and L.W. Anthony. 1968. Scott's 

Oriole-an addition to the Kansas avifauna. Bulletin Kansas Ornithological 

Society 19:19. 

Birds of Cimarron National Grassland 

Finch, D.M. 1992. Threatened, endangered, 

and vulnerable species of terrestrial vertebrates in the Rocky Mountain Region. 

USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain 

Forest and Range Experiment Station, 

Fort Collins, CO. General Techmcal 

Report RM-215. 

Finch, D.M.,W.M. Block, RA. Fletcher, 

and L.F. Fager. 1993. Integrating Neotropical migratory birds into Forest 

Service plans for ecosystem management. Pp. 417-421 in Trans. 58th N.A. 

Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. 

Finch, D.M. and P.W. Stangel, eds. 1993. 

Status and management of Neotropical 

migratory birds. USDA Forest Service, 

Rocky Mountain Forest and Range ExperimentStation, Fort Collins, CO. General Technical Report RM-229. 

Fitgerald, J.P., CA. Meaney, and D.M. 

Armstrong. 1995. Mammals of Colorado. Denver Museum of Natural History and University Press of Colorado. 

Freeman, C, and C Lauver. 1991. The 

natural communities of Kansas - III. 

TNC Kansas Newsletter, No. 5:4-6. 

Freeman, C, and C Lauver. 1992. The 

natural communities of Kansas - IV. 

TNC Kansas Newsletter, No. 5:4-6. 

Goss, N.s. 1886. A Revised Catalog of the 

Birds of Kansas. Kansas Pub!. House. 

Topeka. 

Graber, J. 1954. Additional notes on the 

birds of southwestern Kansas. Wilson 

Bulletin 66(2):149-151. 

Graber, Rand J. Graber. 1950. New birds 

for the state of Kansas. Wilson Bulletin 

62:206-209. 

Graber, Rand J. Graber. 1951. Notes on 

the birds of southwestern Kansas. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Sciences 54(2):145-174. 

Gregg, J. 1806-1850. Commerce of the Prairies. Edited by M. Moorehead (1954). 

University of Oklahoma Press. Norman. 

107 
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Hartman, J. and M. MacDonald. 1988. The 

cornerstone of Kansas. Kansas Wildlife 

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Johnsgard, P.A. 1979. Birds of the Great 

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Kale, H.W. 1968. Purple martins and mosquito control. Auk 85:564-661. 

Kaufman, K. 1990. A Field Guide to Advanced Birding. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 

Kingswood, S. 1979. A late May record of 

Pine Grosbeaks in Southwest Kansas. 

KOS Bulletin 30(3):28-29. 

Knopf, F.L. 1994. Avian assemblages on 

altered grasslands. Studies in Avian 

Biology 15:247-257. 

Knopf, F.L, and J.R. Rupert. 1996. Reproduction and movements of mountain 

plovers breeding in Colorado. Wilson 

Bulletin 108(1):28-35. 

Least Heat-Moon, W. 1991. PrairyErth. 

Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 

Lehman, P. 1995. North America's underbirded regions. Birding 27(3):213-214. 

Long, W.5. 1935. Observations of the November birds of western Kansas. 

University of Kansas Science Bulletin 

22(12). 

Martin, T.E., and D.M. Finch, eds., Ecology 

and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds: A Synthesis and Review 

of Critical Issues. Oxford University 

Press. New York. 

Ports, M. 1978. A survey of the avifauna of 

Morton County, Kansas. Kansas Fish 

and Game Commission. 

Ports, M.A. 1979. Occurrence and density 

studies of nongame wildlife in southwestern Kansas-May 16-August 16, 

1979. Kansas Fish and Game Commission. 

108 

Rising, J.D. 1974. The status and faunal 

affinities of the summer birds of western Kansas. University of Kansas SCIence Bulletin 50(8):347-388. 

Saab, ,v.A., CE. Bock, T.D. Rich, and D.S. 

Dobkin. 1995. Livestock grazing effects 

in western North America. Pp. 311-489, 

in Martin, T.E., and D.M. Finch, eds., 

Ecology and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds: A Synthesis and 

Review of Critical Issues. Oxford University Press. New York. 

Samson, F. and F. Knopf. 1994. Prairie conservation in North America. BioScience 

44:418-421. 

Schwilling, M.D. 1991. Wildlife investigations in southwestern Kansas-June I, 

1990-June 30, 1991. Chickadee Checkoff Nongame Contract No. 8861. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. 

Schwilling, M.D. 1994. Wildlife investigationsin western Kansas-January I, 1993-

January 1, 1994. Chickadee Checkoff 

Nongame Contract No. 328. Kansas 

Department of Wildlife and Parks. 

Scolofsky, H.E. 1969. The Cimarron Valley-A Student's Guide to Localized History. Teacher College Press. New York. 

Sutton, G.M. 1967. Oklahoma Birds. Umversity of Oklahoma Press. Norman. 

Tennant, A. 1985. A Field Guide to Texas 

Snakes. Gulf Publishing Co. Houston, 

Texas. 

Thompson, M.C and C Ely. 1992. Birds in 

Kansas, Volume 1. University Press of 

Kansas. Lawrence. 

Trautman, M.B. 1969. Probable breeding 

of the Clay-colored Sparrow in Morton 

County, Kansas. KOS Bulletin 15:26-27. 

West, T.L.1990. USDA Forest Service management of the national grasslands. 

Agric. Hist. 64:86-98. 
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720-1127 (TOO). USDA is an equal employment opportunity employer. 

Printed on () recycled paper 
Rocky 

Mountains 

Southwest 

Great 

Plains 

u. S. Department of Agriculture 

Forest Service 

Rocky Mountain Forest and 

Range Experiment Station 

The Rocky Mountain Station is one of eight 

regional experiment stations, plus the Forest 

Products Laboratory and the Washington Office 

Staff, that make up the Forest Service research 

organization. . 

RESEARCH FOCUS 

Research programs at the Rocky Mountain 

Station are coordinated with area universities and 

with other institutions. Many studies are 

conducted on a cooperative basis to accelerate 

solutions to problems involving range, water, 

wildlife and fish habitat, human and community 

development, timber, recreation, protection, and 

multiresource evaluation. 

RESEARCH LOCATIONS 

Research Work Units of the Rocky Mountain 

Station are operated in cooperation with 

universities in the following cities: 

Albuquerque, New Mexico 

Flagstaff, Arizona 

Fort Collins, Colorado· 

Laramie, Wyoming 

Lincoln, Nebraska 

Rapid City, South Dakota 

·Station Headquarters: 240 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Collins, CO 80526