Whooping Cranes in northwest Kansas
The Whopping Crane, a majestic white bird which numbered only in the 20s when we were young, is now on a solid rebound, numbering near 200. We are privileged to live along the western edge of their migration route as they travel from their winter home at Aransas NWR in Texas to Wood Buffalo NP, Alberta/Yukon. While the whoopers make major stops at Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira NWR in central Kansas, and along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska, they occasionally stop just west of Selden Kansas, along US 83 just east of Thomas County. They've even been pinned down by weather there for a few days. Kansas and Federal wildlife authorities usually monitor the birds when they are observed there. We've seen them, but are kept one mile away so even through binoculars, details on big birds are not observable, but they're impressive nonetheless.
National Geographic did a show a number of years ago which explained radio-tracking of a whooper flock, and Colby figured in the plot as an overnight stay was made there by the crew.
Some links:
http://www.portup.com/~nacwg/whooping.htm good site with migration map
http://www.portup.com/~nacwg/wcra3.htm