Quivira National Wildlife Refuge
Salt marsh and sand prairie create a coastal-feeling bird refuge hundreds of miles from any ocean.
Artwork inspired by William Dickerson
Quivira National Wildlife Refuge protects more than 22,000 acres of inland salt marsh, freshwater wetland, dunes, and prairie along the Central Flyway. Big Salt Marsh attracts avocets, stilts, plovers, cranes, geese, and migrating sandpipers; more than 340 bird species have been documented, an unusual diversity for the central Plains.
Start at the southern visitor area, then drive the Big Salt Marsh auto route at an unhurried pace. Wind can move shallow water enough to expose new feeding flats within one visit. Park only in designated areas, expect rough or wet roads after storms, and check seasonal closures—especially when sensitive nesting birds or whooping cranes are present.
- Habitat
- Inland salt marsh + sand prairie
- Bird record
- More than 340 species
- Best route
- Big Salt Marsh auto tour
Quick guide
- First
- Visitor area for conditions
- Best light
- Morning or late afternoon
Plan a useful visit
- Salt
- Look for white crust, salt-tolerant plants, and exposed feeding flats.
- Shorebirds
- Watch feeding style before attempting plumage identification.
- Cranes
- Read large white birds with black wingtips require distance and careful confirmation.
- Wind
- Recheck flats later; water and birds can shift to the opposite side
Good to know
The marsh’s salinity comes from groundwater moving through ancient salt deposits, creating habitat normally associated with much farther west or with coastlines.
Notice these
- Big Salt Marsh
- Sand prairie
- Central Flyway migration
- Whooping-crane stopover