Additional Info

Nature Conservancy Tallgrass Prairie Web Site

Tallgrass Prairie Bird Checklist

Trip Report by Mary Beth Stowe

Trip Report by Cyndie Browning

From OKBirds

I have been surveying Prairie Chicken Leks at The Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in Osage County. Unfortunately, most of the Leks cannot be seen from the county roads, but there was a small group of males drumming in a viewable location. Go north from the headquarters until you come to a viewing turnout on the east side of the road. If you park there, and look to the northeast, the birds were only about 100 ft away. Get there early (before 6:30 am) and stay in your car so you won't disturb the birds.

If you go a little further north, just beyond the cattle (bison) guard that marks the northern boundry of the preserve, you can see a larger group of prairie chickens (about 20)on a ridge about 1/2 mile to the west. The view is great, expecially if you have a scope.

Other good birds include Henslow's, Grasshopper, Vesper, and Savannah Sparrows, Upland Sandpiper, and Swainson's Hawk. Also the Bison are numerous, including a number with babies.

Bonnie Gall, April 2003

I went to the Tallgrass Prairie this past Wednesday. At about 5 pm. 1 short-eared owl appeared and began flying around for about the next 15-20 minutes. This was on the northwest side of the bison loop, just south of the oil pumps and within 100 yards of the scenic turnout sign. If you go north through the preserve and at the last turn to the preserve headquarters instead of turning right, turn left and go about a mile to where the oil pumps are pumping on your right, you will be where we saw the owl on Wednesday.

Mark Peterson, Nov. 2005