Birding & Beers – Dancing Chickens

 

Every spring, male greater prairie-chickens gather at ancient breeding grounds and compete for the chance to mate in Nebraska’s prairie grasslands. Their raucous displays include stomping, booming, whooping, and sparring. With exposed tail coverts and balloon-like air sacs flashing orange and yellow, few performances in the bird world are more memorable than this dawn dance of chickens.

At the same time, groups of lesser prairie-chickens are convening in western Kansas to the south. Their courtship displays are less about booming and more about a series of intricate sounds and visual signals. Popping sounds, low clucks, and footwork are on show at these dance arenas. While lesser prairie-chickens may be more subdued in their efforts to attract mates, this spring show is no less impressive.

We’ll spend three days exploring southwestern Nebraska and western Kansas. We have strategically selected areas away from crowds so that we have the time and space to truly enjoy these areas in true Reefs to Rockies style. We’ll travel in a custom American safari van with a conversion pop-top and spacious seating. This is not the traditional passenger van you may have traveled in on past trips. This one-of-a-kind vehicle has been specially designed by two wildlife biologists to allow for optimal viewing. It makes a perfect blind and there’s ample room for everyone to view at the same time. Both Nebraska and Kansas boast vibrant craft beer scenes, and we’ll enjoy several brews in both states at local establishments.

Don’t miss the chance to explore the heart of prairie-chicken habitat. This three-day trip is sure to deepen your appreciation for these charismatic species. Get ready for Dancing Chickens!

About Your Expedition Leader: Carly Crow is the newest member of Reefs to Rockies’ guide team. She has been dedicated to avian research since 2017, specializing in bird banding and field studies. Her work as a field biologist has taken her across the United States and internationally, allowing her to gain a wealth of experience in diverse ecosystems. With a strong background in tropical ecology, she has conducted research and educational projects in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Ecuador. Recently, Carly joined Reefs to Rockies to aid in trip development and guiding. She looks forward to showing off everything Nebraska and Kansas have to offer, from dancing chickens to delicious craft brews.

Conservation Impact: A donation to support Great Plains grassland bird conservation will be made on behalf of all participants.

ITINERARY

Day 1 (Sat, April 5): Colorado to Nebraska ~ Morning departure from Denver for our scenic drive to McCook, Nebraska. There will be time for birding and wildlife viewing enroute. Stops will be determined based on recent sightings and the group’s interests. We’ll hear tales of Greater Prairie-Chickens this evening from an engaging storyteller before dinner and beers.

Accommodations: Cobblestone Hotel and Suites – McCook

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2 (Sun, April 6): Nebraska to Kansas ~ Today begins early with a visit to a nearby ranch that’s home to Greater Prairie-Chickens. Before sunrise, males start arriving to this historic lek, a place where multiple males gather during mating season and engage in competitive displays. Our blind is close to the action so we can observe the interactions between the alpha male and his challengers.

After our lek experience and a hearty mid-morning breakfast in McCook, we’ll start making our way to Kansas. We’ll enjoy a nature walk and birding at Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. The 332-acre park encompasses 220 acres of badlands – fragile, but ruggedly spectacular geologic formations with 100-foot-tall spires and cliffs of eroded Niobrara Chalk, a layer of rock deposited about 85 million years ago.

We’ll end up in either Oakley or Great Bend arriving in time for our farewell dinner at a local establishment. Our overnight city this evening will be decided once we know which ranch and Lesser Prairie-Chicken lek we’re visiting tomorrow morning. We’ll have that information a couple of weeks before the trip starts.

Accommodations: Sleep Inn & Suites – Oakley or Holiday Inn Express and Suites

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 3 (Mon, April 7): Kansas to Colorado ~ Because of the stewardship of the land in western Kansas, the habitat in Logan, Gove, and Scott counties provides some of the finest places in the world to view Lesser Prairie-Chickens in their natural environment. Our day begins with a visit to a local ranch for a blind session at a lek. Our trip is timed to correspond to peak numbers of male and female prairie-chickens at the lek. After this we’ll make our way back to Denver for an early evening return.

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

 

DETAILS

Price: $1575* per person based on two people sharing a double occupancy room. Add $175* if you prefer a private, single occupancy room.

Inclusions: accommodations, transportation in “The Roaming Bison” custom safari van, driver/guide (Carly Crow), daily guided wildlife viewing with spotting scope available, all meals starting with lunch on Day 1 through lunch on Day 3, gratuities for your guide and at restaurants for included meals, two lek sessions, and entrance fees.

Exclusions: transportation to/from our meeting point in Denver, travel insurance, optional gratuities for hotel staff, and activities not listed in the itinerary.

*Reflects payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees assessed at time of payment.

Group Size: Min of 5 and max of 7 participants + Expedition Leader. We are known for having smaller group sizes with a better participant to guide ratio than most companies offering similar itineraries.

A Note About Gratuities – Your trip cost includes gratuities for your guide, as well as at restaurants for included meals. This allows us to reliably and equitably compensate everyone working so hard to keep you happy, healthy, and safe during your trip.

Level of Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. Early spring weather in Nebraska and Kansas can be cold and windy. Participants should be prepared to spend birding periods of 30 minutes to an hour outside with walks up to a mile in length. Blinds are not heated and sessions typically last 2 hrs. Ability to climb up and down from a passenger van that is lifted for 4WD with a stool provided is required.

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