Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

The white whoopers prized by birdwatchers usually start showing up in early October, but the first appearance this season wasn’t reported until last week. As the climate continues to shift, these delays are becoming more common, wildlife educators say.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall sought a $4.2 million earmark to resolve a water rights dispute in Kansas in 2024. The plan aims to boost water flow to the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, benefiting both the refuge and local farmers, but it could also help preserve the value of Marshall’s nearby Rattlesnake Ranch.

Quivira's marshes have a legal right to water. Kansas has never enforced it, because doing so would hurt farmers who use the water for crop irrigation.

In part one of our road trip series, we explore a place that combines beautiful landscapes, folk art and a whole lot of personality: central Kansas.

Four hours southwest of Kansas City, the salt marshes at Quivira become a stopping point for over 340 species of birds during their spring migration.

ST. JOHN, Kansas — Water — who gets to use it, when and how — sparks fights all over the world. The latest battleground is in south-central Kansas, near...