Harvey County
County Seat:
Newton
County Size: 540
square miles
County Checklist: 325 species
DeLorme Pages 61
& 62
Google Map of Harvey County
Best Birds:
Canyon Wren (1957) White Ibis (1980) Garganey (19**)
Although it is small in comparison to most other counties in Kansas, Harvey
County offers a diverse variety of habitats, making it one of the few Kansas
counties with a checklist exceeding 300 species. Just a few miles east of
Newton one begins to encounter the tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills, while
in the northwestern portion of the county is a relatively undisturbed expanse of
sandhill prairie. In the southeastern corner are several small wetlands which
have produced numerous significant bird records. Riparian habitats (especially
those along the Little Arkansas River) offer excellent birding opportunities for
woodland species at all seasons. Many ardent birders have called Harvey County
home over the years, an additional contributing factor to its diverse
checklist. The Kaufman Museum, located on the campus of Bethel College,
displays a considerable selection of the taxidermy mounted by Dr. Charles
Kaufman who founded the museum. The displayed portion of the collection
includes an Eskimo Curlew. In another setting, Charles Hall on the Campus of
Hesston College contains an extensive selection of taxidermy mounted by Richard
Schmidt.
Birding Locations
-
Harvey County West Park:
This 310 acre park includes a 10 acre lake and nearly a mile of mature
riparian woodland along the Little Arkansas River. On the west side of the
lake is a well-maintained nature trail that winds through some pristine
sand-hill habitat. The nature trail area is most noteworthy for the
American Woodcocks that nest here in years when drought has not been
severe. Look and listen for them near dusk, beginning in early March and
continuing through June. Rose-breasted Grosbeak nests in most years
somewhere in the park. Typical eastern woodland species occur along the
river at all seasons. Directions:
From Newton (20 miles north of Wichita) go 14 miles west on U.S. 50 to River
Park Road (Harvey County Road 793). Turn north, go 3 miles to NW 24th
(Harvey County Road 566). The park entrance is about 0.8 miles east on the
north side of the road.
DeLorme:
61, C9
-
Sand Hills Driving
Tour:
North
and west of Harvey County West Park is one of the easternmost tracts of
sandhill prairie in Kansas. This habitat was created by prevailing winds
that scoured the river channels of Kansas rivers in the aftermath of the
Pleistocene Ice ages. The sand dunes deposited by those winds stabilized
over the millennia and today harbor a unique plant and animal community.
Although not open to the public, the Nature Conservancy preserves an 80 acre
tract of this appealing habitat immediately to the west of Harvey County
Park. This area is sparsely inhabited and has largely been spared the plow.
Even on days when the birding is slow a drive through the area is a
rewarding experience. There are a number of small ephemeral wetlands
dotting the area, although extensive draining efforts over the years have
eliminated many of them. Listen for American Bitterns giving their unique
pumping calls in spring and summer. Virginia Rail has nested at least
once. Numerous thickets of sand plum attract large numbers of Bell’s Vireo
and Field Sparrow in summer and a variety of sparrows in winter. Eastern
Bluebirds are common year-round. During some winters Mountain Bluebirds
inhabit the red cedar trees which dot the landscape. Directions:
Begin an auto tour of this area at the south entrance to Harvey County
Park. Proceed west on NW 24th St. to the tee with N. River Park
Rd., and turn left (south). Proceed one mile to NW 12th St. and
turn right (west). About a mile down the road is a small pond which the
late Ruth sisters referred to as “Benny’s Pond”. Depending on the water
level, herons, waterfowl or shorebirds can be observed here. Continue west
for two more miles to N. Prairie Lake Rd. Turn right (north) and proceed
two miles to NW 36th St. Turn left (west) and proceed one mile
to Burmac Rd. (paved). Burmac Rd. will take you to McPherson Co. to the
north, or Burrton to the south. Sandhill habitat is present in adjacent
areas of McPherson, Reno and Rice Counties. If county listing is one of
your interests, then with a gazetteer and a full tank of gas you can easily
tally a good list of birds for all of these counties.
Delorme:
61, C8-9
-
Patterson Marsh:
This is a lake/wetland area covering about 40 acres in southwest Harvey
County. It attracts waterfowl, waders, shorebirds and other wetland species
in good numbers. Species diversity is usually quite good during migration.
Rarities seen here have included Yellow Rail, Common Tern and Tri-colored
Heron. The lake is privately owned but for the most part can be adequately
viewed from adjacent public roads. There are a few small cottages on the
western edge of the water, and a there are a few concrete duck blinds in the
marsh. The Patterson grain elevator can be seen for several miles. A few
houses remain nearby to still lend the place-name some legitimacy. Directions:
Reach Patterson from the Burmac Road. From the town of Burrton on Highway
50 proceed south on Burmac for six miles to SW 84th St., and turn
east for one mile to reach the marsh. To view the south end of the marsh
go south on Prairie Lake Rd. for a short distance. Park before you reach
the former RR track grade. From here you will be able to scan most of the
southern half of the lake. To view the north end of the lake, go back north
on Prairie Creek Rd. for about .5 mile, taking the first right turn at SW 81st.
St., which curves around the north end of the lake. Water levels fluctuate
greatly at Patterson, especially at the north end, which has been completely
dry at times.
DeLorme:
61, E9
-
Greenfield
Marsh: This
is a small wetland in extreme southwest Harvey County. It has a different
plant community than nearby Patterson, with considerable stands of cattails,
sedges and prairie cordgrass. It has produced King Rail in several recent
years. Virgina Rail, Sora, Swamp Sparrow, American Bittern, and Marsh Wren
can also be found depending on the time of year. In August, 2005 a number
of singing Sedge Wrens were present, raising the possibility that they bred
at this site. Tall and dense vegetation can make viewing this much of this
area well difficult. Directions: From Patterson, return to the
Burmac Rd. and go south one mile to SW 96th St. Turn right
(west) and proceed two miles to Woodberry Rd. Just before you reach
Woodberry Rd. you will pass through the north part of the wetland. Turn
left (south) and for the next 0.5 mile you will pass through more of the
wetland with the road covered by water in wet years. The road is on the
county line, so the portion of the marsh on the west side of the road is
actually in Reno County.
DeLorme:
61, E8
-
Sand Creek Nature
Trail-Adjoining
the campus of Bethel College in North Newton is a tract of preserved habitat
which has been allowed to return to native vegetation. Over the past 40
years, plant succession at the site has been pronounced, and what was once
an open area of brush and grasses has given way to fairly heavy timber.
There is a trail which wanders back through these woods, where one can
observe a good variety of riparian woodland species. This is a good place
to look for warblers and other neo-tropical migrants in spring and fall.
Directions: At the north end of the Bethel College campus, turn east on
the paved road between the football field and a large parking lot. Proceed
east for about 2 blocks. The road will turn to dirt and curve south, ending
at the entrance to the nature trail. HIke the trail east along the
diversion ditch which soon feeds into Sand Creek. The trail veers to the
south and eventually loops around to your starting point.
DeLorme:
62, C1
-
Harvey
County East Lake:
This is the only lake of any size in Harvey County, formed by a dam
constructed in the late 1970’s on the west branch of Whitewater Creek. It
has produced many sightings of rare aquatic species. Some of the rarities
seen have been Red-necked Grebe, White-winged Scoter, White Ibis and Little
Gull. During migration and winter, one can usually find good numbers of
waterfowl, cormorants, pelicans, gulls and terns. A nature trail has been
created on public land about a mile north of the lake. This area of native
prairie attracted a colony of Henslow’s Sparrows which were present for a
couple of years during the 1990’s. Smith’s Longspur and Sprague’s Pipit
have been seen here as well during fall migration. Directions: Take
1st St. east from Newton for 6 miles to N. East Lake Rd. Turn
north and proceed 0.5 mile to reach the lake. Turn east at the entrance to
reach the dam, or continue north a short distance to cross a bridge and
reach the upper extremity of the lake. A number of perimeter roads allow
access to the entire lake. To reach the nature trail, continue north on
East Lake Road to NE 24th Rd. and turn left (west). Proceed for
about 0.5 mile to a small parking area at the trailhead (south side of the
road).
DeLorme: 62, C2
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