What You'll Find in this Newsletter | |
Advocacy: Environmental Conservation of the Flint Hills
Conservation: Success! Rails Respond to Habitat Improvements at Hutton
Education: What good is a tick?
Upcoming Events
Philanthropy Corner: Thank you for your generosity!
Chapter Spotlight: Sunflower Audubon
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The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) responds to landowner’s concerns regarding environmental conservation of the Flint Hills
The Buffalo Flats Transmission Line Project proposed the installation of a 133-mile high voltage transmission line starting from Sedgwick County west of Wichita and proceeding south to Sumner County, then southeast to Cowley County and east and slightly south through Flint Hills in Cowley and Chautauqua Counties until it reaches the Oklahoma border. Landowners have voiced strong opposition to the portion of the route through the Flint Hills citing concerns about the unique ecology of the Flint Hills tallgrass prairie and adjacent forested areas. Oil and gas industry representatives also voiced concerns that the proposed transmission line would permanently restrict surface use of the land for oil and gas operations. Landowners also stated that the proposed route is contrary to a Proclamation made by Governor Kelly on July 28, 2020, announcing a moratorium on the development of wind power infrastructure in the Tallgrass Heartland.
The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) is responsible for determining if the transmission line is necessary and that the route selected is reasonable. The KCC determined that the line is necessary to provide reliable power to Branson, MO, while reducing the likelihood of overload and voltage issues in southeastern Kansas and southern Missouri and providing additional energy during weather events. As for reasonability of the route, the KCC approved the route west of highway 77. Because Evergy used the same scoring criteria for the eastern portion of the route that they used on the western portion, the sensitive ecosystem of the Flint Hills and the unique oil and gas operations were not considered and commission could not determine whether the eastern portion of the route was ‘reasonable.’ They requested additional routes to be considered east of highway 77, including a route along highway 166 which already has an infrastructure right of way designated and was proposed by landowners. The KCC also determined that the Governor’s wind power infrastructure moratorium in the Flint Hills does not apply to transmission lines.
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Evergy must submit a timeline for review, including additional public comment periods, by June 12, 2026. The new proposal to be developed must consider “the unique ecology, topology, and cultural history of the Flint Hills physiographic boundary and ecoregion” as well as “considering and addressing the possible permanent interference with or destruction of native soils and grasses.”
This is a mixed bag for conservation of the Flint Hills. On one hand, the sensitive ecosystem of the Flint Hills is being considered. On the other hand, a transmission line is likely to be installed somewhere through the southern Flint Hills regardless of the route. Additionally, this finding restricts the applicability of Governor’s wind moratorium box to not include transmission lines. Time will tell if the moratorium can be applied to large scale industrial solar facilities, or even if the current moratorium will be supported by the incoming governor.
| | Success! Rails Respond to Habitat Improvements at Hutton | | Since 2022, the AOK team has been monitoring the abundance of rails, including Virginia Rail and Sora, at the Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. Our goal was to determine if our planned installation of two water control structures was going to have a positive impact on wildlife. These structures were installed last summer and allow us to manipulate water levels in the wetland to advance our management objectives. For example, we may retain more water to provide more wetland habitat during the breeding season or bring water levels down to control woody vegetation and invasive species. | | So far, our management has been a success! Rail numbers have increased despite the area being in a drought. Currently, we have set both structures for retaining as much water as possible and there appears to be more habitat available in some areas of the marsh. Our wetlands get water from both rainfall and groundwater springs, so that may be why we are able to increase our wetland coverage using the water control structures regardless of rainfall. Looking at the historical data, the numbers of both Virginia Rail and Sora decrease when there is less rainfall, and Soras appear to be more sensitive to precipitation. This makes this year’s result more remarkable – Virginia Rail numbers remained constant and Soras increased despite lower than average rainfall! | | Figure shows rail survey data from 2022-2026 | | Virginia Rail by Jackie Augustine | | Adult Sora (Porzana carolina) by Dave Rintoul | | Story and photo by Dr. Jackie Augustine, AOK Executive Director | | |
Ticks are portrayed as evil blood-suckers, spreading disease to their hapless victims. Well… that’s true, except for the evil part. Ticks are just doing what they evolved to do 100 million years ago: feeding on the blood of hosts which at that time included feathered dinosaurs. To get a blood meal efficiently and without notice, they evolved specialized mouthparts to cut the skin and a straw-like structure to slurp the blood. Their saliva contains anticoagulants to prevent the blood from clotting, vasodilators to open blood vessels wider, immunosuppressants to quiet the immune system, and pain blockers to prevent itching and pain. You must admire ticks for their ingenious toolbox for obtaining blood meals.
Of the 900 species of ticks on the planet, 70 are found in North America. With 8 legs, ticks are cousins of spiders and not very closely related to insects. Of these, only about 8 tick species are known to transmit pathogens to people, with just 3 to 5 species responsible for the vast majority of human infections. In Kansas, four species spread disease. Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever is spread by pathogens transmitted via the American dog tick. Blacklegged ticks spread Lyme disease, and the Gulf Coast tick spreads spotted fever Rickettsioses. All these diseases are actually caused by bacteria who are taking advantage of ticks’ feeding strategies to infect new hosts. Viruses also take advantage of ticks as a vector. For example, the Bourbon virus is believed to be spread through the bite of an infected lone star tick. The virus was discovered in 2014 and named for Bourbon County, Kansas where it was first identified. Maybe ticks are victims of bacteria and viruses, too?
Not only can humans get diseases from pathogens spread by ticks, but they can also develop allergic reactions to tick bites. Most of the time, reactions are minor – itching and mild inflammation where bitten. Sensitivity to tick bites can increase with repeated exposure and can cause welts that last a week or more. Bites from lone star ticks can also cause sensitivity to the alpha-gal protein. This protein is produced by most mammals, so humans that develop this sensitivity have an allergic reaction to eating beef and other mammals that produce that protein.
So, how can we protect ourselves from tick bites? Before heading outdoors, treat your clothing with permethrin (read and follow label instructions), an insecticide that interferes with the nervous system of insects that touch treated clothes. You can avoid ticks by walking in the center of trails. After you come indoors, do a ‘tick check’. Ticks like to climb until they run into a tight spot, like around the waist, between the legs, under the arms, and in and around the hair. Also check your clothing, gear, and pets. They can ride home on these items and attach to a person later. The CDC also recommends spraying pesticides around your home or removing leaf litter, but be aware that these practices will also kill desirable bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects that birds use to feed their young.
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June 17-18: Sandhills Ranch Expo
Rock County Fairgrounds
507 S Park St (South of US Highway 20)
Bassett, NE 68714
Wednesday | 10:00 AM-7:00 PM
Thursday | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Visit Amy Meyer, AOK's Hutton Niobrara Ranch Manager, during exhibitor hours and learn more about ranching heritage in Rock County and throughout the Sandhills of Nebraska.
Learn More
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July 2: Dinosaurs are not extinct! (youth program)
Kismet Public Library
Kismet, KS
10:00 AM
July 2: Public Talk: Plants for Birds
Kismet Senior Center
Kismet, KS
12:30 PM
July 11: Hutton Field Day (family program)
Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
Bassett, NE
3:00-7:00 PM
| | Thank you for your generosity! | | |
Wow! Thank you to everyone who supported our Earth Day campaign! Whether you shared, donated, or clicked, your support helped us exceed our $35,000 goal, unlocking matching funds and creating more than $70,000 in real impact.
This summer, work is already underway on our Protected Areas to manage trails, tackle invasive species, and protect wildlife and their habitat.
The education never stops, either. Our team has numerous speaking engagements scheduled throughout the summer and is already preparing for Celebration of Cranes this fall.
And advocacy, though oftentimes quiet, is always happening in the background and remains a vital part of protecting the places and species we all care about.
So, from all of us at AOK, thank you for your support.
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Sunflower Audubon has been busy this spring, finding new ways to bring people together around birds, wildlife, and a shared sense of curiosity. On April 10 and 11, Birds & Brews Trivia during Kansas Lek Treks drew great crowds, mixing plenty of laughter with seriously competitive wildlife knowledge. Held every couple of months with bird and wildlife themed topics, these events have become a staple and continue to be a welcoming way for people of all experience levels to connect.
The chapter has also focused on youth outreach. At the Hays Science Fair, where the theme was space, visitors explored how close birds can actually get to it. Activities highlighted the incredible altitude reached by the Rüppell’s vulture and the similarities between the peregrine falcon and the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, showing how birds have influenced human flight. Member Emily Redding explored how birds fly using her own drawing of a chicken skeleton and a real chicken bone to demonstrate the unique structure of bird bones. Despite hours of flapping her arms, she was never able to achieve flight! The program proved to be a fun way to ground big, cosmic ideas in the natural world, and it was a high-flying hit with kids!
Throughout the summer season, Sunflower Audubon can be found at the Downtown Hays Market, offering hands-on activities and wildlife themed learning tidbits.
Upcoming events include an owl pellet dissection program, a Big Day outing during fall migration, likely to Kirwin or Cheyenne Bottoms, and the Prairie Garden Festival in November, co-sponsored with K-State Extension and other community partners including Master Gardeners, the Hays Water Department, Garden Club, and the Xerces Society, all focused on pollinators and the power of native planting.
At its heart, Sunflower Audubon is about making nature accessible, engaging, and enjoyable in northwest Kansas by creating opportunities for people to connect with wildlife, each other, and the landscapes that make Kansas special.
| | | | Photos: (left) Birds & Brews Trivia during the Kansas Lek Treks Prairie-Chicken Festival and (top) Hays Science Festival | | | | |
