The fourth annual Kansas Lek Treks Prairie-Chicken Festival

Schedule Of Events:

April 10, 2025

6pm-8pm Opening Reception including welcome from AOK Executive Director and prairie-chicken biologist, Jackie Augustine, and sponsor tables (Sternberg Museum, with shuttle vans from the hotel; light dinner provided)

April 11, 2025

4:00am-1:00pm Prairie-Chicken viewing from blinds (vans leave from hotel; snacks and breakfast included)
5:30am-1:00pm Prairie-Chicken viewing from vans (vans leave from hotel; snacks and breakfast included)
6:30am-8:00am Bird Walk (carpool from hotel entrance; no snacks or breakfast provided)
8:30am-5pm Field Trips to Globally Important Wetlands or Prairie-Chicken Management at Smoky Valley Ranch (vans leave from hotel; snacks and lunch included)
6:00pm-9:00pm 'Night at the Museum' hosted by Sternberg Museum including 'behind-the-scenes' tours, exhibits, prairie-chicken biology presentation, sponsor tables, and more (Sternberg Museum, with shuttle vans from hotel; light dinner provided)

April 12, 2025

4:00am-1:00pm Prairie-Chicken viewing from blinds (vans leave from hotel; snacks and breakfast included)
5:30am-1:00pm Prairie-Chicken viewing from vans (vans leave from hotel; snacks and breakfast included)
6:30am-8:00am Bird Walk (carpool from hotel entrance; no snacks or breakfast provided)
8:30am-5pm Field Trips to Globally Important Wetlands or Kansas Geology Wonders (vans leave from hotel; snacks and lunch included)
6:00-9:00pm Evening Banquet with Keynote Speaker; presentation by featured artist; and sponsor tables (Sternberg Museum, with shuttles from hotel; banquet meal provided with event ticket)

April 13, 2025

4:00am-1:00pm Prairie-Chicken viewing from blinds (vans leave from hotel; snacks and breakfast included)
5:30am-1:00pm Prairie-Chicken viewing from vans (vans leave from hotel; snacks and breakfast included)
6:30am-8:00am Bird Walk (carpool from hotel entrance; no snacks or breakfast provided)
 
Pre- and Post-Festival Sharp-tailed Grouse Trips

Pre-Festival Trip: 9am Monday, April 7 through 5pm Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Post-Festival Trip: 9am Monday, April 14 through 5pm Wednesday, April 16, 2025

$550 per person - all inclusive

This is an Audubon of Kansas sponsored trip to their sanctuary, Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Refuge, near Bassett, Nebraska, to see Sharp-tailed Grouse. Trip includes transportation to and from the hotel in Hays, lodging, and meals. Lodging is in the large, updated house on the sanctuary. Rooms are double occupancy with shared bathrooms. Grouse viewing will be offered from blinds placed at leks. This tour emphasizes viewing, but there are good opportunities for photography. We will also visit Rowe Sanctuary along the Platte River to see if there are lingering Sandhill Cranes.

Date: April 10 - 13, 2025

Location: Sternberg Museum Of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive Hays, KS 67601

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