Quivira National Wildlife Refuge

Located in south central Kansas, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge lies in the transition zone of eastern and western prairies. In 1955, the Migratory Bird Commission approved the purchase of land to create the Refuge, and by 1998 the last of the Refuge's 22,135 acres had been purchased. The name "Quivira" is of Spanish origin, given to the region by the Spanish explorer, Coronado, who visited the area in 1541. Instead of gold, treasures and the fabled "Seven Cities of Cibola," Coronado instead found fertile grasslands, abundant wildlife, and small agricultural villages. For untold years, the Big and Little Salt Marshes have attracted thousands of migratory waterfowl, providing them with food, cover and a place to rest. Native Americans and early settlers hunted the waterfowl in these marshes and shortly after the turn of the century, commercial hunting provided wagonloads of waterfowl to Kansas City restaurants and other eastern points. In 1992, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge was designated as a Wetland Site of International Importance due to its location and role as a stopping point for migrating shore birds in the Central Flyway.