Here’s the latest news on programs and more at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 K-156, Ellinwood.

Turtle Tots

Wings of Wonder - Dragonflies! Turtle Tots, a nature-based program for preschool youth ages 3-5 attending with their caregiver, will kick off the fall programing from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 22. Turtle Tot programs often include a story, craft, science experiment, and outdoor exploration time.

This one-hour program is offered at no charge. Registration is required. Call 877-246-9268 or email amkern2@fhsu.edu by Aug. 20 to register.

Additional fall dates for Turtle Tots will be Oct. 3, Nov. 25 and Dec. 12.

 KWEC Butterfly Festival

The Kansas Wetlands Education Center’s 12th annual Butterfly Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Each year, millions of monarch butterflies undertake their annual fall flight to Mexico. Nets and tags will be available during the event for those who want to capture and tag monarch butterflies. Participants head out into the flower-filled fields and shelter belt around KWEC to capture monarchs, with tagging leaders stationed along the trail to help with the tagging process. For the past several years, monarchs tagged at the event were recovered at three Mexico roost sites.

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Recent bird sightings and water level updates at Cheyenne Bottoms

Some of the first south-bound fall migrants showing up. There are more shorebirds arriving, with quite a few sandpiper species being reported already in the last few days. Shorebird numbers and diversity should continue to increase into the fall months. While there is not great shorebird habitat at Cheyenne Bottoms currently, bird watchers should still be able to find some shorebirds along shorelines and in isolated shallow water areas.