Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge, National Wildlife Refuge in Linn County, Kansas, United States.
Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge is a protected area spanning approximately 7,500 acres (3,000 hectares) along the Marais des Cygnes River in Kansas. The refuge contains hardwood forests, wetlands, and tallgrass prairie that create diverse habitats throughout the property.
The refuge was established in 1992 to protect the largest connected bottomland hardwood forest in Kansas. This conservation effort preserved one of the state's last significant natural landscapes.
The name comes from French settlers who called this region the 'Marsh of the Swans' because of the many water birds living in the wetlands. Today it remains a vital stopping point for these birds during their seasonal travels.
The refuge is open for various activities including birdwatching, hiking through forest trails, fishing, and seasonal waterfowl hunting. Spring migration season offers the best time to visit when large numbers of birds pass through the area.
The refuge is home to over 30 species of warblers, birds that are becoming increasingly hard to find elsewhere in the country. This remarkable diversity of these small migratory birds draws birders from across the region.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
