The migration is really exploding at the Bottoms right now! New birds are appearing every day. If you want to see real magic in action—go to the Cheyenne Bottoms during the next month or so. It is absolutely breath-taking. It should be illegal to live close to this wonder of nature and not be there as much as possible. If you want to see Prairie Chickens, call KWEC and they will take you to a lek for another show you can hardly believe. You bird hunters need to drive a few roads and watch the pheasants in their tuxedos discussing family planning with the hens whose clock has ticked. It is that time of year! With this new moisture, we can anticipate a good hatch.
Being retired has some advantages that I am just now discovering. It is a luxury to be able to just sit and think about things without time or work restraints. I have been watching these new birds crash into the Bottoms and then do several things that seem a bit curious to me. First, they feed frantically (watch the Ibis, Avocets, Yellowlegs and sandpipers wade and feed so urgently) and mostly ignore their neighbors and cohorts in the process. Waves of Avocets march in tandem feeding almost in their neighbors lap. Phalaropes spin in circles in close-knit groups. I think this is a result of the huge energy expenditure involved in the migration. A lot of these birds come from Mexico and further. It emphasizes the value of the Bottoms and Quivira in the survival of these busy travelers. A luxury hotel with gourmet food is probably programmed into their flight plan from birth. Over 90% of the Franklin Gulls in the world migrate through Kansas. There has to be a reason.  
The other thing these birds do that is interesting to me is sleep. How much do birds sleep? I can’t find a definite answer, but it is less than teen-age kids think they need. Why do they assume a one-legged stance with their head back over their shoulder? I suspect some are taking advantage of the facilities and relaxing in safe place to restore their bodies after the exhausting long flights. We may actually see more birds sleeping here at the Bottoms due to that situation. Somone has stated that Swifts (Chimney Swifts, etc) actually sleep while soaring. Some parrots sleep hanging upside down like bats. Sleep is strange.
The one-leg up pose with their head on their back has been researched pretty well. Body temperature mandates the one leg up position. The arteries and veins in the legs are next to each other, and the warm blood in the arteries warms the cold blood in the veins going back to the heart. If one leg is next to the body, the heat requirement to keep core temperature correct is reduced by half. If you are a uncontrolled intellectual, read up on “Rete Mirabile.” I’m not, but I did....
The “head on the back” pose seems to be related to relaxation of neck muscles, and possibly providing eye cover for better sleep. I suspect there is more to it than that, but Rob Penner and Mike Radar will have to answer those questions. We are lucky to have their expertise in our area.
There are lots of other things these birds do that keep the mystery and beauty of our marsh new every day. Go see these amazing visitors! It’s better than the movies!