Audiences will be captivated by the greater prairie chickens and their dance

    The signs of spring are starting to appear, and the area is beginning to burst with activity. The last two weeks of March and most of April will have the area coming to life with the weekend arrivals of those viewing the greater prairie chickens and their natural habitat.
    The rolling sandhills north of Wray provide an excellent territory for the birds. The Wray Chamber of Commerce, the East Yuma County Historical Society and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, in cooperation with the landowners, sponsor Greater Prairie Chicken Tours every spring. This has been an annual event for over 25 years.
    The tour dates for 2018 will begin the weekend of Saturday, March 24, and will continue until the last viewing on Sunday, April 22. The tours include evening orientation, early morning viewing in a comfortable blind accompanied by a Division of Wildlife Officer, and a ranch style breakfast at the headquarters of the Kitzmiller Grazing Association.
    There is an option of two self-guided birding excursions after the tour. The first is a tour of the Beecher Island Battleground, which is on the Arickaree River and is about 20 minutes south of Wray. The second tour is on private land about 5 miles west of Wray, near the headwaters of Chief Creek. Both areas are excellent birding sites.

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