Smoky Hills Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary

"The Pond"

The Sanctuary, also referred to as "The Pond", is a 66.4 acre parcel on Stimmel Road south of I-70 and west of I-135.  The land had been used as a "borrow pit" for dirt for the building of I-135 and subsequently deeded to the Saline County Conservation District. The Smoky Hills Audubon Society then leased the property from the Saline County Conservation District for 99 years starting February 1978.

S.H.A.W.S. is comprised of fields, hedgerow, woods and a 20-acre pond.  As many as  152 species of birds have been sighted.  White-tailed deer, turkey, bobcat, prairie chicken, quail, wood rat, pocket gopher, rabbit, and squirrel are among the denizens there. Bullfrogs and turtles abound in the pond.

 A viewing facility has been built at the west end of the pond near a large bird feeder.  A large picnic table and several benches offer relaxed viewing sites.

Mowed trails go around the pond and wetland areas, through the woods, the Memorial Tree Grove and other fields. A good variety of trees, bushes, grasses and wildflowers are found along the trails.  A Bluebird Trail has been established with dozens of bluebird houses.  Wood Duck houses and goose platforms have also been added.
View other pond pictures

Location:   S.H.A.W.S. is located in Saline County directly south of I-70 and 1/5 mile west of I-135.  (S ½ of SE ¼ of Section 33, Elm Creek T-13-S, R-3-W.)  It can be reached from the Halstead Road interchange of I-70.  This is the first interchange west of I-135. Traveling south less than ½ mile, one reaches Stimmel Road.  Happy Corner School is on the southwest corner.  Turning east there, SHAWS is found about ¾ of a mile on the north side of the road.

Use:   School groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, church groups and others as well as members have used the Sanctuary.  Boy Scouts have done projects towards their Eagle Badges. (Arrangements can be made by contacting Harold Lear, SHAWS chairman at (785)823-2366, Salina.)  Plant and bird surveys have been conducted at the site.  Wood rat studies and water monitoring studies have also been initiated at SHAWS by students.  Bluebird houses are monitored during the breeding season.  The Kansas Highway Patrol has a practice shooting range in the southwest corner of the Sanctuary acreage.  Large dirt banks and evergreen trees separate it from the Sanctuary.  Many more evergreens have been planted which serve not only as screens but also as nesting and cover for our wildlife.