Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge

May 9-11

I arrived mid-afternoon and got the last site with electricity. No cell phone service at the campground but there is one bar at the visitor's center.

This refuge, in southwest Okalahoma, has 59,000 acres that survived the plow because of the underlying rock. It is now being managed for bison, elk, and deer. Oddly enough, they allow Texas longhorn cattle to chomp the grass alonside the more legitimate grazers. The cattle have status as a "cultural and historical legacy". This title does not keep them from being eaten, however. The Meers Store and Restaurant just north of the park serves the world famous gigantic "Seismic Meers Burger", which is made from the cattle.

One look at that burger and I was instantly reminded of the "Man vs Food" television program. The outside of the store and restaurant looked older that its 107 year history. If I hadn't run across the place on the web (www.meersstore.com), I would have missed a restaurant featured in the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Bon Appetit Magazine, and a hamburger chosen as one of the 8 best in the country.

There was little work for the cameras because of the rain. I did go scouting and found my two main target species: the endangered Black-capped Vireo, and also the more common Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Other species seen were Mississippi Kite, Summer Tanagers (abundant in the campground), Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Canyon Wren, Lazilu Bunting ( a first for me), Louisiana Water Thrush, and Lark Sparrow. Mammals included bison, elk, deer, coyote, and prairie dogs.