Sunflowers are in bloom at the Grand Osage Wildlife Area east of Parsons. The pictures of the blooms serve as an alert to hunters that dove season is approaching; the plants serve as a food source for doves and other wildlife. The pictures show morning dew on some of the petals of a flower (looking at the back side) and another shows a male dickcissel watching a photographer closely on a summer morning. A biologist confirmed the bird’s identity (the female doesn’t have the black V on its throat, among other differences). Dove season opens on Sept. 1 and the Grand Osage will offer public hunts on Sept. 1 and 6. Hunters need to meet between 5:30 and 7 a.m. on hunt days at the guarded gate on Scott Road to be escorted to the 80-acre sunflower field. The field will be shut down to hunting at 10 a.m. Additional hunting days may be added. Last year, about 3,700 doves were harvested at Grand Osage. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks manages the 3,000 acre Grand Osage at Great Plains Industrial Park, formerly the Kansas Army Ammunition Plant. It also manages about 6,000 other GPIP acres for hunting and fishing. Ray Nolting/Sun photos
