North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, including Lake Minatare State Recreation Area

Lake Minatare - Photo by Paul Johnsgard
Lake Minatare – Photo by Paul Johnsgard

Area 5047 acres. The best part of this refuge is the 500-acre Winters Creek Lake Unit northwest of Lake Minatare, where a marshy lake attracts a large number of migratory and breeding water birds, including western grebes. There is a bird list for the entire refuge. The refuge checklist includes 181 species, with 32 known nesters and 20 additional possible breeders.