10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2016

Many states choose their representative bird based on common, native birds spending part or all of the year within the states’ borders. South Dakota went a different way, designating the Ring-necked Pheasant as the state bird in 1943. Ring-necked Pheasants are native to Asia, brought over in the 1880’s.

South Dakota 100

South Dakota Hawaii United States North America 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 30, 2015

The Barn Swallow ( Hirundo rustica ) is one of the most widespread and popular birds. They are still among the coolest birds on my list. They fly from extreme northern North America to the southern tip of South America and are seldom seen perched during migration. Nesting bird at The Badlands National Park.

South Dakota 169

South Dakota South America North America America 169

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2011

The male of the species has the upper portion of the head, back of neck, back and wings all glossy black. The male is the only Black-necked Stilt in the second segment of this video, along with several Greater White-fronted Geese, and the third bird that comes into view in the final segment that is larger than the other two birds.

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South Dakota Jordan Sacramento North America 190

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2012

The species was extinct, a vanished part of the vanishing prairie — and not for the first time. In the 1950s the species was unofficially regarded as extinct by most biologists, a small part lost in the general tumble and disarray of the entire ecosystem they’d inhabited. You couldn’t see it. But the ferrets kept dying.

Ferrets 189

Ferrets South Dakota Wyoming Captive Animal 189

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2013

Now you know why the most numerous and widespread of the two swan species in North America used to be known as the Whistling Swan. Range map courtesy of Terri Sohl of South Dakota Birds and Birding. References: 1 North American Birds Online.

California 108

California South Dakota Sacramento North America 108

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2011

v=SeCKWKGhgR8 Currently, about 95 percent of all Ross’s Geese nest in the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary in the central Canadian Arctic. Map courtesy of Terry Sohl at South Dakota Birds and Birding. The Ross’s Goose is the smallest variety of the white geese that breed in North America.

Geese 153

Geese South Dakota Sacramento Arkansas 153

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2017

Crotty is a birder and lawyer living in Portland, Oregon who loves to share thoughtful , in-depth conservation pieces with 10,000 Birds readers. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), contain many of the nation’s most renowned birding locations, including Bosque del Apache NWR in New Mexico, Laguna Atascosa NWR in Texas, and J.N.

Factory 118

Factory Ducks North Dakota Nebraska 118