10,000 Birds

APRIL 26, 2016

South Dakota went a different way, designating the Ring-necked Pheasant as the state bird in 1943. In fact, the bird is so popular that it was also chosen for South Dakota’s bicentennial commemorative quarter! 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

They fly from extreme northern North America to the southern tip of South America and are seldom seen perched during migration. Another cool fact was learning that the Barn Swallows has started to breed in South America since the 80s. Swallows have migrated north to south along the Americas for millennia.

South Dakota 168

South Dakota South America North America America 168

10,000 Birds

MAY 11, 2012

The first resurrection, or more properly resurfacing, of the black-footed ferret happened in 1964, in Mellette County, South Dakota. When the South Dakota ferret numbers began dropping, they captured nine animals in hopes of starting a captive breeding population. But the ferrets kept dying.

Ferrets 184

Ferrets South Dakota Wyoming Captive Animal 184

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2011

I found these beauties at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, one of the many locations the Black-necked Stilt breeds in the California Central Valley (map courtesy of Terry Sohl at South Dakota Birds ). Black-necked Stilts will wade in water of any depth up to the height of their breast.

South Dakota 185

South Dakota Jordan Sacramento North America 185

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2013

The North American Tundra Swan ( Cygnus columbianus columbianus ) migrates in flocks of family groups… leaving their Arctic breeding grounds in late September and arriving in their wintering grounds in November and December 1 (click on photos for full sized images). Range map courtesy of Terri Sohl of South Dakota Birds and Birding.

California 107

California South Dakota Sacramento North America 107

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 18, 2012

In North America, the Greater White-fronted Goose breeds in open tundra areas of the low Arctic from Point Barrow, Alaska to northeastern Keewatin, Northwest Territories, and it winters south to Chiapas, Mexico, thus having the broadest latitudinal range of any arctic-nesting goose 1.

Geese 169

Geese Wildlife Sacramento South Dakota 169

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2011

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. They look like a small Snow Goose but they have a shorter neck and a rounder head.

Geese 153

Geese South Dakota Sacramento Arkansas 153