10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2011

Waterfowl numbers at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex may exceed two million by December, after the wetland areas of the Klamath Basin and other areas to the north become frozen. Map courtesy of Terry Sohl at South Dakota Birds and Birding. Snow and Ross’s Geese winter there in the tens of thousands.

Geese 153

Geese South Dakota Sacramento Arkansas 153

Critter News

JANUARY 30, 2009

Wildlife conservationists say the freeze will delay and possibly prevent the removal of gray wolves from the federal endangered species list in Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan, and also in portions of Washington, Oregon, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio.

Obama 100

Obama Wolves South Dakota North Dakota 100

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2014

Range map courtesy of South Dakota Birds and Birding. Forest Service plan to allow 30,000 acres of logging in the burned area will cause significant harm to wildlife, water and the regrowing forest. Either way, they are usually due to exploitation of wood-boring beetle larvae, their primary food.

Woodpeckers 171

Woodpeckers California South Dakota Chad 171

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Tom Dunkerton tipped me off to an area on the Black Merritt National Wildlife Refuge where some of my target birds can be seen. The Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival occurs every year at the end of January in Titusville. Just a couple of light pishes would bring the birds above the grass for a few moments.

Florida 168

Florida South Dakota Sparrows Wildlife 168

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 13, 2018

I haven’t even been to all of the best national wildlife refuges for birding. I particularly enjoy birding national wildlife refuges, so I try to include at least one on each trip. Prairie Pothole Region of the United States , primary in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana.

San Francisco 100

San Francisco Portland United States Puerto Rico 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2011

Jochen the swallows have arrived at NYC at Jamaica Bay National Wildlife Refuge too. All conditions are perfect here in central South Dakota for the waterfowl travelers. Fish & Wildlife comes in response to a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity. Fotokarusellen Mar 19th, 2011 at 8:08 am Amazing.

2011 150

2011 Deer Birds South Dakota 150

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

For example, my list of the Top 25 National Wildlife Refuges for birding includes locations in Utah ( Bear River MBR ), Minnesota ( Minnesota Valley NWR ), and Wisconsin ( Horicon NWR ). Even some states that technically have checklists barely qualify: the great state of Illinois has just a single checklist with two species (from an airport).

Rhode Island 114

Rhode Island United States West Virginia Puerto Rico 114

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 10, 2018

With Wyoming and South Dakota in our rear view mirror, we look toward Colorado, and a hot spot I have been anxious to visit. The west end of the lake has been designated as a Watchable Wildlife Reserve, with some nice walking trails and a couple of very nice hides built overlooking some varied waterways.

Colorado 113

Colorado Texas Trinidad Albuquerque 113

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2011

I was looking out a car window the other day and noticed that of all the wildlife most of it was bird. But if you look at a bit of prairie in South Dakota during the dead of winter, you may see very few birds and a lot of bison. A squirrel skittered by … a squirrel is not a bird.

Mammals 175

Mammals Rodents Birds Reptiles 175