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North Dakota Birding: A Birdwatchers Paradise
By James Veach
North Dakota has some of the best birding trails in the U.S.A. With about 350 species of birds in North Dakota, this makes for an interesting adventure in birdwatching. The Steele Birding Drive was the first established in this country.
Steele is located in Kidder County, between Bismark and Jamestown. People come from all over the country , even from different countries just to come enjoy the great outdoors and watch birds. For all you birding enthusiasts, grab your cameras and binoculars and make North Dakota your next bird watching destination.
Below I have put together some info on the birding trails of North Dakota. Birders will be able to enjoy birdwatching at any of these fine birdwatching areas. Enjoy all that North Dakota has to offer and above all have fun!
Steele Birding Drive
This birding area has received national exposer for being one of the Top 10 areas in North America has being hot spots for birding. There are 3 National Wildlife Refuges in the area that make this such a hot spot. Chase, Slade, and Long Lakes are great places to get out there with your binoculars and enjoy this great pass time/hobby.
Bismark - Mandan Birding Drive
There are 3 routes that make this area great for bird watching. Running along the beautiful Missouri River Valley, these site include: Cross Ranch State Park and Nature Preserve. Roads will lead you out on the wide open prairies, down in the river bottoms, through wetlands, and over buttes. Also included in this drive is part of the Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Lake Region Birding Trail
This birding drive will take you through parts of 5 counties, with 11 different sites that are within national wildlife refuges, state parks, wildlife production areas, and a county park.This trail winds around Sullys Hill National Game Preserve and Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge.
Central Dakota Birding Drive
With over 300 species of birds found along these routes, you will find this to be a beautiful drive for the whole family. You will be driving along the Sheyenne and Souris river valleys, exploring sites such as Lone Tree Wildlife Area and Wintering River National Wildlife Refuge. The Sheyenne River National National Wildlife Refuge offers a great place for watching wetland birds.
Birding Drives Dakota
Located in the Carrington - Jamestown area, you find this to be a great birding area. Included in the drive, you will visit such areas as Arrow and Chase Lakes National Wildlife Refuges, Audubon Alkali Lake Sanctuary, Hawks Nest Ridge and Lake Juanita in the Missouri Coteau and Drift Plain areas.
Birding on the Lewis and Clark Trail
In the Williston area, this birding trail offers a great deal for you bird lovers. On mostly paved roads, this trail will take you to such places as, Williston Marsh, Lewis and Clark State Park, North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Little Missouri National Grasslands and
Lake Zahl Nation Wildlife Refuge. So don't forget your binoculars, there is an abundance of wildlife out there for your viewing.
Minot Birding
Short drives not far out of Minot you will find 5 national wildlife refuges including, Audubon, J. Clark Salyer, Lostwood, Upper Souris and Des Lacs. Minot regularly hosts 2 national conventions of The American Birding Associations, for you bird lovers.
Birding Kulm
On the eastern ridge of the Missouri Coteau, this birding area is a great place for the bird enthusiast. Records are kept here all the time to help people know when and where birds might be migrating, nesting and for winter birding trips. Located in South Eastern North Dakota this is a must for you bird watchers.
International Peace Garden Birding
The Turtle Mountains is the home to over 100 songbirds and is also the home of the International Peace Gardens. Located on the US and Canadian border you will find a forest habitat with many lakes and streams. Beautiful place for birding in the fall.
Turtle Mountain Birding Festival
Minot State University hosts a birding festival in Bottineau each year. During this festival you will be able to explore wetlands, prairies, wooded areas and lakes in the Turtle Mountains, just south of the Canadian border.
Pot Holes and Prairies Birding
Located in the Jamestown, a guided bus tour will take you to three of the best birding locations around, they are: Arrowhead and Chase National Wildlife Refuge areas and Horsehead Lake.
Sulleys Hill Birding and Nature Festival
Offering a variety of educational programs, the Sully Hill Birding and Nature Festival has a celebration of birding, nature, culture and history. Birding tours are offered at Sullys Hill and Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge.
James Veach is webmaster of Excelloutdoors North Dakota. Anything and everything you want to know about North Dakota. Come visit us today at http://www.excelloutdoors.com
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