Birding - General Information
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South Central North Dakota is characterized by sweeping grasslands punctuated with thousands of prairie marshes. Equally enchanting are the outcrops of Ponderosa Pine, Quaking Aspen, and Bur Oak Forest. This habitat diversity supports a varied bird community, encompassing approximately 354 species. The real charm of South Central North Dakota birding, however, is not the diversity, but the sheer numbers and the charming species involved. Visiting birders often are astounded by the incredible density of waterfaul, shorebirds, and blackbirds. Among the millions of birds that pass through the region each year are the regal-looking ferruginous hawk and the snowy owl, endemic Sprague's Pipit and Baird's sparrow, charming Piping Plover and marbled godwit, and mysterious yellow rail. The confusing array of breeding sparrow's spices up any South Central North Dakota birding trip from May to October.

Barnes County:
Valley City Area: From I-94 Exit 292, zero your mileage and head north on 8th Avenue southwest. At mile 0.2, turn right (east) on Riverview Drive. At mile 0.5, turn left (north) on 4th Avenue southwest. At mile 0.7 you reach 4th Street southwest, go right (east). The park is on the left (north) side of the road. Eastern Screech Owls, Black-billed Cuckoos, Great Crested Flycatchers,Eastern Wood-Pewees, Least Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireos, Ovenbirds,Black-and-white Warblers,and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks breed here.Spring migrantsinclude several flycatcher and warbler species, red-bellied andPileated woodpeckers.Wood Ducks, Spotted Sandpipers,Belted Kingfishers, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and Eastern Phoebes can be seen at the small dam located a few blocks east and 1 block south of the city park.

Dickey County:
Johnson Gulch Wildlife Management Area: From Ellendale, follow ND 11 west for 22 miles. At milepost 57.5, zero your mileage, and then turn left (south) onto graveled CR7A. In 2 miles, turn left (east). At mile 4.2, turn right (south) into the Wildlife Management Area. You will reach the parking lot in 0.2 mile. Be aware that the road to the parking lot is steep and rugged and should be avoided when it is muddy. Black-headed Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager, and Spotted Towhee have been spotted here. Cooper's Hawks, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Veeries, Red-eyed Vireos, Black-and-white Warblers, American Redstarts, and Ovenbirds nest in the woodland on the south side of the ravine.

Logan County:
Alkaline Lake: From I-94 Exit 208 (Dawson), follow ND 3 south for 16.5 miles. At milepost 68.7, turn left (east) on CR 37. The road "T's" after 7 miles. Go right (south) and follow the road southeast for 5.5 miles to bird the southern shore of South Lake, and its associated marsh.To bird Alkaline Lake, go left (north) at the "T" intersection for 1 mile, then turn right (east) and follow CR 37 as far as possible. Look for nesting Western,Clark's, and Eared grebes, and migrating Red-breasted Mergansers and American pipits.Migrant Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Black bellied Plovers, and American Golden-Plovers might be found here along with Piping Plover and large numbers of nesting American Bitterns, White-faced Ibises, Franklin's Gulls, and Black and Forster's terns.

Ransom County:
Fort Ransom State Park: From I-94 Exit 288, follow ND 1 south 20.5 miles. At milepost 51.4, turn left (east) on ND 46 and head towards the Sheyenne River for 7 miles. Just after crossing the river, zero your mileage at ND 46 milepost 67.4, then turn right (south) on graveled Viking Scenic Byway and follow its winding course south. At mile 8.3 you will reach the park entrance (fee). After picking up a park map and checklist, continue straight (west) for 0.3 mile, then turn right (north). In another 0.1 mile turn left (northwest) into the Group Picnic Area to the trailhead of the Little Twaig Nature trail. Great Woodland birding, watch for Black-billed Cuckoos, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, eastern Wood-Pewees, Least Flycatchers, and Yellow-throated Vireos. Vesper, Clay-colored, and Field sparrows can be found in the grasslands area. Cooper's hawks, Wild Turkeys, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Pileated Woodpeckers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Indigo Buntings nest along the trails.The park can be very good for migrant for warblers. Vagrants seen at this park have included Blue-winged and Worm-eating Warblers. Along the river watch for Green Herons. Winter birding expect to see Great Horned Owls, Hairy and Downy woodpeckers, Black-capped Chicadees, Cedar Waxwings, and (in some years) Common Redpolls. Fort Ransom's Bird List has 147 species listed.

Sheyenne National Grassland: Located on Highway 27 East of Lisbon. This 70,000-acre-plus grassland in southeastern North Dakota. Also called the sandhills, the Sheyenne Grassland contains the largest population of the greater prairie chicken in North Dakota. For more information: Sheyenne Ranger District, 700 Main, Box 946, Lisbon, ND 58054, 701-683-4342.

Stutsman County:
Alkali Lake: From Jamestown, follow ND 20 North 8 miles. At milepost 8.2, turn right (east) onto graveled 27th Street southeast. You will reach the Sanctuary's western boundary in 4 miles. Turn left (north) here, onto 90th Avenue southeast. The Sanctuary headquarters are on the right (east) in 0.5 mile. Take the approach near the house, drive past the house to the brown 3-stall garage, and park. Look for migrant warblers, as well as migrating Swainson's and Gray-checked thrushes, Cedar Waxwings, Scarlet Tanagers (rare), Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and Indigo Buntings. Nesting species include Least Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, House wren, Warbling Vireo, and Yellow warbler. Purple Martins nest at the sanctuary headquarters. Wild turkeys are common near the headquarters and along the lake. Look for Black-crowned Night-Herons, American Bitterns, Soras, Virginia Rails, Marsh and Sedge wrens, and Swamp Sparrows in the smaller wetlands on the sanctuary. Le Conte's Sparrow's are present in some years and Yellow Rails have been observed there during spring migration. Tree Swallows are abundant throughout the area. Winter birding brings Great Horned Owls, as well as Lapland Longspurs, Common Redpolls, and Snow Buntings.

Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge: From Pingree, follow US northwest for 6.7 miles. At milepost 238, turn right (east) on 11th Street southeast (a.k.a. CR44, a.k.a. Edmunds-Kensal Road). In 5.4 miles, turn left (north) and drive .07 mile to the refuge headquarters, where you can pick up a refuge map and checklist. Tundra Swans and Canvasbacks are common, rare species has been sighted here, including Little Blue Heron, Least Bittern, King Rail, Common Moorhen, Barn Owl, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Golden-winged Warbler, eastern Towhee, and Black-throated Sparrow. The easiest way to bird Arrowwood is to follow the 5.5-mile, self-guided Auto Tour Route. Check the shallow wetland areas along the tour Route for Willow Flycatchers and Marsh and Sledge wrens. Deeper in the wetlands, watch for Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets, American Bitterns, Black-crowned Night-Herons, and Hooded Mergansers. Upland sandpipers, sedge Wrens, Boblinks, and Dickcissels (irregular) might be found. Savannah, Grasshopper, and Clay-colored sparrows are common in grassland areas. Near Auto Tour stop #7, listen for Le Conte's Sparrows (irregular). Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow's are not easy to find at Arrowwood, and may not occur every year. One of the more reliable spots to find this species is in the wetland habitat to the east of Mud Lake, north of the Humpback road (see refuge map). Gray Partridge are more likely to be seen in the agricultural areas adjacent to the refuge.

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge: Go to I-94 Exit 230, and head north through Medina on CR 68 for 11.3 miles. Rezero your mileage, and then turn left (west) on the solid, non-rocky two-track road (26th Street southeast). Be wary of this area if you do not have a high-clearance vehicle. Approximately 1.7 miles west of the starting point, you cross the first two causeways over Pearl Lake. Scan here Western, Clark's, and Eared grebes; cattle and Snowy egrets; Franklin's Gulls; Forster's Terns; and over a dozen duck species. Where there are cattails next to the road, listen for Virginia Rails; Soras; Marsh and Sedge wrens; and Swamp, LeConte's and Nelson's Sharp-tailed sparrows. Continuing west on the two-track, you will pass through some Nature Conservancy property between miles 3.2 and 5.2. Listen here for grassland sparrows; Baird's Sparrows are present in most years. At mile 5.2, you will enter a state school section (public land). Search along the ridges for singing Sprague's Pipits (the birds seem to prefer the sparser cover afforded by the thin-soiled ridge tops) and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. At mile 6.2, you will drive through some private land (please stay on the road). Watch for nesting Swainson's Hawks and Loggerhead Shrikes in the tree row to the right (north). At mile 7.4, turn left (south) and go 1 mile to the signed overlook. From here you can view the distant nesting islands of the pelicans, cormorants, and gulls. Watch for Caspian Terns (rare). In low water years, scope the beach for nesting Piping Plovers and migrating shorebirds. Water levels fluctuate widely here, and in some years, may make roads impassable.