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Birding

In the past year, over 60 million Americans strapped on their binoculars and grabbed their field books and diaries and did a bit of bird watching. An activity many consider a sport, bird watching, or birding as it is commonly known is now the single largest hobby on the North American continent.

Birdwatchers come to North Dakota to observe prairie species which are relatively rare elsewhere.

Of the 365 species making the North Dakota Birdwatcher's Checklist, the more uncommon include Baird's sparrow, LeConte's sparrow, Sprague's pipit, piping plover(endangered species), ferruginous hawk, least tern (endangered species), upland sandpiper, chestnut-collared longspur, bobolink and prairie chicken.

More commonly seen species include songbirds, shorebirds, birds of prey, wading birds, upland birds such as pheasant, grouse, partridge, and prairie chickens, and more nesting waterfowl than any other state.

Visitors, have a chance to see some of the hundred or so remaining whooping cranes on their last natural flyway. The annual whooping crane migration between northern Alberta and the gulf coast of Texas brings North America's tallest bird through North Dakota twice each year, usually in April and September.

The North Dakota state bird is the western meadowlark, and travelers are treated to a steady concert by this species on every state highway and byway.

According to the American Birding Association, casual birders spend an average of $350 annually on birding and dedicated birders spend as much as $2,000 annually, primarily on travel-related expenses. The ABA also states that to attract traveling birders, North Dakota must provide

Information

-birdfinding guides
-up-to-date checklists (with seasonal & habitat abundance information)
-a daily birding log
-informed interpreters (about local specialties & unusual rarities)

Access

-Roads
-Trails
-Boardwalks
-BlindS
-Boats and other transport as required

Amenities

-Bathrooms
-Shade
-escape from insects & extreme temperatures
-drinks
-food
-lodging

Value

In particular, traveling birders are interested in information focusing on rare or local species, unusual congregations of birds or unusually good viewing opportunities. Birding Festival and Birding Trails are also attractions.

North Dakota offers birders outstanding opportunities to fill their life checklists.

North Dakota Parks and Recreation: Birding Hot Spots in ND
http://www.ndparks.com/Nature/Birding.htm

Birding in Ashley, ND
http://www.ashley-nd.com/HTML/birdwatching.html

Birding Guide - Buffalo Commons Birding Safaris -
http://webhost.btigate.com/~barnhart/

Birds and Mammals Observed by Lewis & Clark in North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2000/bmam/bmam.htm

Revised Checklist of North Dakota Birds-
http://www.npsc.nbs.gov/resource/othrdata/chndbird/chndbird.htm

Breeding Birds of Wooded Draws in Western North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/woodraws/woodraws.htm

Breeding Birds of North Dakota -
http://www.npsc.nbs.gov/resource/distr/birds/bb_of_nd/bb_of_nd.htm

North Dakota Rare Bird Alert -
http://www.birder.com/birding/alert/centralchat/0016.html

The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/hummbird/attract.htm

Marshbirds and Shorebirds of North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/OTHRDATA/MARSHBRD

Bird Checklists of the United States - North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/chekbird/r6/38.htm

The Owls of North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/owls/owls.htm

Songbirds of North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/birds/songbird/songbird.htm

Sparrows of North Dakota-
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/2001/sparrow/sparrow.htm

Hawks, Eagles, and Falcons of North Dakota -
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/othrdata/hawks/hawks.htm

Nature Serve -
http://www.natureserve.org/

Virtual Birder: Birding in N.D.
http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/rbas/ND.html

Wildlife Refuges in ND
http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/rbas/ND.html

Play a video clip

 

Melanie Thornberg of the Walhalla Chamber of Commerce talks about the impact of birdwatching in her rural community

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