10,000 Birds

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

The truth is that Lewis’s Woodpeckers , named after the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame a few years after being discovered in 1805, are found in the United States mainly west of the great plains (range map courtesy of Terry Sohl at South Dakota Birds ).

Woodpeckers 240

Woodpeckers South Dakota Jordan United States 240

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 2, 2013

There is currently a push to place the Black-backed Woodpecker, in its Oregon/California and South Dakota populations, under the protection of the Federal Endangered Species Act. Conservation black-backed woodpecker endangered species fire olive-sided flycatcher'

Endangered Species 169

Endangered Species South Dakota Woodpeckers Sheep 169

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 21, 2011

Map courtesy of Terry Sohl at South Dakota Birds and Birding. At the base and sides of its smaller beak, the Ross’s Goose has species-specific vascular wartlike protuberances or caruncles which become more prevalent with age 1 (more apparent on full sized image).

South Dakota 159

South Dakota Sacramento Geese Arkansas 159

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 15, 2014

I didn’t know what species of woodpecker it was, but I knew it was just in the clearing on the other side of the road. Black-backed Woodpeckers are non-migratory, although there have been documented intermittent irruptions of the species outside their normal range. Range map courtesy of South Dakota Birds and Birding.

Woodpeckers 188

Woodpeckers California South Dakota Chad 188

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 23, 2012

The flight shot of the male Eurasian, taken by Tom Dunkerton, shows the unique plumage that is completely diagnostic to that species. Although, these birds in Florida are pretty far south. Not so much anymore, but certainly this is a specialty species anywhere within it’s range. Check out some of these other wigeon shots.

South Dakota 185

South Dakota Florida Sparrows Wildlife 185

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 30, 2013

Now you know why the most numerous and widespread of the two swan species in North America used to be known as the Whistling Swan. Range map courtesy of Terri Sohl of South Dakota Birds and Birding.

South Dakota 122

South Dakota California Sacramento North America 122

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.

Wolves 100

Wolves Obama South Dakota North Dakota 100

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 13, 2018

As of mid-October 2018, the Collaborative had submitted more than 1,700 checklists and observed 618 species in the United States. The heat map is revealing: Unsurprisingly for a site founded and run by two New Yorkers (one of whom literally wrote the book on birding New York), the Empire State boasts the highest number of species (316).

Rhode Island 116

Rhode Island United States West Virginia Puerto Rico 116

10,000 Birds

JULY 21, 2011

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. What we see here, however, is both: Most of the mammals at this small end of the graph are nocturnal, and there is clearly a lack of overlap in body size for many species.

Mammals 198

Mammals Rodents Reptiles Birds 198

10,000 Birds

MARCH 17, 2011

Turkeys, 3 or 4 species of woodpeckers, all kinds of song birds grace our view constantly. All conditions are perfect here in central South Dakota for the waterfowl travelers. We feed them year around here and are “blessed&# to have a wild variety and abundance of birds. Almost time for hummers to make there appearance.

2011 150

2011 Deer South Dakota Costa Rica 150

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 numbers are as follows: Little Big Year Species – 892. species – 224. We also are taking a couple of days to photograph the Albuquerque Balloon Festival. eBird.org submissions – 294.

Colorado 113

Colorado Texas Trinidad Albuquerque 113

10,000 Birds

JUNE 27, 2012

Josh Vandermeulen is sitting pretty at 317 species for the year in Ontario, only 21 off the province’s record of 338, set by Glen Coady in 1996. Blake and Holly Wright are hoping to photograph 400 species in the lower 48 this year and have managed to make it to 351 thus far. It’s quite a list! Let us know in the comments.

South Dakota 239

South Dakota Houston Mammals Fur 239

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! Males are territorial, and may act aggressively towards other avian ground species.

South Dakota 100

South Dakota Hawaii United States North America 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 8, 2017

The resulting properties—WPAs—are small ponds, wetlands, and associated grasslands, primarily in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana, but also in Michigan, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Iowa. In 1958, to address the increasing loss of this valuable habitat, FWS began to acquire land in the region.

Factory 125

Factory Ducks North Dakota Nebraska 125

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 15, 2022

The Latin species name of the Kalij Pheasant is leucomelanos , meaning “white” (leukos) and “black” (melanos, both Greek words). As a popular game bird, the Ring-necked Pheasant seems to have such high importance in the US that there are several papers just discussing the species in individual US states.

Rhode Island 147

Rhode Island South Dakota North Dakota Maryland 147

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 1, 2013

As of 15 December he had seen 744 species and it is unclear if that was his final total or if he added more since. Josh Vandermeulen set the Ontario Big Year record with 344 species, breaking the record of 338, set by Glen Coady in 1996. Anthony has the rundown on his big year here. Pat, let us know in the comments, alright?

2012 190

2012 South Dakota Costa Rica Houston 190