 VIDEOS: North Dakota Birding Road Trip
June 24 -July 7, 2023
I arrived safely home from my trip to North Dakota on Friday, July 7th. During my trip I attempted to vlog about my experiences and keep up with my movements, however, I fell a bit behind (as expected due to time, energy and wifi issues). I've now completed videos covering most of trip and hope to have the last ones posted in the near future. Clicking the link below will take you to the playlist of all my trip videos. Just click the video you want to watch and enjoy!
SCROLL FURTHER BELOW to "Bird Share" to see some favorite bird & wildlife photos from my trip!
 Click the image above or link below to watch the video.
On Saturday, June 24th, I left home and headed north to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and took Highway 2 west all the way to western North Dakota. North Dakota is one of two states I had never visited, and I’ve always wanted to go birding in the prairie pothole grasslands. I plan to visit, Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Target lifers include Chestnut-collared Longspur, and Baird’s Sparrow along with vaguely possible Sage Grouse. Of course, there are many other interesting birds along the way that are not lifers for me, but are ones I still want to see, including Long-billed Curlew!
In my travels to North Dakota, I stop in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and at Sax-Zim Bog, north of Duluth, Minnesota. On the way back, I stop at the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore and at Badlands National Park of South Dakota.
You can see where I went and the lists of birds I saw by checking my ebird Trip Report here:
If you've been following along, or not, you can check out the latest episode here!
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On days 11 & 12 of my North Dakota Birding Road Trip I go birding in Black Hills of South Daktota. The Black Hills are an island of mountains amongst a sea of grasslands. This dramatic change in scenery results in a change in birdlife as well. What new birds will I pursue & encounter? Along the way I slow down & spend some time with my favorite western bird, the American Dipper! Watch and see!
Be entranced and melt into the present moment as you relax to calm piano music, the gentle sounds of a waterfall and the delightful antics of the American Dipper as it forages among the rocks in the surging stream.
Click the links above to view
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 Upcoming Birding Programs & Outings
For more details or to register check us out ONLINE!
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Coffee with the Birds
10/31/23 - Photo Contest Entries DUE! (more on submissions to come)
11/24/23 - 2024 Mug Reveal Event
12/9/23 - Coffee with the Birds!
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Calling All Craneheads!
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT CraneFest 2023!
We are currently going over options for a 2nd Annual CraneFest Bus Trip coming up in October. We would love to hear from YOU about how to best offer this trip to make it what YOU want it to be! Please take a few minutes to fill out the following survey so we can do that - Thank you!
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Video: Mike Rowe-Somebody's Gotta Do it
On this episode of "Somebody's Gotta Do It," Mike Rowe joins 30-year veteran ornithologist John Gerwin to find out what excites an ornithologist and how his job fits into the bigger picture of bird and wildlife health and behavior.
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Audubon and Michigan State University Fight to Conserve a Disappearing Bird Species
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Article: Audubon Great Lakes
Researchers join forces to deal with data sparsity and inform new ways to conserve the Black Tern
Photo by Georg_Wietschorke via Pixabay
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Video: CBS Sunday Morning
When David Johnson was 11 years old, an eastern screech owl landed on the edge of his tent. He was captivated. Today, he's the director of the Global Owl Project, which researches the enigmatic bird and works to preserve owl habitat around the world.
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Article: Audubon Great Lakes
Public lands need our help, birders and wildlife enthusiasts visit and experience Michigan’s public lands
Photo by Curtis Dykstra
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Why Baseball and Birding Go Together Like Peanuts and Cracker Jacks
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Article: Audubon Magazine
America’s pastime presents plenty of opportunities to spot birds, according to sports writer Joe Trezza.
Photo by Kelley L Cox - USA Today Sports
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*If you have an interesting bird-related article or video to share, let us know!
Email it to us at naturecenter@miottawa.org and put "Bird News" in the subject line.
 Submit your sightings, photos and videos and I'll share them in these Newswire emails. See below for information on how to submit your sightings!
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Sandhill Crane, Green Heron, Greater Yellowlegs
Some recent sightings while kayaking Pigeon Creek. I don't often get a chance to photograph Green Heron's with their crown feathers up, but found one that cooperated. We've seen the 3 Sandhill Cranes on several outings this Spring.
Mike Monfore
Pigeon Creek, Port Sheldon Township
(Submitted on 5/5/23 & missed by me! Sorry Mike!)
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 Green Heron and Greater Yellowlegs by Mike Monfore
North Dakota Birding Road Trip
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I thought I should share a few of my favorite photos from the my recent trip to the Dakotas. These birds are all featured in my video series about my trip. Click the link to the video playlist here (or above) to view the videos and the stories behind some of these photos!
Photo: Chestnut-collared Longspur by Curtis Dykstra
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 Top (L to R) American Avocet, Rock Wren, Lazuli Bunting; Bottom (L to R) Baird's Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, American Dipper. Photos by Curtis Dykstra
 I didn't just enjoy the birds, but other wildlife too! Top (L to R) Pronghorn Antelope, Wilson's Snipe, Black-tailed Prairie Dogs; Bottom (L to R) Willet, Burrowing Owl, American Bison. Photos by Curtis Dykstra
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR BIRD SHARE SIGHTINGS
Click on the "Google Forms" link below to fill out where, when and what birds you saw. As an additional option at the end of the form, you'll have opportunity to upload any bird photos or videos you'd like to share! Please limit photos/videos to 3 per monthly newsletter and they must be <10MB each. Thank you!
*NOTE: You must be signed into a Google account to upload files. If you don't have a Google account, email your submissions to naturecenter@miottawa.org with "Bird Share" in the subject line.
*Any information or photos shared will be used in future Birding Update Newswire! emails.
BIRD BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS
If you have a bird-related book recommendation you'd like to share, click the link below to let us know!
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 Links to Share
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One-stop-shop for bird identification resources, bird videos, Coffee with the Birds, local bird clubs & many more useful birding websites and resources.
Use this link to sign up for this Newswire! email or share it with other who may enjoy it too.
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