South Dakota Birding Information

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Where to Bird
United States of America -- South Dakota
Discover the top birding locations in South Dakota. Find out more about South Dakota Bird Clubs and Birding Organizations in South Dakota. Print out a checklist of South Dakota birds. Find the Rare Bird Alert Phone Numbers for South Dakota. Order books to help you become a better birder in South Dakota. Discover links to South Dakota Birding web sites. Print out special maps of South Dakota before you begin your trip.

Birds of South Dakota
CD-ROM

Sibley Guide to
Eastern Birds

Eastern/Central
Bird Songs

Photographic Guide
To Raptors

State Bird: Ring-necked Pheasant

State Checklists:
SDOU List
NPWRC Bird Checklists - South Dakota

Species Seen in South Dakota: 408

State Ornithological Society:
South Dakota Ornithologist's Union

Rare Bird Alerts:
(605) 773-6460 Statewide
(605) 584-4141 Western
Transcripts

Electronic Mailing Lists:
South Dakota – sd-birds
Subscribe: tallmand@northern.edu

Maps:
South Dakota Maps

Retail Birding Stores

Birding Links for South Dakota:
Birding Festivals
Birding South Dakota
Eagles in South Dakota
South Dakota Breeding Bird Atlas
Hot Spots
South Dakota Birding Hot Spots
South Dakota State Parks
US Fish & Wildlife Service Refuges

South Dakota Organizations:
Audubon Chapters in South Dakota
Missouri Breaks Audubon Society
The Nature Conservancy-South Dakota

Pete Thayer's Favorite Hot Spots:
Badlands National Park
43.81 N 102.15 W
These rugged cliffs and gullies are home to raptors as well as grassland sparrows. Drive along the scenic 27 mile Badlands Loop Road and stop at the scenic overlooks for Golden Eagles and Ferruginous Hawks.

Black Hills
43.93 N 103.47 W
While visiting Mount Rushmore, enjoy the forest birds in aspen and ponderosa pine groves. Try stopping at various spots along the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. Hanna campground is a good spot for the high-elevation species.

Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge
43.17 N 101.54 W
Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge is a unique area featuring native sandhills, marshes, meadows, open water, and prairie upland habitats and is home to an equally diverse set of bird species. The best areas to bird at Lacreek are along the dike roads.

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
45.66 N 98.31 W
The world's largest colony of Franklin's Gulls nest here (200,000 ). Follow the 15 mile driving trail around the lake. Visit from March to May and September to November to catch the waterfowl migration along the Central flyway.

Union County State Park
42.82 N 96.78 W
One of the best places in the state to observe neotropical migrants during spring and fall migrations. At the peak of spring migration in mid-May, 20 species of warblers are possible.