South Dakota Birding Festival

The South Dakota Birding Festival @ Fort Randall has all the makings of a weekend event that holds something for everyone interested in birds found in or passing through the great lakes region of South Dakota. The area boasts at least 322 species of birds of which 164 are breeding species. Experts also tell us that in May there will still be many migratory birds in the area.

Grab your binoculars and make plans to attend the 

4th Annual

May 2014

With birding you never know what you might find. Last winter Snowy owls descended on the Lake Andes Wildlife Refuge area in unprecedented numbers and attracted hundreds of visitors. Another highlight of a previous festival was a Western grebe paired with a Clark’s grebe. Clark’s grebes are rare enough, but to see one paired with a Western grebe was very special. A Least bittern was seen and photographed when it “froze” mere feet from the edge of the walking path. Many more were heard out in the marsh. Adult Bald eagles and their eaglets were photographed and observed at their nest. Other birds observed included: Green heron, Hooded merganser, Stilt sandpiper, Whip-poor-wil, Eastern screech owl, Red-bellied woodpecker, Great-crested flycatcher, Bell’s vireo, Palm warbler, American redstart, Ovenbird, Rose-breasted grosbeak and Bobolink.

Registration is in Pickstown, SD. 
Field trips into Karl Mundt National Wildlife Refuge.
A note of interest: This is the only time that the Karl Mundt National Wildlife Refuge located by the Fort Randall Dam is open to the public.

Activities include:

• Bird banding
• Bird identification
• Birding experts & speakers
• Guided field trips
• Children's activities 

What to wear:
Wear comfortable, waterproof/resistant boots or shoes.
Also, it is recommended that birders dress in layers, as the weather can vary from cold (mornings) to much warmer (midday.)

View/Print the 2013 Birding Festival brochure here

View/Print the 2013 Birding Festival Registration Form

View/Print the 2013 Birding Festival Schedule of Events

View/Print a Birding Checklist here

View/Print a Birder's Directory of Area Businesses here

KIDS COLORING CONTEST

Print out this coloring page and send the finished page Lake Andes NWRC, 38672 291st Street, Lake Andes, SD 57356 to enter the contest. 
Prize to be announced.
Deadline to enter: May 1, 2013