BARNES COUNTY
Lake Ashtabula, located predominantly in Barnes County, provides several interesting birding spots. One of the best is around Baldhill Dam. To reach the dam from Valley City, take Main Street East through the downtown area. Take the first right (Central Avenue North) after the city park and follow the signs for Lake Ashtabula, Baldhill Dam, and the Fish Hatchery. At 12th Street Northeast turn right. After 0.3 mile turn left at a sign for the dam. Continue for 0.8 mile and turn left after the grain elevator toward Wesley Acres. After 1.8 miles the fish hatchery will be on your left.
The Valley City National Fish Hatchery grounds provide prime birding for woodland passerines, especially during migration. The ponds are often good in spring and early summer for American White Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, Black and Forster’s Terns, and all of the swallows found in the state. Later in summer when the ponds are being drawn down for fish removal, there can be excellent viewing of shorebirds. A display of captive waterfowl is located on the grounds, where you may drool over (but not count) Barnacle Geese and others.
After leaving the hatchery, continue north on the same road, keeping an eye out for Wild Turkeys in the field to your left. These turkeys have been stocked and restocked by the fish and game department until a sizable flock has been built up. The most consistent spot along this road for seeing them is on your left in 2 to 4 miles. The road forks 6.6 miles north of the hatchery. The left fork winds up at Baldhill Dam. By going straight, you will come to a recreation area after 0.8 mile. You can get from one spot to the other by walking the dike.
Yellow-headed Blackbird
The area surrounding the dam contains many diversified habitats. Almost any type of bird may be found here: grebe, waterfowl, wader, shorebird, raptor, gallinaceous fowl, gull, tern, or passerine. The grassy hillsides around the parking lot may harbor Ring-necked Pheasants in any season. A footbridge over the dam and onto the dike is a good vantage point, providing a good view of a stretch of the Sheyenne River below the dam. Both Eastern and Western Kingbirds may be seen on the hillsides leading down to the river, and as many as six species of swallows (Cliff, Barn, Tree, Bank, Rough-winged, and Purple Martin) hawk for insects over the river. The Cliff and Tree are the most numerous. American White Pelicans and Black-crowned Night Herons can usually be seen fishing directly below the dam. This is also a good place to check in winter and early spring for Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser. By scanning the sandbars farther downstream, you should be able to find several species of shorebirds during migration. Ring-billed Gulls will be constantly circling overhead from spring to fall. In spring and fall keep your eyes and ears open for flocks of geese and Sandhill Cranes flying overhead.
Across the bridge, there are steps down the side of the dike to several settling ponds which are productive in migration for shorebirds such as Semipalmated Plover, Baird’s Sandpiper, both species of yellowlegs, and Marbled and Hudsonian (rare) Godwits. Franklin’s Gulls may be seen in numbers in spring and fall (especially in October).
If you visit the dam from the recreation area, walk down the side of the dike and check the river at the first point available. The water ends here in a quiet pool surrounded by trees and brush. Oftentimes, a Green Heron will fly as you enter. This has been a consistent spot for it. Black-crowned Night Herons, Wood Ducks, and Spotted Sandpipers are common along the river from here to below the dam. In May the brush and trees are often crawling with warblers. In September and October, the brushy borders are full of sparrows, including Song, Lincoln’s, White-throated, White-crowned, and Harris’.
The wooded ravines will usually produce the following nesting species: Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Great Crested and Least Flycatchers, Eastern Pewee, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Northern Oriole, Indigo Bunting, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.