Besides being one of the most scenic, Billings County is one of the most rewarding to bird. As is the case with Bowman and Slope Counties, this county is good for western specialties and vagrants.
The two best areas can be reached from the town of Medora. The first is Sully’s Creek State Park. At the eastern edge of town by a sign for the park, turn south on East River Road. Keep left at the first fork and right at the next two. After 2.5 miles you will reach the campground.
This 80-acre park is nestled along the Little Missouri River and contains a good stand of cottonwoods and willows surrounded by sagebrush flats and grasslands. There is a high dirt cliff along the eastern edge, where Prairie Falcons sometimes nest and (if you are lucky) Big-horned Sheep play around.
Sully Creek State Park
Birds are abundant. One can expect to find most of the typical “badlands” species. Along the river look for Belted Kingfisher, any of the regular swallows, and migrant waterfowl and shorebirds. The sagebrush flats are good for Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Partridge, and Field Sparrows. In the cottonwoods and among the tangles of wild rose, snowberry, and currants, you may find Common Flicker (both red-shafted and yellow-shafted races, as well as many hybrids), Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Eastern Kingbird, Least and Willow Flycatchers, Western Pewee (rare), Blue Jay, American Crow, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadee, House Wren, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Yellow and Black-and-white Warblers, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, American Redstart, Northern (Bullock’s) Oriole (rare), Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Rufous-sided Towhee (spotted form), and Chipping Sparrow. The chat is heard more often than seen, but “pishing” noises are often effective in bringing this species out into the open.
The other top spot in Billings County is the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Memorial, for which the exit is well marked along I-94. The entrance is at the western edge of Medora (which you may want to explore). Just inside the park there is a visitors’ center with interpretive displays and a good selection of books dealing with the natural history of the area. The 38-mile scenic loop is an excellent drive for seeing the park and its birds.
There are several prairie-dog towns scattered throughout the park. The first is 3.1 miles up the scenic loop. Check this and other towns for Black-tailed Prairie Dog, Burrowing Owl, and Black-billed Magpie. To the left of the town there is a Sharp-tailed Grouse dancing ground. Look for performing males.
Black-tailed Prairie Dog