Waterfowl concentrations in spring, summer, and fall border on the spectacular. The purely transient species are the Greater White-fronted and Snow Geese, Whistling Swan, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Common and Red-breasted Mergansers. The ducks which nest are the Mallard, Gadwall, Common Pintail, Blue-winged and Green-winged Teals, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Canvasback, Lesser Scaup, and Ruddy Duck.
Other waterbirds which summer on the refuge are Horned (uncommon), Eared, Western, and Pied-billed Grebes; American White Pelican; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Black-crowned Night Heron; American Bittern; Virginia Rail; Sora; American Coot; Piping Plover (alkaline lakes); Spotted Sandpiper; Willet; Marbled Godwit; American Avocet; Wilson’s Phalarope; California (uncommon visitor), Ring-billed, and Franklin’s Gulls; and Forster’s, Common, and Black Terns. Other species to look for around water areas include Short-eared Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Willow Flycatcher (boggy areas), all of the swallow species found in the state, Marsh Wren, Sedge Wren (wet meadows), Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and Le Conte’s and Sharp-tailed Sparrows (wet grassy areas).
In the prairie areas look for Red-tailed and Swainson’s Hawks; Northern Harrier; Sharp-tailed Grouse; Gray Partridge; Upland Sandpiper; Eastern and Western Kingbirds; Horned Lark; Sprague’s Pipit; Loggerhead Shrike; Bobolink; Western Meadowlark; Lark Bunting; Savannah, Grasshopper, Baird’s, Vesper, and Clay-colored Sparrows; and Chestnut-collared Longspur.
WARD COUNTY
e) [Ward] County
There are few avid listers who have not heard about the area surrounding Kenmare. The town has become famous in birding circles largely because of the field work done there by Ann and Bob Gammell, and because of their hospitality in showing off the area’s specialties to visiting birders. Perhaps the single factor which generated the most publicity about Kenmare and its birds was the American Birding Association’s first convention, which was held here in June of 1973. Birders who attended were astounded by the density and diversity of birds to be found breeding throughout the prairie-pothole country.
What makes Kenmare so special? For one thing, it is surrounded by national wildlife refuges. The town itself lies right in the middle of Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. Lostwood Refuge is only a short distance to the southwest while Upper Souris Refuge is just to the southeast. These three areas contain almost every major habitat type to be found in the region, and Kenmare makes a great base for exploring all three. The town is not large (1,515 people as of 1970), but there are several gas stations, stores, cafes, and motels.
Des Lacs Refuge