Wilson’s Phalarope
Although the northeast comes last among the chapters, it certainly does not come last in bird-finding potential. In fact, it may offer the best birding in the state. All of the waterbirds and grasslands species that North Dakota is known for may be found in this quarter. In addition it offers some specialties of its own. Several eastern passerines which occur in the rest of the state only as migrants nest here. This is the only place where the Ruffed Grouse is found, and it is here that one is most likely to find those northern species which rarely visit the state in winter—Saw-whet, Hawk, Boreal, and Great Gray Owls; Gray Jay; Northern Raven; and Boreal Chickadee.
The northeast contains a great diversity of habitats. Grasslands and prairie-potholes are present in ample amounts. The region also contains agricultural areas, large lakes, sandhills, well-wooded river bottoms, and rolling hills covered with stands of aspen, birch, and oak and dotted with small lakes. Indeed, it is a pleasure to bird the relatively cool forests of the northeast after the badlands and the hot, dry prairies to the west.
a) [McHenry] County
Scenic Tour Salyer Refuge
The best birding location in North Dakota may be J. Clark Salyer II National Wildlife Refuge, nestled along the lower reaches of the Souris River. It is ideal in that most major habitat types are represented. Included in its 58,700 acres are vast marshlands; uplands-sandhills; wet, grassy meadows; mixed-grass prairie, and well-wooded bottomland. The habitats are so diverse that over 250 species of birds have been recorded, of which about 125 nest.
To reach the refuge, go north on State Highway 14 from Upham for 2.5 miles and turn right. The headquarters is 0.3 mile ahead. Check for the usual assortment of checklists, pamphlets, and maps, including one showing the two public automobile trails. More importantly, you may pick up a trail-guide for the 22-mile scenic tour, which takes off from the headquarters, winds through the refuge, and eventually ends back on Highway 14 south of Upham. It traverses most of the major habitats.
The scenic tour passes through some very extensive marshlands which harbor, in addition to all of the common waterfowl and shorebirds, Red-necked (uncommon), Horned, Eared, Western, and Pied-billed Grebes; American White Pelican; Double-crested Cormorant (There is a nesting colony on the southern portion of the refuge.); Great Blue Heron; Black-crowned Night Heron; American Bittern; Northern Harrier; Virginia and Yellow Rails; Sora; American Coot; Ring-billed and Franklin’s Gulls; Forster’s, Common, and Black Terns; Short-eared Owl; Tree, Bank, Rough-winged, Barn, and Cliff Swallows; Purple Martin; Marsh and Sedge Wrens; Common Yellowthroat; Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds; and Le Conte’s and Sharp-tailed Sparrows.