Rush Lake, a large marsh encompassing several thousand acres, is ideal for viewing waterfowl, shorebirds, and marsh species. To reach it drive 4.0 miles west from Wales to a point surrounded by marshy inlets and water-filled ditches. You can drive as far as road conditions permit.
Although there is little open water, you should have excellent birding from spring through fall. Some of the birds to watch for are Pied-billed and Eared Grebes; all of the ducks common to the state; Great Blue Heron; Black-crowned Night Heron; American Bittern; Green Heron; Sora; Virginia Rail; American Coot; Killdeer; Semipalmated, Lesser Golden, and Black-bellied Plovers; Ruddy Turnstone; Common Snipe; Willet; Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs; Short-billed and Long-billed Dowitchers; Spotted, Solitary, Stilt, Pectoral, White-rumped, Baird’s, Least, Semipalmated, and Western (rare) Sandpipers; Dunlin; Sanderling; Marbled and Hudsonian Godwits; American Avocet; Wilson’s and Northern Phalaropes; Ring-billed and Franklin’s Gulls; Forster’s, Common, and Black Terns; all of the state’s swallows; Marsh and Sedge Wrens; Common Yellowthroat; Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds; and Le Conte’s and Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Most of the shorebirds appear only as transients, even though many may be seen throughout the summer.
e) [Pembina] County
The northeast sector contains many well-wooded areas. The Turtle Mountains probably represent the best of these in terms of birdlife; however, a similar avifauna can be found in the Pembina Hills, which lie predominantly in eastern [Cavalier] County and western Pembina County. The major habitat is upland, deciduous forest, with bur oak, American elm, quaking aspen, birch, and box elder being some of the predominant trees. Birding the Pembina Hills is like birding the Turtle Mountains. It is hard to pick out specific spots because there is so much good habitat.
Most of the birds occurring in the Pembina Hills can also be found in the deltaic sand area in western Pembina County (situated between the Pembina and Tongue Rivers). There are many excellent sites.
For the sake of convenience, although not technically correct, all statements concerning the Pembina Hills made in the following Specialties Section refer to the area in general including the deltaic sand area.
The best spot for finding species typical of the Pembina Hills is the Tongue River Game Management Area. To reach it start at the western of the two intersections of State Highways 5 and 32, and head north on Highway 32. Turn right (4.0 miles) and continue east to the area. After 2.5 miles you will enter the heavily forested zone. The crisscrossing auto trails allow good access.
This is a fantastic place. You may even find some Moose, which have moved into this area in the past few years. Some of the summer residents are Cooper’s, Red-tailed, and Broad-winged Hawks; Ruffed Grouse; Black-billed Cuckoo; Great Horned Owl; Ruby-throated Hummingbird; Belted Kingfisher (along the river); Common Flicker; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers; Great Crested, Willow, and Least Flycatchers; Eastern Pewee; Blue Jay; American Crow; Black-capped Chickadee; White-breasted Nuthatch; House Wren; Gray Catbird; Brown Thrasher; American Robin; Veery; Cedar Waxwing; Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, and Warbling Vireos; Black-and-white, Yellow, and Mourning Warblers; Ovenbird; Northern Waterthrush; American Redstart; Northern Oriole; Scarlet Tanager; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Indigo Bunting; American Goldfinch; Rufous-sided Towhee; and Chipping and Song Sparrows.
In addition to the nesting species, this area attracts a number of migrants. All species listed for the wooded areas of J. Clark Salyer may also be found here. However, several of the eastern warblers (such as the Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, and Connecticut) may be easier to find at Tongue River.
Another good locale is the Gunlogson Arboretum. To reach it start at the western edge of Cavalier, go west on State Highway 5 for 5.4 miles, and turn right. The arboretum contains several diverse plant and animal communities. Most are crossed by the nature trail that leads to a small marshy area, several small springs, and a portion of the Tongue River. All of this is surrounded by an impressive array of trees that include willows, ironwood, alder, elm, oak, ash, and basswood and a lush understory of ferns, grapevines, and wildflowers.