Following is a list of the state parks:
Fort Lincoln—all facilities, birding fair Lake Metigoshe—all facilities, birding excellent Lake Sakakawea—all facilities, little birding Turtle River—all facilities, birding good Beaver Lake—all facilities, birding fair Butte View—all facilities, little birding Fort Stevenson—all facilities, little birding Icelandic—all facilities, birding good Doyle Memorial—fireplaces, tables, water, little birding Little Missouri Bay—fireplaces, tables, water, birding good Streeter Memorial—fireplaces, tables, water, little birding Sully’s Creek—fireplaces, tables, water, birding good
SOME RECOMMENDED MATERIALS
1. Checklist of Birds in North Dakota—free—Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, Box 1747, Jamestown, ND 58401. (The center has a wealth of other material.) 2. North Dakota Outdoors—official publication of the State Game and Fish Department, 2121 Lovett Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58505. Monthly, $2.00 per year. Single copies can be found on newstands at 25¢. 3. Breeding Birds of North Dakota (Stewart, 1975) ($18.50 plus postage)—Tri-College Center for Environmental Studies, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58102. An exhaustive treatise; good section on habitats. 4. County maps—North Dakota State Highway Department, Capital Grounds, Bismarck, ND 58501. Expensive but very detailed. 5. Refuge checklists, brochures, and maps—free—contact each refuge. Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge—Edmunds, ND 58476 Audubon National Wildlife Refuge—Coleharbor, ND 58531 Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge—Kenmare, ND 58746 J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge—Upham, ND 58789 Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge—Moffit, ND 58560 Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge—Lostwood, ND 58754 Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge—Cayuga, ND 58013 Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge—Foxholm, ND 58738
FORMAT
The main purpose of this guide is to direct the out-of-state birder to the better spots, although it is hoped that the book will be of use to resident birders as well. An effort is made to list several good areas in different parts of the state, if possible, for each of the more sought-after species. The best spots are shown in bold-faced type. If you are in a hurry, stop only at these places.
Because of the large area, the state is split into four regions—Southeast, Southwest, Northwest, and Northeast. The regions are of approximately equal size and are divided, for the most part, along county lines without regard for habitat. A minimal time of 2 weeks is suggested to cover the entire state. Even then you will leave knowing that you have missed a lot.
In North Dakota the best shorebird spot is often not one mentioned, but rather a flooded field, which will be great one week and dry the next. In addition many species change their locations from year to year because of inconsistent water levels. It would be wise to check with refuge managers and local birders for up-to-the-minute information on desired species. The names and addresses of local birders can be obtained by checking the Christmas Bird Count for the local compiler or by consulting the American Birding Association Directory ($5.00—ABA Sales, Box 4335, Austin, TX 78765).
NOMENCLATURE
In 1973 the American Ornithologists Union (A.O.U.) published a supplement to its Checklist of North American Birds. This changed the current names and taxonomic status of many species. A number of birders have been in an uproar ever since, because many former species are dropped to sub-specific rank. The A.O.U. has further revised the checklist, with the promise of even more changes in the future. In addition, the American Birding Association published its own A.B.A. Checklist (Birds of Continental United States and Canada) in 1975. This follows the taxonomic order used by the A.O.U. but incorporates some entirely different names. Because the A.B.A. is the official “listing” organization, its nomenclature is followed in this book. However, some of the field guides currently in use do not yet reflect these name changes. The old names affecting North Dakota birds are included parenthetically below to avoid confusion for the beginner.