Winter finds Tundra swan, Bald and Golden Eagles, Rough-legged hawks, Loggerhead Shrike, and Prairie Falcons circling over the area. Egrets and herons are quite often seen overwintering. The Black-billed Magpie is a year-round resident.

Early spring boasts an onslaught of tens of thousands of returning migrants. Snow Geese, Canvasback, Northern Pintails and Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal begin to arrive in late February. American White Pelicans begin to return to find nesting habitat on Anaho Island National Wildlife Refuge in Pyramid Lake. April finds the resident waterfowl nesting and shorebirds returning in significant number. In the water, birds such as the Clark's or Western Grebe and Ruddy Duck put on their courting "shows". Long-billed Curlew, Swainson's hawks and brightly colored passerines such as Bullock's Orioles, Black-headed Grosbeaks also arrive and begin to nest.

In early May, summer colonial nesting birds including White-faced Ibis, Snowy, Great, and Cattle Egrets, Forster's Terns, and Burrowing owls are nesting. Beginning in June the late arrivals include the Common Nighthawk and a variety of flycatchers. Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens, Sora, the secretive American Bittern and Virginia Rail can be seen among the tule and cattails of the marsh.

August begins the fall migration with shorebirds such as Black-necked stilt, Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher and sandpipers trekking south. Waterfowl begin arriving in September. When cold weather arrives, usually October timeframe, White-crowned Sparrows, and chickadees seek out the warmer lower altitudes.

Do you have a question about a bird you have seen on the Refuge? Ask our biologists. You can also take a virtual tour of Stillwater Refuge. Sit back and enjoy the scenery.