January: Cold
and snow makes life difficult for most animals in the Northern Great
Plains but some birds actually consider this the southern part of their
range.
Look for Lapland longspurs, snow buntings and horned larks along
roadsides and fields.
Every few years snowy owls can also be seen during winter months.
February: Although it seems crazy, great horned owls are beginning to
nest even though spring can still be months away. A few hardy Canada geese may venture out at the end of the month.
March: Just when you think winter will
last forever, spring migrants begin to return. Look for waterfowl especially white-fronted, snow and Canada geese,
goldeneyes and widgeon from mid- to late March and into April. Listen
for the sandhill cranes which can often be heard but not seen as they
migrate north.Bald eagles can often be observed following waterfowl
migrations.Our first
passerines such as robins and meadowlarks also appear near the
end of March.
April: When the ice and snow finally melts,
the prairies come alive.Ducks
and geese can be seen on nearly every wetland.American white pelicans also appear along with other marsh birds
like herons, egrets, grebes and coots.Yellow-rumped warblers as well as ruby- and golden-crowned kinglets
herald the beginning of the warbler migration with their appearance at the
end of April. Some of the
larger shorebirds like avocets and willets appear at the end of the month.
May:
Warblers
are the star in May. Early in
the month, bird-watching is easier before the trees completely leaf
out allowing great opportunities to catch a glimpse of some of the many
warblers that pass through. Some
ducks such as mallards and pintails will already be nesting as will Canada
geese. Shorebirds can now be
seen alongside wetlands and in flooded fields.
June:
Most of the birds just passing
through (migrating) will be gone by now. Birds seen in June will probably be nesting here. Look for duck and goose broods.The first fawns will also make their appearance in June...though
they are rarely seen.
July: Later nesting ducks like gadwall
and blue-winged teal will be appearing with broods. Canada geese will be grouping up on large lakes in
preparation for their flightless period during their molt (grow new
feathers). By the end of the
month some shorebirds will already be heading south from their northern
breeding sites. Look for
dickcissels and bobolinks in the grasslands.
August:
As
some wetlands dry up, mudflats are exposed, just in time for migrating
shorebirds. Warblers may
start showing up at the end of the month. Waterfowl are feeding furiously to build up energy stores for fall
flights.
September: Warblers
and other passerines will be heading for warmer climates this month. Blue-winged teal are the last of the ducks to arrive in spring and
the first to go in the fall. American coots may be everyone one day and gone the next.
October:
October
is another big month for migration. Ducks
and geese as well as tundra swans will be coming through before wetlands
freeze up. Red-tailed hawks
and eagles will also be heading south. At the end of the month look for common goldeneyes and buffleheads.
November: If water is still open, look for
mergansers, the latest duck migrants. If the weather is mild, other waterfowl and even egrets or herons
may still be seen. Eagles can
often be seen even after ice up.
December: By now only our hardy winter
residents are left. Look for
downy and hairy woodpeckers, black-capped chickadees and nuthatches. Sharp-tailed grouse and ring-necked pheasants can also be found
year-round.
