Birding

The Prairie Pothole Region produces nearly half of North America’s waterfowl, and all duck species common to the region make use of Crosby Wetland Management District. Mallards, gadwalls, and blue‑winged teal are the most common nesting species in the District, while green‑winged teal, northern pintails, northern shovelers, American wigeons, canvasbacks, redheads, lesser scaup, and ruddy ducks also contribute to the area’s diverse breeding population. Giant Canada geese are regular breeders within the District and can be found in suitable wetland and upland nesting areas.

Beyond waterfowl, the District’s numerous wetlands attract a variety of colonial and marsh‑nesting birds, including common, black, and Forster’s terns, along with ring‑billed, Franklin’s, and California gulls. Other breeding marsh birds include double‑crested cormorants, black‑crowned night herons, coots, and multiple grebe species such as pied‑billed, horned, eared, and western. Typical prairie‑wetland shorebirds—American avocets, marbled godwits, willets, soras, common snipes, and upland sandpipers—are readily observed throughout spring and summer.

The endangered piping plover can occasionally be seen darting along alkali wetland edges with its quick, distinctive movements. Appam Lake WPA provides critical habitat for this species and is recognized as a Globally Important Bird Area.

Sandhill cranes migrate through the District in both spring and fall, and endangered whooping cranes may occasionally pass through during April and October. 

Grassland birds are well represented, with Baird’s sparrows, grasshopper sparrows, chestnut‑collared longspurs, and bobolinks occupying native prairie as well as tame grasslands and grazed pastures. Raptors are frequently seen across open areas and include ferruginous, red‑tailed, and Swainson’s hawks, along with northern harriers. Four falcon species—American kestrel, merlin, peregrine, and prairie falcon—occur intermittently from spring through fall, with some migrating through and others nesting locally.

Each spring, sharp‑tailed grouse gather on open areas, or “leks,” found on many WPAs. Here, males perform their elaborate courtship dance, rapidly stamping their feet, rattling their tail feathers, and circling to attract females—an unforgettable prairie wildlife spectacle.