Birdwatching in the Mount Rusmore, SD Area

Bird watchers find themselves "flocking" to South Dakota to discover an enormous variety of birds, from the Black Hills and Badlands to the Rapid City area, there are more than 400 species of birds known to inhabit these areas. National and State parks are a great place to enjoy birdwatching.

Bear Butte State Park near Sturgis, Wind Cave National Park near Hot Springs, Custer State Park, the Big Badlands, and Spearfish Canyon are some perfect examples. Birdwatchers seeking the raptor family: bald eagles, golden eagles, turkey vultures, prairie falcons, and many types of hawks and owls will find them in the Western part of South Dakota. The special interest among visiting birdwatchers seems to be local mountain bluebirds, blackbilled magpies, nuthatches, water ouzels, blue jays, and the resplendant Western tanagers.

This area is semi-arid, and because of that there aren't a great deal of waterfowl. And yet, Rapid City's Canyon Lake has been a location where more than 30 species of waterfowl have been observed. The seasons bring many new species of visiting and resident birds from wild turkeys to wrens.

The terrain in South Dakota is diverse, from rolling hills to sky-scraping granite peaks, to abundant mountain meadows and prairie marshes and lakes attracts many distinct species of birds, making it a Birdwatcher's Heaven. The Southeast South Dakota Birding Trail is a must-see for avid birders because it is a veritable magnet for birds with more than 300 species of birds observed among the 33 points along the trail. This area is a stopping point for millions of birds following the Central and Mississippi flyways in spring and fall. Some varities of birds nest here, and a number of them nest in northeren places in the world, but spend the winter here.

It is important for birdwatchers to not disturb the bird's habitat and intrude upon them. Disturbing a bird causes it to flush from cover, causes the bird alarm, forcing it to focus on the presence of the birdwatcher. This stress may expose it to predators, and therefore may cause harm to the bird. Use binoculars, keep a good distance back, and avoid damaging habitat. Just enjoy watching the bird as it lives and thrives naturally.