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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) The popularity of birding in North Dakota remains high as birding enthusiasts from around the nation and other counties enjoy searching for rare species of birds in the upper mid-west.

North Dakota is home to nearly 320 species of birds, and some of those birds are native only to the state.

A number of species including the Western Grebe and Eared Grebe use reeds near the shoreline of Hobart Lake to raise their young in the summer.

Photographer and reporter Steve Urness got a chance to take a few photos thanks to Barry Borg, who’s farm is next to the shoreline of Hobart Lake west of Valley City.

Borg got Urness close enough to take a photo of a White-Faced Ibis, the pair was photographed just south of the Borg farm west of Valley City.
Borg got Urness close enough to take a photo of the White-Faced Ibis, the pair was photographed just south of the Borg farm west of Valley City.

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 Eared Grebe to the left being followed by a Western Grebe.
Eared Grebe to the left being followed by a Western Grebe on the right.

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American Pelicans.
American White Pelicans just west of Valley City.

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Above: Western Grebe.

Eared Grebe.
Above Eared Grebe.

Meanwhile, an event near Carrington, North Dakota called “Drives Dakota” starts today and is expected to bring in hundreds of bird watchers.

Birding Drives Dakota Board member Laurie Dietz says this event draws a number of people from other countries.

The Prairie Pothole Region has been listed in bestselling books: “Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die” and “1000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List.”