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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – This past month I once again helped out with a birding festival based in Carrington.

Many birders and outdoor enthusiasts converged on this quiet little town situated in central North Dakota. This year 60 participants registered from 25 states, including a group of nine from Texas. Some come for the experience to see the prairies as the settlers did, some come to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and some come to see the prairie specialists on the breeding grounds singing their hearts out to announce their stake of claim.

These birds are highly sought because they are very difficult to find on their wintering grounds. Most of these species are fairly non-descript, but even more so when the colors fade in the doldrums of winter. The easiest way to locate them in a vast sea of grasses is to hear their musical songs. The four most sought after species on the wish list of all are Baird’s sparrow, Sprague’s pipit, Nelson’s Sparrow, and LeConte’s Sparrow.

There is a second tier as I call it, including the ferruginous hawk, the king of the prairie as our largest hawk, used to nest on the ground. It is said they even used buffalo bones in the nest as there was no trees. With farming these days, open prairie is being lost, and so are they.

Festival participants are always awed by those scope looks of our chestnut-collared longspur and bobolinks as well, a species we take for granted. You don’t believe me? Google the birds some time and you will be amazed at the gaudy looks plain blackish birds can present.

Two other feathered friends sought after often believe it or not are sharp-tailed grouse, and gray partridge. If they are spotted near the road, participants are surely to yell “STOP!” and the bus driver is thinking, “What the heck for, I see these every day?!” But of course, we have to keep the people happy.

But there is another thing that happens with these festivals. All of the guides spend days scouring the countryside for the best locations to show off to our summer visitors. Keeping in mind navigation logistics for a tour bus, time spent at each location as 25 people pile out of the bus and get good scope looks where we pull the bus over. Guides have a mental checklist of what participants needs to see.

However, on game day as we call it, there is always a surprise or two. One year a nesting black-necked stilt was found to show off for buses. One year a rare Henslow’s sparrow was noticed by a participant (which is a story in itself!). Another year a burrowing owl, far east of where they reside.

This year a participant says to the guide…. “What bird would be bright yellow with black barred wings flying by?” The guide looking quite puzzled responds “American goldfinch?” The birder responds “No, No, this was bigger… size of a Robin!” Anyone have an idea of what it might be?

Believe it or not, on the wide open prairies of North Dakota in June, there was a lost soul of a male WESTERN TANAGER in a small random one in thousands farmsteads on the landscape. Everyone on the trip stared in amazement of the flashes of color as the cameras started clicking away. This bird is supposed be in the Rocky Mountains of the west now.

My hope is that everyone at some point in their lives experiences the Dakota prairies as they were when the settlers arrived many moons ago. But also while in the field you find a hidden gem to give a lifetime of memories. This sighting of a tanager was definitely one for many.

Story submitted by Corey Ellingson, President of the Bismarck-Mandan Bird Club. Pictures submitted by Rick Bohn.