South Dakota Ornithologists' Union
Birding Hotspots - Central
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  1. Oahe Dam

  2. Big Bend Dam

  3. Ft. Pierre National Grassland

  4. Lake Louise State Park


 Tennessee, Nashville, and Orange-crowned Warblers


1) Oahe Dam
Species of Interest
Oahe Dam can offer excellent birding in late fall and winter for Black-legged Kittiwake, Sabine's Gull, Glaucous Gull and other rarities including Parasitic and Pomerine Jaegers, and Yellow-billed Loon. Expect to see lots of Bonaparte's and Ring-billed Gulls, Common, Hooded, and Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and the usual cast of puddle ducks, too. The tower on top of the dam is home to a pair of Barn Owls and the surrounding hills are also good places to see Burrowing Owls, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gyrfalcons, Ferruginous Hawks, Golden Eagles, and other hawks in winter while the surrounding woodlands can be productive for neotropical migrants during migration.

2) Big Bend Dam
Species of Interest
This area hasn't been explored much, but there is no reason not to expect that good gulls may be here as well as at Oahe and Ft. Randall Dams.

3) Ft. Pierre National Grassland
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4) Lake Louise State Park
Species of Interest
Largely overlooked by birders, this area offers fine woodland habitat for neotropical migrants as well as others.

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