The Binocular Site
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in northeastern South Dakota, and covers 21,498 acres. It became a protected area in 1935, and is included in the list of wetlands of international importance, and is also designated as a globally important bird area.
Every year, roughly 75,000 people visit the refuge, and take part in activities such as fishing, hunting, wildlife observation, and birdwatching. The park also boasts a 15-mile auto tour route through the refuge. A special brochure is provided to guide you through the tour, and to highlight 12 stops along the route. The drive is open from the first of April through mid-October.
Sand Lake Refuge is home to more than 266 species of birds, as well as 40 species of mammals. It is considered one of the best birdwatching locations in the United States, for both migratory and non-migratory birds.
In 1994, approximately 150,000 nesting pairs of Franklin's gulls were documented in the refuge. This is the largest known congregation of this type of gull ever recorded anywhere in the world. Additional species found in the refuge include the blue jay, downy woodpecker, northern flicker, yellow-headed blackbird, and the bobolink. See the Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge website for more information.
The state bird of South Dakota is the Ring-necked Pheasant and you can find a checklist for birding activities in South Dakota here.
Photo credit to steffofsd, used with permission under the creative commons license.
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