South Dakota Ornithologists' Union

Birding Hotspots - East Central

Where to Go

Canada Warbler

1) Sioux Falls
2) Big Sioux Recreation Area
3) Beaver Creek Nature Area
4) Western Minnehaha County
5) Madison area
6) Brookings area
7) Woonsocket area
8) Huron area

1) Sioux Falls Area

Elmwood Park
In a corner of Elmwood Park in Sioux Falls their is a wooded area that for my money is one of the best places to find warblers during the first three weeks of May and in the fall. Kentucky Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Canada Warbler, Hooded Warbler, White-eyed Vireo are some of the birds that have been found at Elmwood, as well as large numbers of the more common warblers. Need I say more! Contributed by Robb. F. Schenck

Tomar Park
Just as good as Elmwood Park described above. Just a few of the birds seen here are Alder Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Prothonotary Warbler and Prairie Warbler. Bird the wooded areas on both sides of the Big Sioux River. Contributed by Robb F. Schenck

Outdoor Campus and The Hole
Located near the Empire Mall the Outdoor Campus has oxbow ponds surrounded by woods. The Campus has interesting exhibits and improved trails. There is also a grassland area where many Sedge Wrens can be found. South of the Outdoor Campus the oxbow ponds continue in an area nicknamed The Hole. The southern boundary of The Hole is west of Randalls Foods. The birding is thought to be equal to the other Sioux Falls parks mentioned above. Barred Owls and Louisiana Waterthrushes have been located in this area from time to time. Augie Hoeger observed 180 species in this park. Contributed by Robb F. Schenck

Arrowhead Park
This is a large, beautiful, park two miles east of the city limits of Sioux Falls where East 26^th Street ends. The 131 acre park is dedicated to the appreciation and preservation of nature. It overlooks the Big Sioux River Valley from the eastern highlands making a fantastic sunrise view. The generous and knowledgeable Dale Weir donated the entire park to the city for a nature park. Birding trails include a woodland trail, a natural prairie trails, and quarry trails. The three quarry ponds have waterfowl year around, with uncommon ducks often seen. Access is excellent. Surrounding the ponds, Kingfishers nest, and Yellow-bellied sapsuckers dig well-holes in the Chinese Elm trees. Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Bluebirds, and Meadowlarks are common, as are numerous species of sparrows. Cedar Waxwings feed on the cedar groves in the treed area in the East section of the park. Bald Eagles are often seen to the East of the park. Barn, Tree, Rough-winged, and Cliff swallows are common. Contributed by Mick R. Zerr

Perry Nature Area
Located the north side of SD Highway 42, which is the north border of Arrowhead Park, two miles East of Sioux Falls. It is a 23-acre Minnehaha County park. The park includes woodlands, upland grasslands, and riparian areas. Access is good. Many species of spring warblers are found in the park, along with six species of woodpecker. E. Bluebirds, Pheasants, Chipping and Field sparrows, and Red-breasted Grosbeaks are usually present in the summer. The park will eventually be connected to Arrowhead Park by an underground walkway under SD 42. Contributed by Mick R. Zerr

Leif Ericson Camp
This is a private YMCA camp located in the city of Sioux Falls on East 26^th Street and the Big Sioux River. During June, July, and August, the camp is occupied from 7 am to 4 pm during the week, but is open to birders weekends and during the other nine months, permission during the open times is not necessary. The area is 70 acres that extends over a mile along the Big Sioux from East 26^th Street south to the Tuthill Park walking bridge. Access is excellent. The camp has a parking area, rest areas, water, and outdoor toilets usable for birders. Trails range from very easy to difficult. The riparian forest includes old growth Cottonwoods nearly 100 feet tall, with many Maples and Hackberries, plus some areas if Pine and Spruce. The river environment produces many Mallards and Wood ducks. Great Blue and Green Heron are common. Great Horned and Screech Owls live in the dense trees. Red-tailed, Broad-winged, Coopers, and Sharp-shinned hawks are found. Ovenbirds, Waterthrush, Woodthrush, Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, and White and Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Brown Creepers are seen. Gray Catbirds, B. Kingfishers, Cardinals, five species of woodpecker, Great Crested Flycatcher, Goldfinch, Marsh and House Wrens, Song and Chipping sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, E. Phoebe, Chickadees, and Indigo Buntings usually nest during the summer. Fall and spring warblers include at least eight species. Contributed by Mick R. Zerr

2) Big Sioux Recreation Area

Big Sioux Recreation Area is a large park with a variety of habitats. Along the Big Sioux River their are Burr Oak bluffs and in the northeast corner of the park riparian woodlands where many migrants can be found. There is a wet meadow and on the west side of the river, a tract of tallgrass prairie with nesting Sedge Wrens, Bobolinks and Field Sparrows. Migrating Le Conte's Sparrows are also seen here. In the plum thickets Bells Vireos can sometimes be located. Black-billed Cuckoos and Yellow-billed Cuckoos are often heard on the bluffs west of the prairie. Big Sioux Recreational Area offers both woodland and grassland birding.

contributed by:
Robert F. Schenck
422 N Linwood CT
Sioux Falls SD

3) Beaver Creek Nature Area

Located on a creek this nature area has Burr Oak bluffs with prairie above, creek bottom woodlands below and a spring fed stream cutting through the middle. The creek bottom woodlands can be a excellent place to find Winter Wrens and Hermit Thrushes in migration as well as other migrants later in the spring. On the highlands Northern Goshawks have been found in winter. Beaver Creek supports nesting Great Horned Owls and Red-tailed Hawks which can be observed throughout there courtship.

contributed by:
Robert F. Schenck
422 N Linwood CT
Sioux Falls SD

4) Western Minnehaha County

Western Minnehaha County is a string of marshes and small lakes which sport large numbers of migrating waterfowl. Starting in late February and early March thousands and sometimes hundreds of thousands of Snow Geese gather. If you can get close to a flock look for Ross's Geese, there are many migrating with the Snow Geese. If you are lucky and out at first light, you might be treated to tens of thousands of geese leaving a marsh and flying overhead. The sight and sound is spectacular. On Wall Lake Horned Grebes, Eared Grebes, Western Grebes and Common Loons can be found and in fall Wall Lake has thousands of Franklin's Gulls roosting (probably returning south from Sand Lake Wildlife Refuge) along with other gulls. During March every species of ducks common to our area can be found in large numbers. The larger lakes have American White Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants and Western Grebes. Check the mudflats for shorebirds; in dry years the marshes can be excellent shorebirding. Get a copy of The Sportman's Atlas produced by Game Fish and Parks available where hunting licenses are sold and go to the Game Production Areas marked on the maps.

contributed by:
Robert F. Schenck
422 N Linwood CT
Sioux Falls SD

5) Madison area

Coming soon!

6) Brookings area

Coming soon!

7) Woonsocket area

Coming soon!

8) Huron area

Coming soon!