The following charts include all species of wild birds occurring in
North Dakota.
The bar-graphs are designed to give a conservative idea of your chances
of finding a particular species rather than of its abundance. Thus a
large bird such as the Red-tailed Hawk may be shown as “hard to miss”
while a shy, hard-to-identify, or small bird such as the Sharp-tailed
Sparrow may occur in greater numbers, but be shown as “may see.”
[Illustration: Bar-graph Key]
HARD TO MISS ######
SHOULD SEE xxxxxx
MAY SEE ======
LUCKY TO FIND ------
HOW LUCKY CAN YOU GET ......
Many local birders and others who bird the area frequently were
consulted in determining the status of each bird. Since these people are
familiar with the birds, their songs, habits, and habitats, they are
good at finding the more elusive species. On your first trip to the
area, you may think that some birds are harder to find than is indicated
here.
If you are in the RIGHT HABITAT and the RIGHT AREA at the RIGHT SEASON,
you should be able to find the “hard to miss” birds on nearly every
field trip; the “should see” on 3 out of 4 trips; the “may see” on 1 out
of 4 trips; and the “lucky to find” on 1 out of 10 trips or even less
frequently. The “how lucky can you get” species occur at very infrequent
intervals or take an expert to identify.
Although “forget it” is the answer that you will probably receive when
inquiring about your chances of seeing a very rare species, do not stop
looking. Adding a rarity to your list is what puts the topping on a
trip. If you are positive of your identification, take careful notes and
report your find to the regional editor of _American Birds_: Esther M.
Serr, 615 8th Street, Rapid City, S.D. 57701.
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