Date: 9/18/26 12:42 pm From: Judy Hengen via groups.io <judyhengen...> Subject: [sd-birds] Outdoor Campus West Survey, RC, Pennington Co. Sept. 18, 2026
Outdoor Campus West Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
September 18, 2026 6:45 AM – 10:25 AM
Surveyors: Rachel Benton, Laural Bidwell, Judy Hengen
Conditions: Temp: Start: 59 End: 63 Wind (Beaufort Scale): Wind
0-1
Cloud Cover: 100% FOG Weather: total fog, gray light, wet after
night rain
SPECIES: 38 INDIVIDUALS: 220
Canada Goose 3
Wood Duck 2
Mallard 17
Rock Pigeon 11
Eurasian Collared-Dove 16
Killdeer 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 1
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 5
Western-wood Pewee 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue Jay 9
American Crow 3
Black-capped Chickadee 11
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 35
Townsend’s Solitaire 11
Swainson’s Thrush 1
American Robin 21
Gray Catbird 4
Brown Thrasher 1
Cedar Waxwing 12
House Sparrow 6
House Finch 9
Red Crossbill 7
American Goldfinch 3
Clay-colored Sparrow 1
Lincoln’s Sparrow 1
Spotted Towhee 1
Common Grackle 6
Orange-crowned Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 4
Yellow Warbler 1
Wilson’s Warbler 4
Western Tanager 1
Date: 9/18/26 10:40 am From: D. George Prisbe-Przybysz via groups.io <prisbe.przybysz...> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] Climate etc
spot on, ricky
the phenology of things is all screwed up
and only getting worse
while those who proclaim
to be leaders
do nothing
because all that matters is personal gain
and wealth
On Fri, Sep 18, 2026 at 11:37 AM Ricky D Olson via groups.io <tatanka40=
<pie.midco.net...> wrote:
> Think what you want. But the last two years I noticed climate/season
> changes that negatively affect bird species.
>
>
>
> The last 2 years the Chokecherries hear have ripened 2 eeks to a month
> earlier than normal. Thus are all eaten or fallen off by the time early
> fall migrants arrive.
>
>
>
> In my yard the last t 2 years my Redtwig Dogwood berries have all been
> eaten by Robins and flickers by the first of August. Normally all through
> August I get migrant vireo’s (all species) towhees, catbirds thrashers,
> warblers and thrushes eating my dogwwod berries in my yard. I enjoy it.
>
>
>
> Also almost always dogwood have aphids under the leaves in August &
> September. The migrating warblers & passerines fill up on these to fuel up
> to further migrate.
>
>
>
> This year no aphids. I sure dry extremely hot weather played a part. The
> few migrant warblers I have seen hurry through my bushes looking for aphids
> and since none. They leave right away.
>
>
>
> I know the timing of peak food sources or crop failure make a big
> difference in survivability.
>
>
>
> Of migrants and their offspring.
>
>
>
> My two cents, the world is changing and not for the best!!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
--
"if you are lonely when you're alone, you're in bad company" - jean paul
sartre
"poetry is the shadow cast by our streetlight imaginations." - lawrence
ferlinghetti, american poet
"people who believe in absurdities will eventually commit atrocities" -
voltaire
"the world knows many religions, but Nature has but one truth" - manly p
hall
Date: 9/18/26 9:37 am From: Ricky D Olson via groups.io <tatanka40...> Subject: [sd-birds] Climate etc
Think what you want. But the last two years I noticed climate/season changes
that negatively affect bird species.
The last 2 years the Chokecherries hear have ripened 2 eeks to a month
earlier than normal. Thus are all eaten or fallen off by the time early fall
migrants arrive.
In my yard the last t 2 years my Redtwig Dogwood berries have all been eaten
by Robins and flickers by the first of August. Normally all through August I
get migrant vireo's (all species) towhees, catbirds thrashers, warblers and
thrushes eating my dogwwod berries in my yard. I enjoy it.
Also almost always dogwood have aphids under the leaves in August &
September. The migrating warblers & passerines fill up on these to fuel up
to further migrate.
This year no aphids. I sure dry extremely hot weather played a part. The few
migrant warblers I have seen hurry through my bushes looking for aphids and
since none. They leave right away.
I know the timing of peak food sources or crop failure make a big difference
in survivability.
Of migrants and their offspring.
My two cents, the world is changing and not for the best!!
Date: 9/14/26 1:21 pm From: Swanson, David via groups.io <David.Swanson...> Subject: [sd-birds] SDOU Fall Meeting
Hi all,
The Fall 2026 South Dakota Ornithologists Union meeting is coming up in Yankton, SD, from November 6-8. I am beginning to put the program of talks together for the Fall 2026 meeting, with the paper presentations running from 10 am Noon and 1:00-3:30 pm on Saturday, November 7. If you or a colleague have a paper that you want to present, please let me know prior to November 2, but preferably sooner. I dont need an abstract for the talk, just a title and list of authors.
We are looking forward to a stimulating meeting, so I hope that you can participate.
Date: 9/11/26 2:56 pm From: David Strom via groups.io <djstrom...> Subject: [sd-birds] Outdoor Campus West Survey 9-11-2026
The weekly survey at the Outdoor Campus West was conducted on Friday, September 11, 2026 by Judy Hengen, Rachel Benton, Laural Bidwell, Anya Hartpence and Jackie Stucky-Strom. 45 species were identified with a total of 314 individuals.
Mallard-11
Wild Turkey-9
Rock Pigeon-13
Eurasian Collared Dove-16
Mourning Dove-1
Killdeer-2
Solitary Sandpiper-2
Great Blue Heron-1
Turkey Vulture-2
Osprey-1
Cooper's Hawk-1
Belted Kingfisher-2
Hairy Woodpecker-1
Northern Flicker-9
American Kestrel-1
Blue Jay-10
American Crow-4
Black Capped Chickadee-8
Cedar Waxwing-3
Red Breasted Nuthatch-8
White Breasted Nuthatch-2
Pygmy Nuthatch-4
Northern House Wren-3
Gray Catbird-5
Brown Thrasher-5
European Starling-25
Townsend's Solitaire-1
American Robin-21
House Sparrow-3
House Finch-10
Pine Siskin-15
American Goldfinch-21
Evening Grosbeak-1
Clay Colored Sparrow-2
Chippiing Sparrow-8
Vesper Sparrow-4
Lincoln Sparrow-13
Song Sparrow-1
Spotted Towhee-4
Common Grackle-4
Common Yellowthroat-13
Northern Waterthrush-1
American Redstart-2
Northern Yellow Warbler-12
Wilson's Warbler-29
Start time: 6:30 AM, 70 degrees, Sky-100% cloud covered, Wind-0
End Time: 10:15 AM, 77 degrees, Sky-50% cloud covered, Wind-3
Date: 9/10/26 5:56 pm From: Brian Kringen via groups.io <bkringen...> Subject: [sd-birds] Pygmy Nuthatch Invasion!
Just now we observed at least 10 Pygmy Nuthatches on our birdbath here in Rapid City! We have them consistently here at the Chapel in the Hills, but this was the most we’ve ever seen at one time. Also, we have a black cap chickadee, which seems to be partially. Leucistic. Sorry about the spelling if it’s incorrect.
Date: 9/8/26 6:45 am From: Chris Anderson via groups.io <canderson1...> Subject: [sd-birds] SFBC field trip - Saturday, Sept. 12
The Sioux Falls Bird Club will hold its monthly field trip this coming Saturday September 12. We will meet at the Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls (4500 S Oxbow Ave) at 8:00 a.m. to organize carpooling, and then proceed to Beaver Creek Nature Area south of Brandon. For any east-siders who might be going directly there rather than carpooling, let's meet up in the southeast parking lot in the park (after entering the park, take the first left, then stay right at the next fork). We'll plan to do a light walk to look for woodland migrants, probably covering less than a mile total distance. After that, we'll probably make a stop at Perry Nature Area to do the same thing (probably with less walking) and then take a swing through the wetland at Harmodon Park before returning to the OC by midday.
You do not need to be a club member to attend, all are welcome.
Chris Anderson
Sioux Falls, SD
Date: 9/6/26 12:36 pm From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] WW to Orman and Other Sightings
We birded back roads (at 90+ degrees) to various lakes/water hotspots to the North on Saturday 9.5 and found minimum waterfowl sightings, but considerable roadside Sparrow activity. Bear Butte Lake continues to shrink with land from the North side extending to the middle of the lake. Bear Butte South road access was closed for unknown reason and the lake had only a few Mallard sightings. Belle Fourche Reservoir had lots of boat activity and few birds except for Gulls. Lots of Sparrow activity on the trip including Lark, Vesper, Field, and Lark Buntings. Raptor sightings included numerous Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels, but no Eagles. Shorebird/waterbird sightings were Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, and Wilson's Phalaropes. Lots of Eastern Kingbirds. Other sightings of interest included Lewis', Red-headed Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, and Eared Grebe. One Yellow Warbler was only warbler sighting. European Starlings largest number of bird sightings.
Our feeder activity 1.5 miles south of Whitewood has included one Evening Grosbeak on 9.3, Western Tanagers and Brown Thrashers daily, and lots of the other regulars, but no American Goldfinches. Our weekend bird calendar was the Arctic Tern which has the longest migration of any bird traveling from South America/Antarctica to Alaska and return. My career was in Alaska and if you got near an Arctic Tern nest on the ground you would be dive-bombed.
Date: 9/4/26 2:08 pm From: David Strom via groups.io <djstrom...> Subject: [sd-birds] Outdoor Campus West Survey 9-4-2026
The weekly survey at the Outdoor Campus West was conducted on September 4, 2026, by Judy Hengen, Rachel Benton, Anya Hartpence, Nancy Drilling and Jackie Stucky-Strom. 40 species were identified with a total of 289 individuals.
Mallard-15
Rock Pigeon-19
Eurasian Collared Dove-11
Great Blue Heron-1
Turkey Vulture-2
Belted Kingfisher-1
Northern Flicker-7
American Kestrel-2
Western Wood Pewee-2
Eastern Kingbird-1
Red -eyed Vireo-2
Blue Jay-10
American Crow-21
Black Capped Chickadee-7
Barn Swallow-1
Cedar Waxwing-4
Red Breasted Nuthatch-3
White Breasted Nuthatch-3
Pygmy Nuthatch-2
Northern House Wren-1
Gray Catbird-11
Brown Thrasher-2
European Starling -14
Townsend's Solitaire-5
American Robin-27
House Sparrow-2
House Finch-7
American Goldrinch-19
Red Crossbill-3
EVENING GROSBEAK-14
Clay Colored Sparrow-4
Chipping Sparrow-40
Spotted Towhee-3
Common Grackle-12
Northern Water Thrush-1
Common Yellowthroat-2
American Red Start-2
Northern Yellow Warbler-4
Wilson's Warbler-1
Northern Cardinal-1
Start Time: 6:30 AM, 59 degrees, Sky- 60% cloud covered, Wind-0
End Time: 9:50 AM, 85 degrees, Sky-50% cloud covered, Wind-0
Date: 9/4/26 10:51 am From: N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008...> Subject: [sd-birds] Evening Grosbeaks, Rapid City
Not to steal the thunder from the weekly Outdoor Campus survey posting, but this morning we had a flock of 14 Evening Grosbeaks during the survey. They were in Wilderness Park and, after feeding for a bit on bugs in ash trees, they flew north into the surrounding neighborhoods. Formerly fairly common in Rapid City and Pennington County, they have been gone for at least two to three decades. I moved here in 2011 and these are the first I have ever seen in the county.
Although it was a delight to see these birds, it is also cause for concern. The past month has seen Evening Grosbeaks showing up earlier and in new places in the Black Hills, Clark's Nutcrackers out on the prairie, many scattered reports of Red Crossbills East River, and East River flocks of Pine Siskins. None of these birds should be here until late Fall. This suggests that something is amiss in their boreal forest habitats (in the Rocky Mountains, northern Minnesota, Canada) that is forcing them to wander sooner and farther than normal.
Date: 9/3/26 8:32 am From: Glenn Wika via groups.io <glenn_wika...> Subject: [sd-birds] Red-headed woodpecker
We had several in our yard this summer. A picture is attached of an adult and a juvenile on a suet feeder. I forgot to send this picture earlier.
Glenn Wika
On Wed, Sep 2, 2026 at 12:52 PM, Nancy Hilding via groups.io<nhilshat...> wrote: Nancy Hilidng
President
Prairie Hills Audubon Society
How do I tell people how to join sd-birds. There used to be instructions on the SDOU web page, but I looked and could not find such instructions today.
Is it still there or someplace else? If not posted any place..how do I give someone instructions on joining.
Date: 9/2/26 11:36 am From: Roger Dietrich via groups.io <1947rogerd...> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] Joining - where are instructions?
I have attached a screenshot of the first page of the www.sdou.org <http://www.sdou.org/> web site which has a "Join SDOU” button.
> On Sep 2, 2026, at 12:52 PM, Nancy Hilding via groups.io <nhilshat...> wrote:
>
> Nancy Hilidng
> President
> Prairie Hills Audubon Society
>
>
> How do I tell people how to join sd-birds. There used to be instructions on the SDOU web page, but I looked and could not find such instructions today.
> Is it still there or someplace else? If not posted any place..how do I give someone instructions on joining.
>
>
>
>
Roger Dietrich
Yankton, South Dakota
<1947rogerd...>
Date: 9/2/26 10:52 am From: Nancy Hilding via groups.io <nhilshat...> Subject: [sd-birds] Joining - where are instructions?
Nancy Hilidng
President
Prairie Hills Audubon Society
How do I tell people how to join sd-birds. There used to be instructions on the SDOU web page, but I looked and could not find such instructions today.
Is it still there or someplace else? If not posted any place..how do I give someone instructions on joining.
Date: 9/2/26 1:51 am From: <thewildburro...> via groups.io <thewildburro...> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. Aug. 31. 2026
Wow! What a great day!
Sent from AOL on Android
On Mon, Aug 31, 2026 at 5:54 PM, Judy Hengen via groups.io<judyhengen...> wrote: Canyon Lake Park Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
August 31, 2026 6:15 AM – 10:10 AM
Surveyors: Rachel Benton, Judy Hengen, Victoria Hernandez, Jackie Stucky-Strom
Conditions: Temp: Start: 53 End: 76 Wind (Beaufort Scale): 0
Cloud Cover: Clear Weather: sunny, cool to start, warmed quickly
SPECIES: 41 INDIVIDUALS: 680
Canada Goose 114
Wood Duck 8
Blue-winged Teal 6
Northern Shoveler 4
Gadwall 3
Mallard 81 - includes 2 young
Green-winged Teal 8
Hooded Merganser 2
Common Merganser 3
Rock Pigeon 21
Eurasian Collared-Dove 9
Spotted Sandpiper 6
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Great Blue Heron 4
Turkey Vulture 83
Osprey 5
Bald Eagle 1
Belted Kingfisher 4
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Eastern Kingbird 12
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Blue Jay 11
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Brown Creeper 1
Barn Swallow 15
House Wren 1
European Starling 65
Gray Catbird 3
American Robin 5
Cedar Waxwing 36
House Sparrow 41
House Finch 10
American Goldfinch 11
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 1
Common Grackle 78
Common Yellowthroat 8
American Redstart 3
Yellow Warbler 4
We have a daily calendar with pictures of birds world-wide on our kitchen table. The bird for today 9/1/26 was an Evening Grosbeak. While having breakfast, 9 Evening Grosbeaks arrived and on our platform feeder just out the window. This is our first EVGR sighting since December 2025. Attached is a picture of one perched near the feeders.
Date: 8/31/26 4:31 pm From: Jeff Hansen via groups.io <jeff.hansen.sd...> Subject: [sd-birds] Sprinkler birds additional
Still watching. I had a Nashville warbler. Also saw the Baltimore and orchard together. Eastern Phoebe come to fence but not water. Just saw Hummer at feeder.
Red headed woodpecker and white breasted nuthatch at sunflower feeder
Date: 8/28/26 6:39 pm From: David Strom via groups.io <djstrom...> Subject: [sd-birds] Outdoor Campus Survey 8-28-2026
The weekly survey at the Outdoor Campus West was conducted on August 28, 2026, by Judy Hengen, Rachel Benton, Laural Bidwell, Anya Hartpence and Jackie Stucky-Strom. 42 species were identified with a total of 233 individuals.
Mallard-7
Wood Duck-8
Rock Pigeon-24
Eurasian Collared Dove-19
Mourning Dove-1
Great Blue Heron-1
Belted Kingfisher-1
Downy Woodpecker-3
Red Headed Woodpecker-2
Northern Flicker-6
Osprey-1
American Kestrel-1
Western Wood Pewee-3
Least Flycatcher-1
Red Eyed Vireo-1
Blue Jay-9
American Crow-3
Black Capped Chickadee-8
Cedar Waxwing-7
Red Breasted Nuthatch-6
White Breasted Nuthatch-2
Brown Creeper-1
Northern House Wren-1
Gray Catbird-20
European Starling-9
American Robin-31
House Sparrow-2
House Finch-11
American Goldfinch-8
Red Crossbill-4
Chipping Sparrow-1
Song Sparrow-2
Spotted Towhee-2
Brown Headed Cowbird-1
Common Grackle-10
Northern Waterthrush-2
Black and White Warbler-1
Common Yellowthroat-3
American Redstart-5
Northern Yellow Warbler-3
Western Tanager-1
Northern Cardinal-1
Start time: 6:15 AM, 65 degrees, Sky- 30% cloudy, Wind-0
End time: 10:00 AM, 79 degrees, Sky- 95% cloudy, Wind-0
Date: 8/26/26 5:12 pm From: Vic Fondy via groups.io <treasurecreek...> Subject: [sd-birds] Whitewood and Orman
We birded from Whitewood to Northeast of Spearfish and backroads to Belle Fourche reservoir this morning with limited sightings. Raptors included Swainson's Hawks, Prairie Falcon,and American Kestrel. Other sightings of interest included Turkey Vultures, Easter/Western Kingbirds, Barn Swallows, Lark Bunting, and Vesper-Lark-Chipping Sparrows. Most roadside ponds are dry, and the Belle Fourche Reservoir is only 40% full with large shorelines and few birds.
At our feeders 1.5 miles south of Whitewood, we have kept our jelly and hummingbird feeders filled and were rewarded this morning with a Rufous Hummingbird, Western Tanager, and on the ground a Brown Thrasher and a pair of juvenile American Robins along with a lot of resident birds.
Date: 8/25/26 5:29 pm From: Ricky Olson via groups.io <olsonr088...> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] Chapelle Lake, Hyde County
Thank you for the information
On Tue, Aug 25, 2026 at 6:11 PM N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> The other day I visited Chapelle Lake in Hyde County. I was curious to see
> if the area was impacted by the high-wind event that hit Highmore in late
> June. As I approached, I saw a lot of crumpled wind turbines and broken
> wind turbine blades within a mile of the lake, so the lake took a direct
> hit from the winds. Many, but not all of the large cottonwoods were
> toppled. The big trees knocked over some of the large cedar trees,
> resulting in a lot of huge brush piles. Still, there is plenty of habitat
> left, especially smaller trees and shrubs.I didn't find much for birds
> except a surprise Black-headed Grosbeak.
>
> Nancy Drilling
> Rapid City
>
>
>
Date: 8/25/26 4:11 pm From: N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008...> Subject: [sd-birds] Chapelle Lake, Hyde County
The other day I visited Chapelle Lake in Hyde County. I was curious to see if the area was impacted by the high-wind event that hit Highmore in late June. As I approached, I saw a lot of crumpled wind turbines and broken wind turbine blades within a mile of the lake, so the lake took a direct hit from the winds. Many, but not all of the large cottonwoods were toppled. The big trees knocked over some of the large cedar trees, resulting in a lot of huge brush piles. Still, there is plenty of habitat left, especially smaller trees and shrubs.I didn't find much for birds except a surprise Black-headed Grosbeak.
Date: 8/24/26 3:57 pm From: jociebaker115 via groups.io <jociebaker115...> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. August 24, 2026
43 species- that a great number. jocie
From: Judy Hengen <judyhengen...>
Sent: Monday, August 24, 2026 2:40 PM
To: <sd-birds...>
Subject: Canyon Lake Park Survey, RC, Pennington Co. August 24, 2026
Canyon Lake Park Survey, Rapid City, Pennington County
August 24, 2026 6:15 AM – 10:00 AM
Surveyors: Rachel Benton, Laural Bidwell, Anya Hartpence, Judy Hengen, Jackie Stucky-Strom
Conditions: Temp: Start: 62 End: 83 Wind (Beaufort Scale): 0
Cloud Cover: 20% cloudy Weather: sunny, humid, warmed quickly
SPECIES: 43 INDIVIDUALS: 516
Canada Goose 12
Wood Duck 24
Gadwall 1
Mallard 115
Hooded Merganser 2
Common Merganser 11
Rock Pigeon 9
Eurasian Collared-Dove 8
Mourning Dove 5
Killdeer 1
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Great Blue Heron 8
Turkey Vulture 35
Osprey 5
Belted Kingfisher 3
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 2
Least Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 2
Blue Jay 9
Black-capped Chickadee 16
Tree Swallow 3
Violet-green Swallow 1
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 3
Barn Swallow 14 – includes 2 in nest
Cliff Swallow 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
European Starling 21
Gray Catbird 3
American Robin 2
Cedar Waxwing 15
House Sparrow 53
House Finch 8
Pine Siskin 3
American Goldfinch 13
Clay-colored Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 1
Red-winged Blackbird 2
Common Grackle 83
Common Yellowthroat 5
Northern Yellow Warbler 7
Date: 8/23/26 3:33 am From: N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008...> Subject: [sd-birds] latest issue of Bird Notes now available!
Good morning!
For SDOU members, the latest issue of Bird Notes is now available on our
web site (sdou.org). To download the latest issue, you will need to be an
SDOU member and logged on to the site. If you are not a member, issues that
are two years old are available to you. Enjoy!
