Date: 8/11/26 10:33 am From: N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008...> Subject: [sd-birds] Bear Butte Lake
Sunday I stopped by Bear Butte Lake near Sturgis. With the continuing drought, I figured there may be extensive mud flats and this lake can bring in a lot of shorebirds (and other waterbirds). I found that the lake is only about 1/3 covered with water and there is indeed a lot of exposed shoreline, wet and dried. However, the only birds in or near the water was one duck and two Mourning Doves. The water is very stagnant and nearby mud is an unnatural bright aqua color. The area seems quite dead, maybe even toxic. Strangely, there were no dead fish or clam carcasses strewn around, like I'm seeing around other receding ponds and waterways in the state. It seems that it may be awhile before this lake is bird habitat again.
