Date: 8/12/26 4:01 pm From: Ricky Olson via groups.io <olsonr088...> Subject: Re: [sd-birds] Bear Butte Lake
Nancy. I found in western sd where there is habitat - few- there are very
few to none shorebirds. Drought this spring and not return in fall ??
On Tue, Aug 11, 2026 at 12:33 PM N Drilling via groups.io <dril0008=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> 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.
>
> Nancy Drilling
> Rapid City
>
>
>
