birding...

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta ©Mike Danzenbaker http://www.avesphoto.com/

Wyoming is the least populated state in the US, covering about 97,809sq miles [253,326sq km], yet with a population of about 465,000 people. The topography and environments of the state are very diverse, the average elevation is about 4,500ft above sea level. The lowest elevation is in the north east corner at 3,009ft [912m] where the Belle Fouche River enters South Dakota, the highest point is Gannet Peak in the west central portion of the state in the Wind River Mountains at 13,804ft [4183m]. The topography of the state is mostly easily conceived of in thirds, reaching north to south. Wyoming is about 260 mile north to south and 300 miles east to west. Because of the dry climate and rugged terrain, more of the worlds geologic history is exposed to view here than anywhere else on the planet.

The eastern third consists of high short grass prairie and broken badlands, bordered on the northeast by the Black Hills (Mt. Rushmore); and on the west by the Bighorn Mountains. Between the Black Hills and the Big Horn Mountains lies the Thunder Basin National Grassland, the buffalo hunting grounds and homeland to the Lakota Sioux and Northern Cheyenne Indians, and the site of many battles. It`s a good place to view prairie-dog towns and see Burrowing Owls, Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie Falcons, and Sharp-tailed Grouse.

The centre of the state is most easily conceived of as series of basins, long rolling hills of Sage Brush, scattered with evaporative salt flats covered with Salt Brush, with high snow-capped mountains always visible in the background. First on the south is the Continental Divide Basin, holding the Red Desert, the largest unfenced area in the Continental US, with its unique desert Wapiti, large herds of pronghorn antelope, wild horses, and desert ponds important to migrating birds. North of the Red Desert over arange of hills, lies the Wind River Basin opening like a great fan with its handle to the west, tucked between the meeting of the Wind River Mountains and their northerly neighbours the Absaroka Mountains. The Wind River Basin stretches east more than 100 miles to the edge of the Laramie Mountains to the south and the southern end of the Big Horn Mountains to the north. The north side of the basin is bounded by the Owl Creek Mountains connecting the Absaroka Mountains to the Big Horn Mountains.

The Wind River flowing out of the western mountains makes an improbable turn, instead of flowing east to the adjacent prairies, it takes a sharp left turn straight through the heart of the Owl Creeks to form the Wind river Canyon, one of the most revealing sites of geologic history in the world, the river through the canyon is warmed by hot springs and shelters large flocks of waterfowl all winter. As the Wind River exits the north side of the mountains it has become the Bighorn River and flows north into the Big Horn Basin. The eastern edge of the basin is flanked by the Bighorn Mountains, the western edge by the Absaroka Mountains and to the north 100 miles away on the Montana border are the Pryor Mountains, the heart of the homeland of the Crow Indians.

Visibility in the Big Horn Basin on an average day is 60 to 100 miles. Sage Grouse is the bird of the basins, though summer will find areas with nesting populations of Mountain Plover and Greater Curlew. Large lakes support several species of gulls and terns as well as white pelicans and double crested cormorants. Irrigated farmlands have nesting Sandhill Cranes and Wilson Snipe. Water, wherever it is found will support a variety of waterfowl and shore birds. Bald Eagles are resident, but winter brings concentrations of migrants along all the larger rivers.

The Western portion of the state is a series of mountain ranges, north to south, with confused river drainage systems. In the centre of this portion of the state is the continental divide, within just a few miles of each other, begin the three great river drainages of the western US. The Colorado, the Missouri, and the Snake Rivers. The Northwestern corner of Wyoming is occupied by the world`s first national park, Yellowstone. The greater area around Yellowstone National Park is called the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, not only is it the last large intact ecosystem in the continental US, it holds the largest most diverse population of large mammals in North America. It also contains one of the largest roadless areas in the continental U.S. It is home to grizzly bear, wolves, puma, wolverine, wapiti, moose, mule deer, white tail deer, bighorn sheep, and mountain goats. Yellowstone is the southern end of the range of the Great Grey Owl, home to Trumpeter Swans, and Whooping Cranes occasional migrate along its western edge.

There are over 260 species of birds found in Wyoming. Some of the rarest are Trumpeter Swans, Mountain Plover, Ferruginous Hawk, Northern Goshawk, and Peregrine Falcon. There are many north-south running rivers in the state and these are busy spring and fall corridors for migrating birds. Many geese and ducks will over winter here if the rivers don`t freeze solid. Winters can be quite cold -40F degrees, and a summers hot +100F degree, neither extreme is uncommon, temperature differences between night and day are typically 20F to 40F. [Thehighest temperature recorded +114F(+45C); the lowest temperature recorded -63F(-53C)]. The mountains normally receive heavy snow cover, the eastern prairie moderate precipitation, while the central basins, caught between mountain ranges are quite dry. Birds that live here year round are very hardy animals. Horned Larks, and Towndsend`s Solitaire come to mind as two of the hardiest, but there are also the ubiquitous Robin, Waxwings, Black-billed Magpies and quite a few others.

Excellent birding can be had just about anywhere there is water. Most of the state is very dry and life flows to water just as water flows down hill. The major river drainages are a good place to start. The North Fork of the Platte River in south east Wyoming, the Big Horn and Shoshonie Rivers in the central region, Yellowstone Lake and River in the Park, the Snake River and Jackson`s Hole along the Grand Teton Mountains, the Green River and Flaming Gorge in the southwest. Summer drives through any of the mountain ranges will produce abundant bird watching opportunities.

Wyoming is the quintessential American west, with its wide-open vistas, low human population density, amazingly spectacular vista and colours created by its exposed geology, abundant wildlife, and western charm it is a great place to visit. It is both wild and friendly at the same time. About 80% of Wyoming is in government ownership and open to the public for recreation.