The two main loops shown on this accompanying North Alabama Bend Trail page offer expansive acreage of mixed grassland, wildflowers, and some shrubs. In an area surrounded by corn and soybeans, it's a wonderful and pretty large chunk of prairie habitat, that provides a home for many of the expected grassland species for the area. Walking the loop in the summer, you'll be exposed to the near constant calls of Dickcissels, which if not the most abundant species on the prairie loops, are easily the most vocal. Eastern Kingbirds are found here, and I've also seen Western Kingbird. You'll also hear one of my favorite sounds of summer is the song of a Western Meadowlark. It's also one of the few spots in South Dakota where you may see and hear Eastern Meadowlark. I've never seen more Orchard Orioles in one place than I have at North Alabama Bend, as they forage in the prairie loop areas and return to the surrounding trees for their nesting sites.
It's a good spot for summering sparrows as well, including Grasshopper Sparrows, which can be quite difficult to find in the vast cropland expanses of eastern South Dakota. The (very underrated in my opinion!) Field Sparrow song competes with Dickcissels for one of the most heard songs here. Lark Sparrows are also consistently found here (a species that is sometimes hit or miss in eastern South Dakota). Eastern Bluebirds, several swallow species, and Sedge Wrens round out other species commonly seen here.
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SOUTH DAKOTA BIRDS AND BIRDING - LOCATIONS OF WEBSITE VISITORS
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl