I first started birding in the winter of 1999/2000. On my first trip to the Fort Pierre National Grasslands that winter, I saw my first Gyrfalcon, and...I was hooked. My 2nd trip there was on April 1st, 2000, when I started walking a prairie dog town. As I walked, a large bird flew in front of me, and dropped to the ground about 40 yards ahead. As I approached, I had to rub my eyes...what...the..hell..was...this!?!? As a new birder, I'd never heard of a Long-billed Curlew, but I was immediately fascinated. My favorite photo of the species is from near Philip, South Dakota in 2017, of a bird that must have had young nearby given it's defensive posture.
All photos are copyrighted by Terry L. Sohl. Contact me for print options or questions about photo use.
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