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Bird Watching in Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National
Park
Bird Watching in
Yellowstone
Contrary
to popular belief, Yellowstone National Park is not one of the hotspots
in North America for watching a great diversity of birdlife. What it
does offer is an array of birds unique to this area of North America.
Also we would be remiss by not mentioning that it is not a wilderness
devoid of people, especially since it has an annual human visitation
that exceeds 3 million people per year. Our goal is to communicate to
the public about the uniqueness of Yellowstone birdlife, while at the
same time asking the public's assistance in conserving the avifauna of
this unique environment of the earth.
Featured Birds
Bald
Eagle
 Identification
A very large bird, the Bald
Eagle stands about 30-45 inches tall. Adults over 5 years old have a
white head, neck and tail, dark brown to black body and yellow bill.
Immatures are brown with whitish wing linings and blotches on the under
parts. Their head and tail will whiten with each molt as they reach
adulthood.
Habitat
Bald Eagles are found along the
lakes and rivers of Yellowstone
National Park where they
perch in nearby trees watching for fish below. The best areas to watch
for these majestic birds include Yellowstone
River and Lake. Although some
adult bald eagles will winter in the park most migrate to lower
elevations. During these winter months, look for them, sometimes in
groups of five or six along the Yellowstone
River north of the park.
Behavior
In the summer, bald eagles eat
mostly fish and waterfowl. Their fishing skills, however, are not as
polished as those of the Osprey and they have been watched on numerous
occasions harassing these fisher birds until they drop their catch and
fly off leaving the fish on the ground for the eagle to scavenge.
During winter months they feed primarily on waterfowl and carrion. It
is not uncommon to see bald eagles feeding on an elk carcass along side
ravens, magpies, golden eagles and coyotes.
Yellowstone
Data
In 1995, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service down listed the Bald Eagle from endangered to threatened due to
significant population gains made over the last three decades. Certain
specific populations, however, are not completely recovered due to heavy
metal contamination problems in the Great Lakes region, and habitat
encroachment and development problems associated with riparian zones in
the desert southwest.
In Yellowstone
National Park, a total of 14
eaglets fledged from 26 active nests during 1999. Nest substrate
instability, a result of the 1988 Yellowstone wildfires, caused minimal
problems for nesting pairs; however, in following decades we expect
large numbers of trees to topple to the ground. This will undoubtedly
result in nest failure, loss of nest sites, and sudden changes in the
locations of nesting territories. Although it has occasionally been
documented that Bald Eagles will take over previously occupied Osprey
nests, the incidence of takeover appears to be increasing due to the
competition for nest sites. In 1999 alone, two previously known Osprey
nest sites were occupied by Bald Eagles.
Sandhill Crane (Grus
canadensis)
Identification
The sandhill crane is a large tall
bird with long legs and neck but a relatively medium length bill. It's
color is typically gray, although in Yellowstone the birds often appear
to be reddish brown, a result of red soil (iron oxide) picked up on
their beaks and spread on their plumage during preening which helps
camouflaging the bird during nesting. They also have an unmistakable red
crown on the tip of the head.
While in flight their neck is extended
straight as compared with the Great Blue Heron who flies with its neck
folded. The call of the sandhill crane can be heard at great distances
and sounds like a long rattle - "garooo a a a" guttural call. Once you
have heard this call you will not likely mistake it for any other bird.
Habitat
Sandhill Cranes prefer small open wet
meadows but can also be found in dry meadows and along the edge of
aspen groves, willows and lodgepole pine stands.
Behavior
The Sandhill cranes that call
Yellowstone home in summer spend their winters in the Rio Grande Valley
of New Mexico and Mexico. While on their wintering grounds, Sandhill
Cranes feed on a variety of seeds including newly planted or harvested
wheat, corn and sorghum, and insects, worms, etc. In summer they feed
more in marshy and wet meadows on a variety of insects, amphibians and
rodents. They are very good at walking and may walk great distances
while feeding.
During summer months, Sandhills are
found in pairs and tend to be reclusive. During migration, however, on
their way to their wintering grounds they form large family flocks of up
to 200 birds. When these flocks join together in staging areas it is
not uncommon to see a thousand cranes in a field or meadow.
One of the Crane's most unique and
enjoyable behaviors to watch is their courtship dance. If you are lucky
enough to see this dance you will find yourself captivated by this
behavior. The dance which usually occurs between paired birds can go on
for quite some time. It begins with the birds high stepping on the
ground while at the same time partially raising their wings. They then
take turns leaping into the air, wings partially spread and legs hanging
below. Interspersed throughout this mating ritual are various forms of
neck and head bending and bowing.
The Sandhill Cranes of Yellowstone are
much easier to hear than see, so listen for them to arrive sometime late
March to early April. If you are determined to see the cranes your best
chances of finding them in Yellowstone are in the Bechler and Fountain
Flats areas or the park. They normally leave the park in September,
thus completing a year in the life of a Yellowstone Sandhill Crane.
Common Raven
(Corvus corax)
Identification
The Common Raven is a large, black
bird, standing approximately 24 inches tall. It has a thick bill, a
shaggy hackles on the throat and a wedge-shaped tail. Its identifying
calls include a hoarse croaking "kraak" and "kloo-klok that is usually
made during flight.
Ravens are often confused with
American Crows, but crows can be distinguished in a couple of ways.
Crows are generally smaller, have a more rounded fanned tail, and make a
light "caw" sound. American crows are rather uncommon in Yellowstone.
Habitat
A year round resident of the
Yellowstone area, Ravens are found commonly throughout the park, often
migrating to lower elevations during the winter. However, some pairs do
not migrate.
Behavior
These opportunistic feeders take a
variety of foods. They take advantage of seasonal berries, small
mammals, young birds and amphibians and of course are always present to
feast on carrion. When food is plentiful, such as is found in the
summer, ravens are more spread out and function primarily as predators.
When food is scarce, such as is the case in the winter. Ravens are in
groups functioning as scavenger/carrion guides and feeders. A flock of
ravens is a good indicator of a predator kill often appearing at the
carcass only minutes after the kill.
Although smaller than eagles,
ravens are often seen harassing both bald and golden eagles and it is
not uncommon for a group of ravens to successfully keep these birds away
from a carcass. They have also adapted to human activity/habitation and
will take advantage of any available food, stealing off of picnic tables
and rummaging through backpacks to find something to eat. In winter,
many snowmobilers have returned from a short hike to find their
belongings scattered about the parking lot, with the raven stealing both
food and valuables from visitors.
Ravens are some of the earliest
birds to re-establish and defend nesting territories. This can begin as
early as February. As spring progresses look for paired ravens sitting
side by side, riding the air currents and performing impressive aerial
acrobats. Ravens provide the visitor with sheer entertainment because of
their curious behavior, for you never know what a raven is up to.
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JacksonHoleWyoming.com is not
associated with the United States Government, The Department of
the Interior, or the National Park Service. The information
posted here is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be
independently verified. In the event
you find information that is incorrect please notify us via
email at webmaster@jacksonWyoming.com Thank you and enjoy your visit to
Jackson Hole Wyoming.
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