Birding in Bismarck

If the two of you love the outdoors, check out the new birding activities in North Dakota. The Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau recently published a new booklet that provides exciting outdoor opportunities for people interested in nature, entitled Birding Adventures along the Bismarck-Mandan Birding Drive. The free booklet describes, illustrates, and maps the Bismarck-Mandan Birding Drive, which is made up of three easy to follow routes. Simple maps help users navigate along the routes, and provide information about where to go, how to get there, and what birds you can expect to see in season.

“Birding-based tourism is a perfect niche market for us to explore,” said Terry Harzinski, Executive Director for the Bismarck-Mandan CVB. “This is our first step in getting into this market. We also plan to expand our website to include information for birders to find what they need when they visit the Bismarck-Mandan area. Birding has been the fastest-growing outdoor activity in the nation during the past decade, and with almost 30 million birders traveling each year in search of new birding experiences, we hope to make our region of North Dakota a top birding destination.”

Wildlife Biologist, Paul Konrad, developed the birding drive project for the Bismarck-Mandan CVB. Harzinski said, “We felt Paul was the perfect person to work on this project for us. He has national recognition in the birding field, and he’s a Bismarck native. Who better to work on this with us, than someone who knows the area’s birding so well?”

Why is birding so popular? Konrad, who has been actively promoting birding-based tourism on a national level for a dozen years, explained, "I think the base interest is in wildlife, but most of the wildlife we see has feathers. Mammals, for instance, tend to be nocturnal and less common than birds. Birds come in diverse species, sizes, and colors," he adds, "and they are abundant, readily observable, and exciting to study and photograph - and they can fly!"

Konrad said another feature of the activity that attracts people is that "birding can also be combined with other outdoor activities, such as hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, boating, bicycling, and auto touring, as well as travel to other states and countries." He added that "birding can be a social activity, a family activity, an activity shared among friends, or a personal activity you can enjoy on your own."

Already, the Bismarck-Mandan Birding Drive connects to the Steele Birding Drive in neighboring Kidder County, and Konrad has also just completed a third Birding Drive in the Drake-Anamoose area southeast of Minot. "It's a great way to get communities involved in appreciating their natural resources while benefiting from birding-based tourism.

"Central North Dakota is one of the top birding locations in the nation," said Konrad. "Now, let's share our 'secret' with the rest of the country!"

In addition to promoting ecotourism, the birding drives were also designed for their recreational value, and to help develop a greater awareness for wildlife resources in the central North Dakota. Are you interested in participating in a new fall activity? Enjoy a natural experience along the Bismarck-Mandan Birding Drive!

For a free copy of Bismarck-Mandan Birding Drive booklet, telephone 701-222-4308, e-mail visitnd@bismarckmandancvb.com or stop by the Visitors Center at 1600 Burnt Boat Drive in Bismarck.