Birding at the Ranch: Bird watching at Parade Rest Ranch is a uniquely rewarding experience. Over 75 different species of birds can be spotted amidst the ranch buildings, corrals, creeks and grounds. By walking, hiking or horseback ride, serious bird watchers can spot can spot American White Pelicans, Bald Eagles, Osprey and Hawks, Sandhill Cranes and even Spotted Sandpipers. Great Horned Owls, Warblers, Woodpeckers, Swallows and Wrens abound in the Aspen trees. You can even spot a Mountain Bluebird or four different species of finches winging past cabin porches. Colorful Calliope, Broad-tailed and Rufous Hummingbirds dart into nearby feeders. while sounds of Killdeer, Gary Catbird, Warblers, can be heard from your porch. Birding Nearby Parade Rest Ranch:

The Latest Birding Report from Parade Rest Ranch Summer's warm sunny days and temperatures turn the ranch into a wealth of garden blossoms, flowering shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. All this greenery attracts dozens of birds to the ranch. Barn swallows dart around the buildings, the chickadees have a nest in the lilac bush. The distinct staccato of downy woodpeckers can be heard in early mornings. Our resident bald eagle can be spotted along with the seasonal osprey diving along the gravel road leading to the ranch. Evening grosbeaks can be spotted too. And, dinner is much more enjoyable when you can watch the  hummingbirds at the feeders outside the windows.

Wonderful birding "hot spots" can also be found within just 13 miles of Parade Rest Ranch. Near by Yellowstone National Park boasts over 311 documented species of birds. Just six miles east of the West entrance to Yellowstone, on the south side of the road, you can spot a large snag supporting a big stick nest located near the top of the tree. This nest has been home to mating bald eagles since 2002. Just a few miles further, trumpeter swans, sucks and geese, along with snipe and soras are easily seen near Seven Mile Bridge. Drive seven miles further to the Madison Junction picnic areas inhabited by savannah sparrows, ruby-crowned kinglets, yellow-rumped warblers and mountain bluebirds.

Birding varies with the season. Spring brings nesting osprey and eagles, along with migrating waterfowl. Summer nights are filled with the sound and sights of birds scooping up the newest hatches along streams and lakes. Ducklings and goslings float in single-file formation while passing long-legged cranes and an occasional diving osprey. Migration flocks fill the Fall skies, while even Winter brings beauty in the form of white trumpeter swans in stark contrast to darkened streams.

Other Birding "Hot Spots":

At the north of the ranch is Wit's Lake Road trail. Sagebrush flats give way to Aspen trees and wildflower meadows, and finally taken over by mature Douglas fir and Lodge pole pines near the Whit's Lake trailhead. Watch for black-headed grosbeaks, western tanagers, house wrens, yellows warblers, dusky flycatchers, flickers, red-naped sapsuckers, ruffled and blue grouse.

Just down the road from Parade Rest Ranch is the Fir Ridge Trailhead. Towering Douglas firs line the initial trail giving way to stands of Aspens and grasslands. Look for Sandhill cranes, long-billed curlews, Swainson's harks, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, lazuli buntings, warbling vireos, tree swallows and mountain bluebirds.

Just down the road from Parade Rest Ranch is the Fir Ridge Trailhead. Towering Douglas firs line the initial trail giving way to stands of Aspens and grasslands. Look for Sandhill cranes, long-billed curlews, Swainson's harks, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, lazuli buntings, warbling vireos, tree swallows and mountain bluebirds.

Hebgen Lake, just 1 mile from the ranch, has several access sites along the northern shoreline. Look for American white pelicans, western, Clark's and eared grebes, Canada geese, dabbling and diving ducks. Peregrine falcons, red-tailed and Swainson's hawks, Bald eagles, ospreys fish and hunt throughout the area. Check grassy meadows for savannah and vesper sparrows, Sandhill cranes, and common snipe, while nearby willows hide yellow warblers, black-headed grosbeaks and Lincoln sparrows. Duck Creek Junction provides a wonderful turnout area to observe sagebrush dwellers such as long-billed curlews, gray partridges, western meadowlarks and vesper, savannah and Brewer's sparrow.

If you continue for another 12 miles along Hebgen Lake, watch for the entrance to the Campfire Lodge Area. Follow the right fork along this gravel road for one mile to a small parking area. You can find ospreys, dippers, MacGillivray's warblers, western tanagers and Stellar's jays nearby. Follow the trail west of the parking area that meanders towards Earthquake Lake. Watch for yellow warblers, lazuli buntings, white-crowned sparrows, nesting bald eagles and peregrine falcons, and occasionally seen, Harlequin ducks.

Baker's Hole Campground is just 6 miles south of Parade Rest on Highway 191/287. Located adjacent to the Madison River, you'll find yellow warblers along the willows, while ospreys and bald eagles dive for fish. Look carefully for the Great Blue heron colonial nesting area.

Go one mile further south and you'll find access to the Madison River where it crosses the highway. Hike from the east side turnout area for views of nesting osprey and many waterfowl species (Barrow's, common goldeneyes, spotted sandpipers, belted kingfishers, cliff swallows, willow flycatchers, yellow and orange-crowned warblers and many types of sparrows).