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| Wandering Birder | Montana | Comments |
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Montana September 2005
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 Tongue River road is a gravel road that follows the Tongue River. It is very scenic and a good birding road. |
| Little Big Horn Battlefield National Monument If you are in Montana you are probably going to visit the scene of Custer's Last Stand and you should because the National Parks Service as usual makes a wonderful presentation of the history of this sad incident in our nation's history. While there take a good look at the prarie dog town just outside the gate. Ranchers have waged a most successful war against the Prarie Dog and the only places to see them are in the national parks and monuments. |
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Tongue River Road
To follow the Tongue River Birding Route leave the Little Big Horn Battlefield and turn right (east) on Road 212 and drive alongside the battlefield about 20 miles to Busby. At Busby turn right again (south) onto Road 314 and follow it for 26 miles past the Rosebud Battlefield. The good birding starts on road 314 with numerous Eastern and Western Kingbirds, Kestrels and Mountain Bluebirds.
When you come to the Rosebud Battlefield turn in and read the signs about this skirmish which was a prelude to the events at the Little Big Horn. Here the army got the upper hand so the Indians wisely road away to fight another day. There are good birds here as well: Turkey, Say's Phoebe, Western Meadowlark, Lark Sparrow, Red-shafted Flicker, Cedar Waxwings.
Back on Road 314 continue south to the left turn before you reach Decker on Route 566 or Tongue River Road. This is now a good dirt road or at least it was good and dry when I was there. Might not be such a good idea in a hard rain. The road will not be marked and there are some side roads into campgrounds and to the lake. Try to stay left.
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Right away I saw a small group of Pronghorn Antelopes and a Sharptailed Grouse crossed the road and posed for a picture. I saw several Sharptailed Grouse in Montana and Alberta crossing the road and scurring off into the brush, but this one stayed put for a long time. |
The best part of driving this road was that there was almost no traffic. A few pickup trucks past going the opposite direction but no one was bothered if I stopped in the middle of road to look at a bird. Near some big rocks there were several Rock Wrens, Cliff Swallows, Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture. In a riparian area aSay's Phoebend Plumbeus Vireo. In the town of Birney after 24.8 miles there were Lark Sparrows and Belted KingfisherBirney has several house and a school, but I no living person out and about. I started this route early in the morning and by now it was noon. Hawks and vultures circled overhead, and the Kingbirds continued into the afternoon. After another 30 miles of scenic beauty you end up back on Road 212. Make a left to return to I 90.
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