Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

Welcome to Yellowstone National Park and this web site specifically devoted to the conservation of Yellowstone birds! We have designed this bird section for people interested in Yellowstone birds, regardless of whether that involves a general birder, an inquisitive student, or a professional ornithologist. Our goal is to educate and communicate with the public about Yellowstone birds, while at the same time offer insights into what it takes to protect and conserve some of Yellowstone's most fragile avian resources.

Yellowstone National Park means different things to different people, depending on your personal interests and background. Regardless of your preferences, we know you will agree Yellowstone National Park is one of those unique environments on earth. Where else in the temperate zone on earth can you find such numbers and diversity of predators and associated prey, at a high elevational geothermal paradise?

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.

Terry McEneaney
Yellowstone National Park Ornithologist