This is the Outdoor Wildlife Learning Site…OWLS for those of you who fancy acronyms. It’s located adjacent to the ND Game and Fish office, just east of the state penitentiary.

This site has feeders and nests for birds and bats…it also has a well stocked lake which is naturally fed by the waters that flow along the east side of Bismarck. There are bridges crossing the stream and the lake, including a floating bridge from which many people enjoy catch-and-release fishing. I’ve even seen a portable ice house out there over the winter.

I’ve grabbed some fantastic dragonfly and damselfly photos out here, as well as a number of unusual migratory and aquatic birds. There are schools of baby bullheads hanging out in the reeds and cattails and the usual assortment of frogs and other critters.

Once the weather gets nicer it’ll be great to see the area come alive again. There are lots of trails around the water and through the grassland. Right now the pheasants seem to rule the roost but expect them to be sharing it really soon!