Buffalo National River Bird Watching

Over 200 species of birds use Buffalo National River for some part of the year - many birds live here year round. Bird checklists are available at any ranger station or visitor center. Buffalo River is a biological crossroads, providing many different habitats supporting a large variety of our feathered friends.

Bird watching is quite popular at Buffalo River . In December the park is host to the Annual Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the National Audubon Society. The event's conception was in protest of a traditional event called a side hunt, where hunters would choose teams and compete to see who could shoot the most birds and animals. On December 25, 1900 , small groups of individuals began counting instead of shooting the wildlife. It is now the longest running ornithological database in the world, providing valuable insight into the past and present status of resident and migratory birds and the general health of the environment. If you are interested in participating, we invite you to contact our park headquarters or Buffalo Point Ranger Station for more information.