![North Dakota Game and Fish Department Logo](/gnf/base/gnf-logo.png)
Natural History Calendar
Birds
![Sharptails on a lek](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-12/sharp-tailed-grouse-displaying-2.jpg?itok=5TW0hJqf)
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
(Mid-March through Mid-May)
![American bittern walking through dry reeds](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/american-bittern-1.jpg?itok=HVtHlVG5)
American Bittern
(Mid-April through Mid-May)
![Sharptail snow cave (example to illustrate what gray partridge also do)](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-12/sharptail-snow-cave_0.jpg?itok=qFMYjSjT)
Gray Partridge
Gray partridge and sharp-tailed grouse often use snow for thermal cover, and may be found burrowing and roosting under snow.
(Early December through Late February)
![Long-billed curlew in field](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/long-billed-curlew-4.jpg?itok=erwHoTNz)
Long-Billed Curlew
(Mid-June through Early July)
![Long-billed curlew at wetland edge](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/long-billed-curlew-5.jpg?itok=WLkrxh0O)
Long-Billed Curlew
(Late June through Mid-July)
![Meadowlark in grass](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/meadowlark-4.jpg?itok=Y4ZPhsho)
Western Meadowlark
(Late June through Mid-July)
![Bald eagle chick and parent near nest](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/bald-eagle-young-fledge.jpg?itok=5tLn43rL)
Bald Eagle
(Early July through Early August)
![Long-billed curlew in field](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/long-billed-curlew-6.jpg?itok=ajKp5RpB)
Long-Billed Curlew
(Late July through Late August)
![Sedge wren clinging to reeds singing](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/sedge-wren-1.jpg?itok=qydeVt6k)
Sedge Wren
(Late July through Late August)
![American bittern walking near wetland](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/american-bittern-2.jpg?itok=iWs7IPXx)
American Bittern
(Early September through Early October)
![Sharptail displaying](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-12/sharp-tailed-grouse-displaying-1.jpg?itok=Kt22b2t_)
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse males displaying on leks (displaying on leks is triggered by photoperiod, so sharptails will display in the fall as well as spring).
(Mid-October through Early November)
![Meadowlark flying from post](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/meadowlark-5.jpg?itok=G_auMnlC)
Western Meadowlark
(Mid-October through Early November)
![Northern hawk owl in tree](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-11/northern-hawk-owl.jpg?itok=z8yLnN83)
Northern Hawk Owl
(Late November through Late March)
![Sage grouse female in grass](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-12/sage-grouse-female.jpg?itok=zZ8Rwhno)
Sage Grouse
Sage grouse survival rates are relatively high in winter. Winter diet consists almost entirely of sagebrush buds and leaves.
(Early December through Late February)
![Sharptails in tree](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-12/sharp-tailed-grouse-in-tree.jpg?itok=hhBib9Ru)
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse diet consists primarily of berries (buffalo berry, rose hips, snow berrires, etc) and buds (green ash, alder, chokecherry, etc) during winter months.
(Early December through Late February)
![Sharptail snow cave](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-12/sharptail-snow-cave.jpg?itok=i6e27ikM)
Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse and gray partridge often use snow for thermal cover, and may be found burrowing and roosting under snow.
(Early December through Late February)
Mammals
![Skunk in snow](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/striped-skunk-1-as.jpg?itok=4hFMH1hN)
Striped Skunk
Striped skunk males begin leaving their winter dens in search of mates.
(Early February through Mid-February)
![Skunk walking on ground](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/striped-skunk-3-as.jpg?itok=NCcF8tTI)
Striped Skunk
Striped skunk breeding season.
(Late February through Mid-April)
![Fisher in tree](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/fisher-1-as.jpg?itok=DgXQQMrc)
Fisher
(Late March through Late April)
![Richardson's ground squirrel in grass](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/richardsons-ground-squirrel-1.jpg?itok=AyAGkEXh)
Richardson's Ground Squirrel
(Late March through Early April)
![River otter in grass](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/otter-2.jpg?itok=haSCIaAw)
River Otter
(Early April through Late April)
![Two young skunks on a log](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/striped-skunk-4-as.jpg?itok=3n0XAxPy)
Striped Skunk
Striped skunks born.
(Early May through Early June)
![Marten peeking around tree](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/marten-2_0.jpg?itok=QvDFMYmP)
American Marten
(Late June through Early September)
![Badger on mound with green grass behind](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/badger-2.jpg?itok=sJ7V1D_A)
Badger
(Late June through Late July)
![Long-tailed weasel in grass](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/weasel-1.jpg?itok=dVa5m80I)
Long-Tailed Weasel
(Early July through Late Aug)
![Black Bear](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/bear-1-as.jpg?itok=TkfngU6H)
Black Bear
Black bears are hyperphagic (eating excessively in an attempt to put on enough fat to survive winter hibernation).
(Late September through Late October)
![Weasel in winter coat (left) and summer coat (right)](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/weasel-2.jpg?itok=M5qOV5yN)
Long-Tailed Weasel
(Mid-October through Mid-November)
![Skunk in snow](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/striped-skunk-2-as.jpg?itok=Yj-npcAV)
Striped Skunk
Striped skunks form communal dens but are not true hibernators.
(Early November through Late December)
Insects
Plants
![Crocus with dew on it](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-10/prairie-crocus.jpg?itok=_QQep9dl)
Prairie Crocus
Prairie crocus begin blooming.
(April)
Fish
![Bluegill held by biologist](/sites/default/files/styles/video_mobile_large_768w_x_432h_/public/2022-12/bluegill-2.jpg?itok=25HXdPkl)
Bluegill
Bluegill spawn late May and June when water temps near 22 C (71.6F). Large males build nests in colonies where they spawn and protect eggs. Some smaller males mimic females to fertilize eggs instead of nest building.
(Late May through June)