Birds, Birds, Birds
Birding in Jackson Hole offers wonderful opportunities for the serious
"birder" or the more lighthearted "birdwatcher." The Jackson area birding
terrain is comprised of riparian, lakes, ponds and nearby marshes, sageflats
and grasslands, forested foothills and moraines, mountain slopes, subalpine
and town & settlement areas. Each lends itself to completely different
experiences within the valley and nearby area.
When to Come & What to Wear
The best weather and time to watch birds is during late spring through summer
(June-September). Even in the summer however, Jackson's weather can turn
cold, rainy and generally nasty in the space of an afternoon. Some general
things to consider:
- Always bring a light jacket/windbreaker or rain gear.
- Never drink water from streams or other bodies of water. The bacteria Giardia is a common pollutant and can make you very sick.
- The elevation in Jackson contributes to both altitude sickness and sunburn. Drink plenty of water to help with the former and dress/use sunscreen accordingly for the latter.
- Mosquitoes can be overwhelming during wet parts of the summer.
By far and away the two best books on finding birds in the Jackson Hole area are:
Finding the Birds of Jackson Hole by Bert Raynes and Darwin Wile
Chock full of information, from bird etiquette to bird lists, this book focuses around drive/bike loops and day hikes that cover a diverse terrain and difficulty level. A section is included on birds to look for, best bet were to find the species, and identifying confusing birds.
Birds of Grand Teton National Park by Bert Raynes
Available through the Grand Teton Natural History Association, the text focuses specifically on the terrain and species within the park and surrounding area. Straightforward and direct, color pictures are included with each species, best places to spot and general comments.
Bert Raynes and Darwin Wile are also teaching courses at the Teton Science School this summer; "Bird Sitting with Bert" and "Finding the Birds of Jackson Hole" (taught by D. Wile).
Other Organizations
Jackson Hole Bird Club
A group of amateur birders meets on the second Sunday of every month. Times and places are announced in a local newspaper. Visitors are welcome.
Grand Teton National Park
Bird hikes are lead by rangers during the summer months; for more information contact the park at PO Box 170, Moose, WY 83012, (307) 739-3300.
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