Amidst its riveting mountainous scenery, the Grand Teton National Park bears 11,000 years of human history, from that of nomadic paleo-Indians to explorers and trappers. Despite its distinctively rich history and signature landscape, Grand Teton is often mistaken to be part of Yellowstone. For those deciding between the parks, the main difference is that Yellowstone mainly showcases enthralling scenery for the avid sightseer (see our article “A Birder’s Guide to Yellowstone” to learn more!), while Grand Teton keeps you on your feet with its plethora of exciting activities suitable for the whole family. However, at just 31 miles apart, visiting both Yellowstone and Grand Teton makes for the perfect week-long road trip vacation.
The most enticing aspect of Grand Teton for the average birder is that it is dynamic in every way! From glaciers and rivers, to alpine terrain and mountains, Grand Teton has all the habitat diversity you could hope to encounter all in one park! The 5 main bird communities are Alpine, Sagebrush Flats, Lodgepole Pine Forests, Aspen Forests, and Aquatic and Riparian. This also means that Grand Teton is rich with biodiversity, hosting more than 126 bird species of all varieties roosting across the park’s range of habitats. The park’s dynamic experiences don’t stop there! Grand Teton National Park is one of the best in the nation, because it surpasses others with its variety of fun activities. So you can watch birds while enjoying a scenic drive along the 42-mile Teton Range, horseback riding, rafting, following a ranger-led program, or mountaineering in any of its 8 peaks—the highest being the Grand Teton which stands at 13,000 feet!
May to September is the best time to visit the Grand Teton National Park, since all facilities and activities will be open for your enjoyment, and most birds at the park are migratory birds that only stay for 3 to 6 months. This blog will give you an idea of the best activities and hotspots for birders, along with descriptions and locations of rare birds like the Calliope Hummingbird, Western Tanager, Trumpeter Swan, Greater Sage Grouse, and much more!
The 42-mile drive through the park’s scenic loop is a must for birders and non-birder alike. The inner road takes you along Jenny Lake and Jackson Lake, and the outer road takes you along the Snake River. You should plan this drive during dawn or dusk, since that is when birds and other wildlife will be most active. You should also plan to spend a whole day driving down this route, so you can pause and take in the lush nature around you and take plenty of pictures. The North Jenny Lake trail is a bird hotspot because of a fire in 1999 that left decaying trees which now attract insects, and in turn, birds to this spot. You can find Mountain Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, Olive-Sided and Dusky Flycatchers, Western Wood-Pewees and Yellow-Rumped Warblers here. Boating in the Snake River is also an activity you should not miss out on. You can ride the white water rapids if you’re a thrill-seeker, or unwind on a slower ride, during which you are likely to catch Osprey or White Eagles soaring over the water looking for fish.
Hiking is also a great way to take in your natural surroundings and keep a keen eye out for rare feathered friends. Inspiration Point is a 2-mile hike perfect for amateur hikers and first-time visitors. This 2 to 4 hour hike will give you a great view of Jackson Hole, Cascade Canyon, and the Teton Range. Cascade Canyon is another bird hotspot with some of the most interesting birds in the park. Keep a lookout for the Western Tanager, which is one of the most colorful birds in the park with its vibrant and fiery mix of red, yellow, and orange. Golden Eagles, Steller’s Jays, Gray Jays, Golden-Crowned Kinglets, Dark-Eyed Juncos and Townsend’s Warblers are also birds you should keep an eye out for along this hike.
Another fantastic activity for birdwatchers is horseback riding, especially the Colter Bay Village rides. This ride will lead you along Swan and Heron ponds, so you can admire these graceful birds on horseback! You can also catch a glimpse at the largest North American waterfowl, the Trumpeter Swan, so avid birders should not leave this out of their itinerary.
For the serious bird aficionados who want to skip these activities and just get down to finding some rare birds, here are the locations of the three most special birds not mentioned yet: One of the most famous rare birds at Grand Teton, the Calliope Hummingbird, is both special and elusive for being the smallest bird in North America at less than 10 centimeters long. It can be found in the Menors Ferry, at Willow Flats, or at the Rockefeller Preserve. A highly coveted capture for bird photographers is the Great Gray Owl spreading its wings. The Great Gray is the tallest owl in North America with the largest wingspan of up to 5 feet, and can be found hunting during the day in Lodgepole Forest. The Greater Sage Grouse is a declining species and a favorite among birders visiting Grand Teton for its captivating mating display. If you visit Sagebrush Flats at dawn in early spring, you will find these majestic male grouse spreading their wings wide and making a popping sound by puffing their chests to attract females.
Did you plan a trip in the off-season? Although skiing is the most popular winter attraction, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot in store at Grand Teton for birders! The serene atmosphere makes winter a great time for photographers to visit so they can capture some great shots without the usual bustle. Furthermore, many birds like the finches and eagles stay at Grand Teton for the winter, including rare birds like the Great Gray Owl and Greater Sage Grouse. Seeing winter birds like the Snow Bunting with the glistening snowy backdrop is also a special delight. There are several year-round photography tours, like AlpenGlow Tours, Grand Teton Photo Tours and Jackson Hole Wildlife Safaris, that are an essential activity for any winter birder to truly appreciate the snow-laden landscape. These tours give you lots of opportunities to take pictures and even teach you photography techniques, so even the amateur bird photographer can get some astounding shots!
Last but not least, always remember to be considerate of the birds’ privacy. It is always best to take a great pair of binoculars or a camera that can take pictures from a distance. Human activity is already the biggest threat to migratory birds and national parks are one of the few places they can nest without disruption, so make sure to never feed the birds or get close enough to be noticed.
Sources:
https://www.nps.gov/grte/learn/nature/birds.htm
https://www.nps.gov/grte/learn/historyculture/cultural.htm
https://www.audubon.org/climate/national-parks/grand-teton-national-park
https://www.parkedinparadise.com/things-to-do-grand-teton/
Photo Credits:
“Great Gray Owl” by Bryant Olsen from Flickr
“Western Tanager” by Don DeBold from Flickr
“Trumpeter Swan” by Tim Lumley from Flickr
“Yellow Warbler (Setophaga Petechia) Eating a Hawthorn Berry, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming” by Diana Robinson from Flickr
“Calliope Hummingbird” by Bryant Olsen from Flickr
“Male Mountain Bluebird in the Snow” by Diana Robinson from Flickr
