| Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge | |
|---|---|
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area) | |
  | |
| Location | Phillips County, Montana,USA |
| Nearest city | Malta, MT |
| Coordinates | 48°24′08″N107°39′47″W / 48.40222°N 107.66306°W /48.40222; -107.66306[1] |
| Area | 15,551 acres (62.93 km2) |
| Established | 1936 |
| Visitors | 25,000 estimated (in 2013) |
| Governing body | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Website | Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge |
Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge is a 15,551-acre (6,293 ha)National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) located in the north-central region of the U.S. state ofMontana.[2] The refuge is 7 mi (11 km) northeast ofMalta, Montana in theMilk River Valley and is managed by theU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[3]
Bowdoin NWR was previously managed as part of irrigation efforts by theU.S. Bureau of Reclamation to conserve water that would flow intoLake Bowdoin. The seasonal floods from spring snow melt created excellent habitat for migratory and nesting waterfowl as well as raptors such as thebald eagle andperegrine falcon.[3][4] Lake Bowdoin is on both theCentral andPacific Flyways used by migratory birds and was well known by locals and naturalists as having the largest numbers of migratory birds in Montana. In an effort to better protect the habitat, Lake Bowdoin and the surrounding region were set aside as a refuge in 1936 and administration passed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.[4]
As of 2008, 263 species of birds have been observed at Bowdoin NWR.[5] Nesting waterfowl include theAmerican white pelican,double-crested cormorant,great blue heron,white-faced ibis andblack-crowned night heron. Waterfowl species such as thenorthern pintail,green-winged teal,American wigeon and a number of grebe species including both theeared andwestern grebe also nest at the refuge. Several species of gulls such asFranklin's gull,ring-billed gull and theCalifornia gull andpasserine species including thered-winged blackbird,western meadowlark,yellow-headed blackbird,American goldfinch,eastern kingbird andlark bunting have also been known to nest on the refuge.[5]
Mammal species including thebobcat,beaver,raccoon,coyote,skunk,white-tailed deer andpronghorn live on the refuge.[3] After the refuge was first established, the pronghorn were then protected from hunting, allowing their numbers to swell from 7 to 160 individuals during the 1940s. Pronghorn population figures for the early 21st century averaged between 100 and 150 individuals.[4]
Media related toBowdoin National Wildlife Refuge at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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