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Southwest Region

Southwest Region Sites

Bruneau Dunes State Park

Nearest Town: Bruneau
Site Size: 4800 acres

Highlights: Raptors, Shorebirds, Songbirds, Upland Birds, Waterbirds, Waterfowl

Access: Year-round. Admission Fee. Handicapped Access free of charge

Site Location

Directions: From Mountain Home, US 51 S for 15 mi; cross Snake River; L at mp 76.6 onto ID 78; travel 1.7 mi and turn R; follow rd to park.

Description: This state park boasts the tallest single-structured sand dune in North America, at 470 feet tall. The dunes are intermixed with sagebrush desert and grassland flats. There are trails around two shallow, marshy lakes lined with riparian shrubs and trees where birds are abundant during migration. During the summer, Sage Thrasher, Lark, Sage, and Black-throated (rare) Sparrows, Long-billed Curlew, Yellow-breasted Chat, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, and Yellow-headed Blackbird can be seen. Residents include Great Horned, Western Screech-, and Long-eared Owls in campground. Migrating or wintering Pacific Loon, American White Pelican, Great and Snowy Egrets, White-faced Ibis, Trumpeter Swan, Canvasback, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, gulls, and terns can be found. Look for Hermit and Varied Thrushes, Nashville, Black-throated Gray, Townsend’s, MacGillivray’s, and Wilson’s Warblers during migration. Be sure to hike to the top of the sand dunes to get a "birds-eye" view of the park.

More Information:
IDPR (208) 366-7919
Mountain Home (208) 587-4334
parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/parks/bruneaudunesstatepark.aspx


Photos
american-three-toed-woodpecker--tom-munson.jpg
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Photo Copyright Tom Munson
western-tanager--michael-woodruff.jpg
Western Tanager
Photo Copyright Michael Woodruff
yellow-warbler--tom-munson.jpg
Yellow Warbler
Photo Copyright Tom Munson
Facilities

General Services:
ParkingRestroomsPhoneNo BoardwalkCampgroundPicnic AreaObservation AreaVisitor CenterInterpretive Material AvailableBoat RampNo ConcessionsHiking TrailsNo HuntingFishingWater SportsNo OHV/ATVs AllowedHorseback Riding

Handicapped Services:
ParkingRestroomsPhoneNo BoardwalkCampgroundPicnic AreaObservation AreaVisitor CenterInterpretive MaterialsBoat RampNo ConcessionsHiking Trails
What do these icons mean?


Habitat
marshes/lakes/ponds Graph illustrating 8% 8%
other Graph illustrating 2% 2%
sage/shrub Graph illustrating 90% 90%

Best Observation Times
Bird Species Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec AM/PM
Raptors Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ALL
Shorebirds N N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N ALL
Songbirds Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y AM
Upland Birds Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ALL
Waterbirds Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ALL
Waterfowl Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y ALL
Target Species for this Site

Select a species from the list to view other sites on the Idaho Birding Trail Sites this species may be observed.

    Bittern, Herons and IbisesBlackbirds and alliesChickadees and TitmouseFinches and alliesGeese, Swans and DucksGoatsuckersGrosbeaks and BuntingsHawks and EaglesHummingbirdsJaegers and GullsKingfisherLarkLoonOwlsPelicans and CormorantPigeons and DovesQuailRails and CootsShorebirdsShrikesSparrows and alliesStork and VultureSwallowsTanagersTernsThrashersThrushesTyrant FlycatchersVireosWaxwingsWood WarblersWoodpeckersWrens and Dipper

    Legend

    SeasonAbundanceRegion
    R - Resident 1 - Abundant, easily found s - Statewide
    M - Migrant 2 - Common, but sometimes difficult to find e - Southeast
    W - Winter 3 - Uncommon or local w - Southwest
    S - Summer 4 - Rare or very local c - Central
    5 - Casual, 3-10 accepted records p - Panhandle (North)
    6 - Accidental, 1-2 accepted records
    7 - Experimental
    (B) - Documented breeding evidence(End) - Threatened or Endangered
    (b) - Circumstantial breeding evidence(Int.) - Introduced species


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