By editor
Madison County, South of Ennis
The upper Madison Valley, stretching south from Ennis toward the Yellowstone ecosystem, is a high, wide, and intensely wild landscape. The Sun Ranch, a massive private property that has engaged in significant conservation efforts, anchors the western side of the valley against the Madison Range.
This area is critical habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse. In the early spring, the males gather on traditional leks in the sagebrush to perform their elaborate, booming displays. The valley is also a stronghold for the Long-billed Curlew, which nests in the short grass, and the Ferruginous Hawk, which hunts the abundant ground squirrel population. In the winter, the valley floor often hosts large herds of elk, which in turn attract scavenging Golden Eagles and Bald Eagles.
Visitor Access
The Sun Ranch itself is private property, and access is strictly controlled or prohibited. However, birders can observe the avian life of the upper valley from the public Highway 287 and the various county roads that branch off it. The Bureau of Land Management also manages significant tracts of sagebrush in the valley, which are open to the public for hiking and wildlife viewing.