By editor
Sheridan County, Extreme Northeast Montana
At the very edge of the state, where Montana bleeds into North Dakota and Saskatchewan, lies the Westby Prairie-Wetland Complex. This is a subtle, demanding landscape of rolling hills, ephemeral wetlands, and agricultural fields. It is recognized as an Important Bird Area for its populations of Piping Plovers, which nest on the alkaline shorelines, and its native grassland birds.
But for the dedicated birder, the true draw of this remote corner is Onstad Park, a single acre of trees and shrubs within the tiny town of Westby. In this vast, treeless expanse, Onstad Park acts as a migrant trap—a green magnet for woodland birds crossing the plains. During the peak migrations of May and September, this small patch of cover can hold an astonishing concentration of warblers, vireos, and thrushes. Local observers have recorded twenty-nine species of warblers here, including eastern vagrants like the Black-throated Green Warbler and the Philadelphia Vireo, birds blown off course and desperate for shelter.
Visitor Access
The Westby complex is a patchwork of public and private lands. Access to the prairie wetlands requires careful attention to land ownership and, often, permission from local ranchers. However, Onstad Park is a public city park, free and open to all. The roads in this region are largely gravel, and services are sparse; the nearest motels are 26 miles away in Plentywood.