Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Encyclopedia
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state
of South Dakota
and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
. Protected in 1935, the refuge has recorded over 266 bird species and another 40 species of mammals. Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one of the refuges listed in the list of wetlands of international importance
under the Ramsar Convention
signed in 1971. It is considered one of the finest migratory and non-migratory bird watching areas in the U.S. As recently as 1994, an estimated 150,000 nesting pairs of Franklin's gull
s were recorded on the refuge, making this the largest known congregation of this species anywhere.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats...
. Protected in 1935, the refuge has recorded over 266 bird species and another 40 species of mammals. Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge is one of the refuges listed in the list of wetlands of international importance
Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance
This is the list of wetlands of international importance as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value.The Convention...
under the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
signed in 1971. It is considered one of the finest migratory and non-migratory bird watching areas in the U.S. As recently as 1994, an estimated 150,000 nesting pairs of Franklin's gull
Franklin's Gull
The Franklin's Gull is a small gull.-Description:It breeds in central provinces of Canada and adjacent states of the northern United States...
s were recorded on the refuge, making this the largest known congregation of this species anywhere.