The Refuge maintains a Globally Important Bird Area designation by the American Bird Conservancy and Audubon Society. The Refuge provides essential habitat for rare grassland bird species such as Sprague's pipit and Baird's sparrow. Some of the larger, showy members of the mixed grass prairie include marbled godwit, upland sandpiper, and willet. Check our Lostwood NWR Birding Guide for more information on great birding locations in the area.