As your President Elect, I am looking forward to the upcoming year and all of our plans to accomplish great conservation and education work for the benefit of birds and the world they live in.

This year we say good-bye to Cory Davis, who is moving away from the Flathead to pursue a job with the Forest Service in northern California and to be closer to family. We will miss his leadership, but he will continue to be a friend. I hope to fill his shoes here for Flathead Audubon.

The Great Fish Community Challenge is underway. The Challenge is a charitable giving campaign designed to maximize the generosity of our community and raise money for non-profits in our valley. We are very fortunate to have been chosen to participate in this wonderful annual event. The Challenge is the major fundraising event for Flathead Audubon, and it provides our annual budget used for our conservation and education programs. Please donate to Flathead Audubon and other non-profits of your choice through the Great Fish Community Challenge. 

We are getting closer to our goal of raising money, along with Flathead Land Trust and the Flathead Lakers, to preserve Owen Sowerwine area through a conservation easement. The generosity of our members and others in the valley has been truly amazing. It shows what a special place Owen Sowerwine is and how much people care for birds, wildlife, and habitat. 

Fall migration is now underway, so go out and enjoy the birds. Find a new place to visit or go birding in a tried-and-true beloved spot. But go! We all work so hard, but we must remember to play and engage with nature to refresh our inner selves. Bring the stories of what you see and experience to a general meeting this year to share with other members. We have some exciting programs planned that you will not want to miss.

Happy Birding!

Darcy Thomas, FAS President Elect