Birds of Prey in Flight

Mini-course September 18 & 19, 2020

bird flying on sky
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

Take a socially distanced Birds of Prey in Flight mini-course taught by Flathead Audubon Conservation Educator Denny Olson September 18 and 19 at Lone Pine State Park. 

On Friday afternoon, September 18, 2 – 4 PM, we will get some practice and tips on in-flight ID of raptors with life-sized silhouettes of the 16 commonly seen birds of prey on their fall migration. These will be laminated cut-outs of all 16 birds marked only with the essential field marks to identify each bird — but no other markings! It is ID simplified! (If you take Amy Seaman’s Montana Audubon online class in raptor ID earlier in the week, here’s your chance to review and practice!)

Then, the next day (Saturday the 19th) at 10 AM it’s time to take the “silhouette quiz” walking a trail at Lone Pine. The bird silhouettes will be on stakes on different parts on the trail — but with only a number on the stake. You do the ID from your lessons that week, and share your results with Denny and the rest of the crew. There will be PRIZES! After the quiz and discussion, it will be time to hike to the Lone Pine Overlook to test our skills for real, on real birds migrating south! Fun and humor guaranteed!

You are welcome to come to one or both days. Meet on the lawn in front of Lone Pine Visitor Center. Bring masks for the get-togethers!