by Dan Casey Twice a year, the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and eBird sponsor Global Big Days, 24-hour opportunities to celebrate birds near and far. This year’s fall eBird Big Day will be Saturday, October 9. We encourage all Flathead eBirders to submit a variety of checklists on that day. By taking part in October…
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by Dan Casey Rare and Notables – Aug/Sept Cold fronts were few and far between, and correspondingly, the quantity of fall migrants seemed low. But several rarities were found, including two county firsts (Chestnut-sided Warbler, Ruddy Turnstone). Sandhill Cranes began to gather in the West Valley as the last hummingbirds, swallows and Ospreys moved on…
Read Moreby Dan Casey Rare and Notables – Summer 2021 May-August 2021 was characterized by late arrivals and low numbers of migrant songbirds throughout valley habitats. Some highlights included the first local records of Lesser Goldfinch, and the third western MT record of Purple Martin, a rare summer record of Purple Finch, and higher than usual…
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The 2020 fall migration monitoring season at the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch was cut short by early season snows in October. But a strong early flight rewarded the more than 50 volunteers who participated in the surveys, with 3,088 raptors counted over 41 survey days. An annual report summarizing our results, including analyses of the…
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by Dan Casey Rare and Notables, Arrivals – March/April 2021 3/18 – White-throated Sparrow – Big Mountain (Shannon and Bridger D.) 3/20 – Ross’s Goose – Egan Slough Rd. (Craig H.) 3/20 – Mew Gull – (present two weeks) Somers Bay (Danny T.) 3/31 – Red-necked Grebe (6) – (first of year) Smith Lake (Derrick…
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by Charles B. van Rees Have you got some long drives ahead for spring birding trips? Consider adding the Nature Guys podcast to your on-the-road listening. Podcasts, which can easily be streamed or downloaded on your mobile phone or via an internet browser are like radio shows you can listen to anytime, anywhere. Mobile Apps…
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by Danielle Dowden, MT Audubon Join Montana Audubon for a unique field trip in your area on Saturday June 5th, 2021! The health and safety of our supporters is of utmost importance. As such, the Lewistown 2021 Festival will be postponed to 2022. In lieu of this annual gathering, Montana Audubon is hosting Regional Field…
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LBCU Citizen Science Survey 2021 Are you ready to hear the ‘currlleeee’ of the Long-billed Curlew? Well, grab your binoculars and get ready, because it’s almost curlew season! These charismatic shorebirds will be trickling back into the state in less than two months and we need your help finding as many as possible in and…
Read Moreby Dan Casey Rare and Notables – March 2021 2/19 – Gyrfalcon hunting large flocks of Mallards, N. Shore WMA (Dick W.) 2/24 – Snowy Owl in Lower Valley off Farm and Manning Roads through 2/24 (m. ob.) 3/03 – Mountain Bluebird (first of year) in Lower Valley (Craig H.) 3/06 – Western Bluebirds (first…
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