by Pam Willison, Grateful Head Wrangler Many hands, many hours, MANY THANKS!! In early April volunteers participated in four work days at the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area, to help cut, treat and stack Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), which is invasive and is very good at outcompeting native vegetation and toxifying the soil. Crews consisted of…
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Here in northwest Montana we are fortunate to have both a population of common loons and good fishing in many lakes that support loons. Unfortunately, the lead sinkers and jigs often used for fishing pose a significant threat to loons. Loons often swallow fishing tackle and lead is toxic to loons. One lead sinker can…
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by Amy Seaman, MT Audubon Director of Policy & Science Each year right around “Winter Wednesday”, or the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox, we notice the days getting a little longer, and the chickadees getting a little more vocal. It also means we get excited for the return of our spring and…
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Latest on Avian Influenza A(H5) and A(H7) by Carole Jorgensen Local media sources have mentioned the continued spread of avian flu and implicated wild birds as major vectors in the state. Waterfowl, particularly dabbling ducks, are thought to be a reservoir of influenza A(H5) and A(H7). The March 2023 USDA update of avian influenza detections…
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by Kathy Ross “Each patch of restored native habitat is just that—a patch in the frayed fabric of the ecosystem in which it lies. By landscaping with native plants, we can turn a patchwork of green spaces into a quilt of restored habitat. More native plants mean more choices of food and shelter for native…
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by Debbie Funk and Carol Bibler More than 50 years ago, two adventurous little girls spent some of their happiest days playing in the woods that they called “Down Below.” Even then, as fourth and fifth graders, they knew it was a special place. It was their place, where they enjoyed solitude and freedom in…
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Flathead Audubon’s fundraising for the proposed conservation easement on the Owen Sowerwine property is going extraordinarily well! To date, you have helped us raise over $45,000 for the proposed conservation easement, nearing our halfway mark to our organization’s $100,000 goal for this estimated $775,000 project. More than half of all the funds likely needed for…
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by Carole Jorgensen On Dec. 14, 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed whitebark pine as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). More than 100 species utilize whitebark pine including Hairy Woodpeckers, Cassin’s Finch, Mountain Chickadees, Pine Grosbeaks, bears, and importantly, Clark’s Nutcrackers who are responsible for a majority of…
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by Pam Willison, Owen Sowerwine Chairperson When we do “invasives” work in the Owen Sowerwine area, our goal is to diminish the impact these non-native plants and shrubs have on the native plants and shrubs, and thereby improve the food sources and habitat for the birds and critters who live there. It’s also important to…
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by Darcy Thomas Flathead Audubon Society is pleased to present a Lifetime Achievement Recognition to longtime community activist Dave Hadden. Dave lives and works in the Flathead Valley where he has dedicated his life working as an environmental professional to change the political climate of the community set in the magnificent mountains of the Crown…
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