by David Manuwal In the early evening of September 24, 1962 near South Bend, northern Indiana, there was a brief thunder shower with some wind gusts from the northwest. During the following two days, I found 77 dead birds under a 1100 foot tall television transmitter that were killed during that single storm event. The…
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by Darcy Thomas At times our childhood experiences make us who we are. That is certainly the case with Kathy Ross. “As a kid I roamed the forests of Missouri, sometimes with Grandfather, but mostly alone, exploring ponds for salamanders, frogs, and bugs, tracking small woodland beings around the forests, learning the names of all…
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One of the wonderful jewels of the Flathead Valley is the Center for Native Plants in Whitefish. It is the only retail nursey in the Flathead Valley for native plants. They grow over 200 species of wildflowers, grasses, groundcovers, shrubs, and trees – all native to Montana and the mountain areas of the Northwest. It…
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A Great Beginning! contributions by Brent Mitchell, Pam Willison and Linda Winnie A common question about Owen Sowerwine is: “so how did Flathead Audubon get involved?”. Brent Mitchell can answer that question because he was involved from day one. Brent says, “Along came an interesting article in the Daily InterLake. The Parks Board had for…
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by Dan Casey Important Bird Area Status Last month we began a series of articles describing the characteristics, history, and management status of the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area (OSNA). This month we examine its status as an “Important Bird Area”, a designation that carries with it no legal protection, but that recognizes the value of…
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by David Manuwal Death by lead poisoning is a tragic way of dying and it can be prevented. The article in the January 5, 2022 Hungry Horse News about the death of a swan found at Flathead Lake reminds us that lead poisoning is still a source of mortality among birds. There are several symptoms…
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by Amy Seamon, Director of Policy & Science Are you ready to hear the ‘currlleeee’ of the Long-billed Curlew? Well, grab your binoculars and get ready, because curlew season is just around the corner! These charismatic shorebirds will be trickling back into the state in early April and we need your help finding as many…
Read Moreby Pam Willison and Linda Winnie BRIEF HISTORY Over the past twenty-five years Flathead Audubon and Montana Audubon have assumed the management roles for the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area (OSNA). Many FAS and community members have volunteered time to assist in this management, and to help keep OSNA available as a valuable community resource for…
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by Gael Bissell The close of 2021 can be marked by the completion of one of the most important Flathead River To Lake Initiative’s*1 conservation projects, the Bad Rock Canyon Project. In December 2021, Montana’s Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP) closed on the purchase of 772 contiguous acres of Columbia Falls Aluminum Company’s (CFAC) riparian/wetlands…
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by Pam Willison, Co-Chair OSNA During 2021, volunteers spent nearly 300 hours in Owen Sowerwine, doing work to remove or control plant species that are not native. The efforts were primarily directed toward cutting Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and February Daphne (Daphne mezereum) bushes, and removing seed heads from noxious weeds, particularly houndstongue, Canada thistle,…
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