Migratory Bird Treaty Act Threatened

by Lewis Young, Conservation Committee The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) is under attack and needs our support. In December 2017, the Trump administration issued a controversial legal opinion providing an interpretation that the law does not apply to the incidental or accidental deaths of migratory birds and in Congress, H.R. 4239—The Secure American Energy…

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Jewel Basin 2017 – Anything but Average

by Dan Casey The 10th annual hawk migration survey at the Jewel Basin got off to a roaring start; we recorded birds at record rates from late August through Sept. 22nd. But just as we hit our usual peak season, the snows started to fall. As much as we welcomed the early season snow following…

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Sage Grouse Plans Under Attack

Once numbering in the millions, the Greater Sage-Grouse has declined precipitously across its range due to widespread habitat destruction. Montana is included in these steep declines. To help prevent this iconic bird from becoming endangered, many stakeholders—states, ranchers, conservationists, industry, scientists, and federal agencies—collaboratively developed a balanced conservation plan to protect 67 million acres of…

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Janet Ellis Receives Conservation Achievement Recognition

by Gael Bissell and Linda Winnie In the October 2017 general meeting, Flathead Audubon Society presented our Conservation Achievement Recognition to Janet Ellis for her career-long dedication to wildlife and habitat conservation in Montana and her contributions to conservation in the Flathead Valley. Janet began her conservation career in 1981 as an intern lobbyist in…

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