Birding at Smith Lake

Join FAS field trip leader Darcy Thomas for a morning of early Fall birding at Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area. We will walk a portion of the paved Great Northern Historical Trail before driving around the lake stopping at the boat launch and other pullouts along the way to view birds. Smith Lake is a complex of large, shallow wetlands and marsh, surrounded by stands of willow and other shrubs as well as conifers.

We will be looking for swans, geese, ducks, grebes, teal, cormorants, herons, raptors, and songbirds. Great Blue Herons and Osprey migrate away from the Flathead Valley by mid-September, so this is a good opportunity to see them before they go.

A Montana Conservation License is required for this field trip and may be purchased at https://ols.fwp.mt.gov. Vault toilet is available at the beginning of the trip as well as at the boat launch.

Bring binoculars, water and a spotting scope if you have one.

To register contact Darcy at 406-407-8263 or darcy@flatheadaudubon.org.