By Darcy Thomas
SAVE THE DATE! Wings Across the Big Sky Bird Festival will be held at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell from June 12-14, 2026. The festival coincides with Montana Audubon’s 50th anniversary celebration. Great speakers, field trips, and fun events are planned, with Jake Bramante and Jess Garby emceeing this fun event. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us next summer.
Until then, consider joining our Board of Directors or volunteering to be part of the important work being accomplished by our committees. You can protect birds by participating in one or more of the committees
listed under the Flathead Audubon Society Directory. We recently welcomed Dale Becker and Kelly
Bednara to the Conservation Committee, but we could use more support to strengthen our conservation efforts.
A big thank you to the many people who work behind the scenes to move Flathead Audubon forward. Although board members handle most of the responsibilities and deserve a big round of applause, we have a wonderful
group of members filling other vital roles. Jan Metzmaker assisted with the Great Fish Community Challenge.
Susie Waldron, Julie Oswald, and Molly Miller are the heartbeat of the newsletter. Denny Olson and Dan Casey joined FAS Education Coordinator Jess Garby in giving presentations during this fall’s Library Speaker Series. Dan Casey also organized and managed the 18th season of the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch, assisted by primary observers Dan Stoken and Josh Covill, as well as many other unnamed volunteers who sat on the ridge counting raptors. Kelly Bednara is assisting Jess with redesigning the conservation section of the FAS website.
Linda Winnie, Ben Long, and Karen Nichols have been recording the Flathead Audubon’s history for longevity.
I wish I had room to thank every person who loves birds and goes the extra mile to help our chapter be excellent. Please know you are valued!