by Denny Olson I am an Eagle. The small world laughs at my deeds,But the great sky keeps to itself My thoughts of immortality – Taos Pueblo Song It felt like a coffin. I was lying on my back in what appeared to be a shallow grave. It was two feet deep…
Read MoreConservation Corner – Whitebark pine listed as a threatened species…good news?
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…
Read MoreRemoving Non-native Plants and Shrubs
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…
Read MoreDave Hadden Awarded Lifetime Conservation Achievement Recognition
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…
Read MoreMarch 2023 Chirps and Squawks
Highlights from the February 6, 2023 Board of Directors Meeting Sign up for Montana Audubon’s Action Alert Network The 68th Montana Legislature is in session, and the Montana Audubon team of legislative lobbyists are busy working for all of us to defend Montana’s wildlife, wildlife habitat, and bedrock environmental laws. But they need your help….
Read MoreA Study of Harlequin Ducks in Glacier National Park
by Nora Kehoe Sitting on the shore of Lower McDonald Creek, sun beating on our faces, and a cool breeze blowing off the fast-running water, I see movement in the rapids. A dark head with a signifying white dot on its face appears. I immediately radio, “Lancaster 181, I think I see one.” Prior to…
Read MoreFlathead Valley Bird Report – March 2023
by Dan Casey Rare and Notables – JAN/FEB 2023 The latter half of January and the first half of February can often be the slowest birding season of the year. Crusted snow and ice can decrease habitat suitability for seedeaters and raptors, and many waterbodies are frozen. Such was the case this winter, and few…
Read MoreMarch 2023 Program – Investigating Non-Invasive Survey Methods for Studying the Harlequin Duck
Presented by Holli Holmes One glance at a Harlequin Duck (HADU) and even non-birders know they’ve seen something special. HADU are whitewater specialists and one of the hardiest sea ducks there are. They spend eight months of the year along the costs of sub-arctic and arctic regions then migrate to fast moving, whitewater mountain streams…
Read MoreFebruary 2023 presentation on the CSKT Bison Range available for replay!
At our February 2023 General Meeting, Stephanie Gillin from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes shared what they have been doing with the Bison Range since taking it over as well as what they plan on doing moving forward. You can learn more about the CSKT Bison Range by visiting their website at https://bisonrange.org/ and…
Read MoreCleaning Bird Houses and Feeders
By now, you’ve probably cleaned and sterilized your bird houses and feeders. The best time to clean bird houses is after the birds have fledged. If, like me, you’ve had a busy season, you may not have completed this task. Using gloves, take down the houses and feeders, and remove any nesting material or debris…
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