Hardly a Life of Royalty by Karen Nichols Golden-crowned Kinglets are a mystery and a marvel of wintertime survival in the north woods. These grey and olive birds weigh only the mass of two pennies — just bigger than a Rufous Hummingbird. This species is Montana’s smallest permanent resident passerine and it eats insects all…
Read MoreFlathead Valley Bird Report – February 2023
Rare and Notables – DEC 2022/JAN 2023 Mid-December through mid-January was a period with mostly gray skies, periodic snows, and one period of deep cold. As the snow and lakes iced over, raptor numbers declined, but several species of owls were among the notables. “Winter finches” were scarce, with few reports of redpolls, Pine Grosbeaks…
Read MoreFebruary 2023 Program – CSKT Bison Range
Presented by Stephanie Gillin On February 13th, Stephanie Gillin, Information and Education Program Manager for the Confederated Tribes, will talk about the Bison Range Restoration. Stephanie has been a Wildlife Biologist for 21 years with the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribal Wildlife Management Program. She has worked with students, both on and off the Reservation,…
Read MoreJanuary 2023 presentation on using eBird available for replay!
At our January, 2023 General Meeting, Dan Casey gave a hands on tour of how to use eBird. This included how to input data using your computer or phone, how to find birds where you plan on birding next by using others’ submissions, the amazing reports and information Cornell is coming out with because of…
Read MoreConservation Educator’s Niche – January 2023
by Denny Olson Studies about nature’s effects on stress and health are a growth industry worldwide. In England, an 18-year study showed that those who lived closest to green space reported less mental distress (after adjusting for variables, like income, education and employment). In the Netherlands, scientists found lower incidence of 15 diseases – including…
Read MoreJanuary 2023 Chirps and Squawks
Citizen Scientists Needed for Rosy-Finch Feeder Surveys!
Do you feed birds during the cold winter months, or know of a friend or family member that does? If so, we at Montana Audubon encourage you to join us and contribute to a large Rosy-Finch study spanning at least eight western states! This coming winter Montana Audubon is once again partnering with Utah’s Sageland…
Read MoreAmerican Crow
by Kat Petersen Their iconic black glistening feathers, generalist beak, and recognizable “caw” makes them easily identifiable to even non-birders: The American Crow. Crows are one of the most common and widespread genus of birds in the world. On a recent trip to Thailand, I was awoken with the familiar call of a crow who…
Read MoreJanuary 2023 Program – I Bird, You Bird, eBird
* Note that this is a change of presentation from what was in our January edition of the Pileated Post Do you keep bird lists? Do you visit birding hotspots when you travel? Are you curious about which birds can be expected, where, and when? With the creation of eBird in 2002, the Cornell Laboratory…
Read MoreOwen Sowerwine, The Man
by Lynda Saul Who Was Owen Sowerwine? Ever wonder about the person behind a named landmark, national forest, or natural area? How about our local Owen Sowerwine Natural Area? A look at the headstone mounted on an erratic boulder in the back row of the Columbia Falls Fairview Cemetery reveals Owen Evan Sowerwine. Aug 1,…
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