a review by Rosemary McKinnon In 2018 I visited an old school friend in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The weather was auspicious and we decided to take a boat to the offshore islands of Skomer and Skokholm. Puffins were returning to nest in their burrows after spending the winter feeding in the mid-Atlantic. Gannets and skuas circled…
Read MoreConservation Educator’s Niche – April 2021
by Denny Olson Frustrated with Birding ID by Ear? Help is on the way! There are 270 nesting species of birds in Montana, and 435 species that we know have at least passed through on their travels. They all make some kinds of noises, and those noises are at least slightly different from each other,…
Read MoreOn the Road? Check out the Nature Guys podcast
by Charles B. van Rees Have you got some long drives ahead for spring birding trips? Consider adding the Nature Guys podcast to your on-the-road listening. Podcasts, which can easily be streamed or downloaded on your mobile phone or via an internet browser are like radio shows you can listen to anytime, anywhere. Mobile Apps…
Read MoreWings Across the Big Sky – Regional Field Trips 2021
by Danielle Dowden, MT Audubon Join Montana Audubon for a unique field trip in your area on Saturday June 5th, 2021! The health and safety of our supporters is of utmost importance. As such, the Lewistown 2021 Festival will be postponed to 2022. In lieu of this annual gathering, Montana Audubon is hosting Regional Field…
Read MoreApril 2021 Chirps and Squawks
Highlights from the March 1, 2021 Board of Directors Meeting Treasurer Rod Wallette reported: memberships are still coming in, our tax return will be completed by a CPA, and some procedural changes will be made to improve our checks-and-balances for financial matters. Cory Davis said the membership committee has selected new data base management software,…
Read More2021 Citizen Science Projects at Montana Audubon
LBCU Citizen Science Survey 2021 Are you ready to hear the ‘currlleeee’ of the Long-billed Curlew? Well, grab your binoculars and get ready, because it’s almost curlew season! These charismatic shorebirds will be trickling back into the state in less than two months and we need your help finding as many as possible in and…
Read MoreApril 2021 Legislative Update from Montana Audubon
March at the 67th Legislature As we move through March and into the last six weeks of the 67th session, the Montana Legislature continues to pass bills that negatively affect our wildlife and their habitats. While we are working hard to push back, the diverse issues we have faced have kept us bouncing between committees…
Read MoreVirtual Earth Month Calendar!
Climate Smart Glacier Country has created a virtual Earth Month Calendar that lists opportunities for celebrating Earth Day in the Flathead throughout the month of April. It is filled with celebratory events sponsored by a variety of organizations in Flathead County (including FAS). Click here to view this Earth Month Calendar. Columbia Falls and Kalispell…
Read MoreTownsend’s Big-eared Bat
by Lewis Young One look at an individual of this species and it’s easy to see where part of the name comes from. The ears are nearly 1 ½ inches long. Townsend’s comes from being named in honor of naturalist Charles H. Townsend even though it was first described in 1837 by William Cooper. Besides…
Read MoreFlathead Valley Bird Report – April 2020
by Dan Casey Rare and Notables – March 2021 2/19 – Gyrfalcon hunting large flocks of Mallards, N. Shore WMA (Dick W.) 2/24 – Snowy Owl in Lower Valley off Farm and Manning Roads through 2/24 (m. ob.) 3/03 – Mountain Bluebird (first of year) in Lower Valley (Craig H.) 3/06 – Western Bluebirds (first…
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