by Bridger Donaldson Short-eared Owls are a medium-sized owl and are commonly chanced upon in daylight. Their wings are quite long and when perched, usually extend past their tail. The plumage of Short-eared Owls varies among their populations worldwide, but retains a combination of mottled white, tan, beige and brown. They are palest on their…
Read MorePeeps from the President – February 2024
by Darcy Thomas After hearing that the Montana Land Board had approved the conservation easement for Owen Sowerwine, I told my husband to put his boots on as we needed to go walk among the trees and enjoy the music of bird song, as we reveled in the accomplishment that had been so many years…
Read MoreScience on Tap: Montana’s Hidden Owls: Three Decades of Research and Discovery
Join the Flathead Lake Biological Station, Flathead Lakers and Flathead Lake Brewing Company for Science on Tap, the first Thursday of every month in the Cellar at the FLBRC Pubhouse. The February speaker is Beth Mendelsohn with the Owl Research Institute. Beth will present, “Science on Tap: Montana’s Hidden Owls: Three Decades of Research and…
Read MoreFlathead Valley Bird Report – February 2024
Rare and Notables – December 2023/January 2024 As mild as it seemed going into the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season, it certainly changed in early January! Pine Grosbeaks continued to show up throughout the area, but Bohemian Waxwings were present in much smaller numbers than usual. Rough-legged Hawk numbers were also surprisingly low. Common Loons…
Read MoreFebruary 2024 Program – A Naturalist’s Journey to Antarctica
Presented by Lou Bruno Join Lou Bruno on an incredible epic journey aboard the National Geographic Explorer to the Antarctic, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. This is the world of snow-capped peaks, icebergs, pristine endless seas, and an unbelievable diversity of marine mammals and pelagic birds. Lou will offer a naturalist’s perspective on the…
Read MoreJanuary 2024 presentation on the avian predators of Glacier National Park now available for replay!
At our January 2024 General Meeting, Jami Belt, Dee Baginski, and Jess Garby of Glacier National Park discussed what they’ve learned in years of monitoring Common Loons and Golden Eagles through their citizen science programs. From loon nest monitoring and banding for Common Loons as well as fall hawk watch migration counts for Golden Eagles,…
Read MoreConservation Educator’s Niche – January 2024
by Denny Olson The long dark nights of this winter solstice time of year give us much opportunity to quietly contemplate the big unknowns in this world, and what constitutes the “spiritual” in our lives. For me, it is a sense of wonder and awe about the size and mind-boggling complexities of our Milky Way…
Read MoreHow to catch that bird… in your binoculars
50 years of the Bigfork Christmas Bird Count
by Linda Winnie The first Bigfork Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place in December 1974. This means that the birders who combed the Bigfork Count Circle for birds on December 16 of this past year were engaged in an historic task. They were carrying out the 50th Bigfork CBC! Ron Lang, then pastor of the…
Read MoreThank you to Sliters Lumber & Building Supply!
by Pam Willison, Owen Sowerwine Chairperson A big THANK YOU to Sliters Lumber & Building Supply for awarding Flathead Audubon a grant to fund the purchase of an EZ-Ject Lance system, for use on the invasive buckthorn in Owen Sowerwine. This year Sliters celebrated their 90th anniversary by offering grants to 90 nonprofits and groups in the Flathead…
Read More