by Dan Casey, JBHW Coordinator The 2023 migration season at the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch concluded on November 1, when Jake Bramante counted 26 birds during our 47th survey of the season. We finished the season with a total of 3,131 birds counted (10.5/hr) our fourth highest. It was also a season of diversity; we…
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by Kay Mitchell The Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society, professional association of wildlife biologists, has established the Lewis Young Memorial Fund. Lewis was a longtime Flathead Audubon Society (FAS) member and conservation chair. Income from the fund will provide travel expenses to the annual convention for students who are currently enrolled in a wildlife…
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by Dan Casey via Team EBird People in 191 countries joined together to celebrate birds on October 14th, 2023, during the “October Big Day” sponsored by Cornell’s eBird program. More than 36,000 people contributed 83,735 checklists for the single biggest day in October birding history. The 7,525 species reported was a 72-species increase over the…
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By Jill Carlberg Sometimes seemingly small steps lead to big things. When Michele, already an active member at Hawk Watch and at Owen Somerwine work days, was asked if she would take on the simple task of picking up the Flathead Audubon Society’s (FAS) mail once a week, she agreed. Luckily for Flathead Audubon, Michele…
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by Shannon Donaldson The 25th annual Kalispell CBC will take place on New Year’s Eve, Sunday, December 31. The Kalispell count area is a large circle, 15 miles in diameter, centered at the junction of Highway 93 and West Reserve Drive by Home Depot. From Happy Valley to the north and Herron Park to the south,…
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I am assuming all regional (local) leaders will be doing the Bigfork CBC once again. If you were a regional (local) leader last year, and are not participating in the Bigfork CBC this year, please let me know. I will be sending out the Bigfork CBC packets with bird checklists and maps of your respective…
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Highlights from the November 6, 2023, Board of Directors Meeting Great Fish Community Challenge Donor Thank You It’s cold outside, but inside, we’re feeling warmth toward all of you who donated so generously to Flathead Audubon through the Great Fish Community Challenge! These gifts allow us to provide the Flathead with field trips, programs, this…
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by Karen Nichols Although Northern Saw-whet owls are one of the most abundant forest raptors in North America, they are rarely seen due to their nocturnal and secretive nature. Until recent decades, the diminutive owls were thought to be rare in many places and mostly non-migratory. Banding efforts over the past 30+ years are shedding…
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by Dan Casey Rare and Notables – October/November 2023 This period presented several of the less common species we have come to expect in late fall, including all three scoter species, Short-billed Gulls, and a Swamp Sparrow. Pacific Loons were seen in several locations, including two at Rogers Lake. Common Redpoll, Snow Bunting and Bohemian…
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