15 new species have been added to the bird list for Owen Sowerwine Natural Area! Twelve of the added species are the result of some detective work by our new Keeper of the OSNA List, Shawn Richmond. When Shawn took on this new job in November, she began digging into the ebird records for observation…
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This month’s From the Board piece comes from one of our new Board Members Doug MacCarter. FAS wishes to thank Doug for his work with the ospreys of the Flathead Valley. We are proud to have him join the FAS Board. By Doug MacCarter This summer with the help of Shawn Richmond, I surveyed the…
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By Lisa Bate It is the middle of winter, long after the breeding songbirds have left. The forest emits silence more than sounds of any birds. It seems so empty, and then we hear the call and smile. It is the Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) calling, as if to say, “Look at me, I’m still…
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It’s that time of year for the largest citizen science project, the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. All around the world, people are getting together to get outside and count birds in their areas. Here in Northwest Montana, we’ve got quite a few Christmas Bird Counts. Check below for locations and dates. To participate in…
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Fall Birding In the Flathead with Craig Hohenberger By Kathy Ross You may not think of November as a time to be out birding, but fall migration always can have a few surprises even in November. The November 8 FAS field trip led by Craig Hohenberger was no exception. Long-billed Dowitchers, increasing numbers of Tundra…
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As we roll into December, it is once again Christmas Bird Count time! This is the 116th year of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. The Count as become a holiday tradition, as thousands of volunteers throughout the country become citizen scientists for a day. They venture out with binoculars, scopes, and field guides in seasonal…
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Why are dark skies so important? Last night we were honored to have local photographer and long time Flathead Audubon Member John Ashley tell us. Through his presentation, he showed his wonderful photography of our night skies and told the story of the encroaching light. With initiatives like dark sky designation, turning off lights where…
Read MoreFrom the Board by Jim Rychwalski As an avid bird watcher and naturalist Montana is an awesome state to live in. It gives you the opportunity to explore a multitude of different ecosystems with its resident birds and wildlife not to mention the flora and fauna that reside in these areas. To compliment outdoor field…
Read Moreby Gail Cleveland “It’s one of those LBJ’s (Little Brown Jobs). It’s probably a sparrow. Oh, it’s cute. Look at how it raises its crown!” This is most likely a typical response when spotting a Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii). These LBJ’s can be seen in Northwestern Montana during the breeding season but with less frequency…
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by Lewis Young and Kate Stone Are you a big game hunter? Do you use lead bullets? Lead bullets, even copper jacketed lead bullets, fired from high velocity guns fragment on impact losing 20-40% of their mass when they hit an object. As many as 200 fragments disperse throughout the carcass and are often too small…
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