by Denny Olson
Our 15th Birds of Prey Festival, now a biennial event, was an educational success by any measure. Wild Wings Rescue brought 20 spectacular rescue birds, Flathead Land Trust, Flathead Lakers, Owl Research Institute and Center for Native Plants had informative booths and interactive activities. Our own Flathead Audubon booths educated visitors about birds, our new 405-acre Owen Sowerwine Area Conservation Easement, and a “bird costume dress-up” photo booth for kids. Hockaday Museum of Art, Sandi Vashro from Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks; Mary Jo Gardner, Ronda Howell, Sue Harper, Geri Meireis, Fancy Face Design and others helped kids go home with pinecone owls, bird masks, artwork, and the faces of cute raptors that they still likely haven’t washed off.
Our presenters – Conservation Educator Denny Olson and his new Jewel Basin Hawk Watch video, Lauren Tate and Jeanna Clifford from the Owl Research Institute about their raptor surveys and Saw-whet Owl banding, and the Keynote Presentation on Golden Eagles by Glacier National Park Biologist Lisa Bate, plus an amazing video of the maturing of an eagle chick by BJ Worth – were a big hit. (Not to mention, very informative …)
Unofficial estimates by Lone Pine State Park staff and Flathead Audubon of the total number of participants were close to, or perhaps over, a thousand visitors – a new record for sure! Huge thanks to Brian Eryn and the Lone Pine Crew for flawlessly handling logistics and parking. Cars lined the road down to Foys Lake!
Many, many thanks to all the FAS volunteers, especially coordinators Jan Metzmaker and Karen Nichols, for spreading posters and electronic messages all over the Valley. Everyone contributed, and our raptors are undoubtedly better off for our efforts!
You must be logged in to post a comment.