Each spring, FAS elects officers and board directors. Officers are elected for a two-year term, alternating between president and vice-president one year, and secretary and treasurer the next. This is the year for secretary and treasurer. Board directors are usually elected for a three-year term, and occasionally for shorter terms by choice of the candidate. …
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by Shannon and Bridger Donaldson The 25th Annual Kalispell Christmas Bird Count took place on Sunday, December 31, 2023. It was New Year’s Eve and most everything on the valley floor was cloaked in an amazing amount of hoar frost. Very low visibility was the theme for the day, as it was incredibly foggy, especially…
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by Taylor Tewksbury Swan Valley Connections (SVC) hosted the Upper Swan Valley Christmas Bird Count on Wednesday, December 20. Weather conditions were constant throughout the day with cloudy skies, calm wind conditions, and the occasional light rain shower. Temperatures remained in the mid-to high thirties. Most waterways in the valley were partially frozen and a…
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by James Oates The 31st Annual Ninepipe Christmas Bird Count was held December 17. With foggy conditions limiting visibility to 100 yards most of the day, it was no surprise to anybody that the number of birds at 6,912 were down about 39 percent and the number of species at 71 were down 20 percent from…
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by Lisa Bate, Wildlife Biologist, Glacier National Park Glacier National Park (GNP) held its annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on Sunday, December 17, 2023. Thirty participants contributed to this event by covering 10 different routes in Glacier and one bird feeder just outside the park, but within the circle. Participants spent the day counting all…
Read Moreby Ellen Sullivan and Lauren Michelsen The 31st annual Eureka Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 16, on a mild day that ranged from 27 degrees to 33 degrees. Koocanusa Reservoir was open as were parts of the streams, but smaller lakes and ponds were mostly frozen. Eighteen people went to the field…
Read Moreby Craig Hohenberger The 50th annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count was held Saturday, December 16th, under cloudy skies (fog & stratus) with calm conditions. Snow depths were variable, with most areas in the valley essentially snow free. At the eastern edge of the count circle, snow depths ranged from zero to six inches. Temperatures ranged…
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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…
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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…
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