By Denny Olson My son (second-grade teacher-from-home) sent me a Facebook post — not his own — that summed up our present predicament in quarantine. “The spread of COVID-19 is determined by only two factors: 1. How dense the population is2. How dense the population is The lesson is clear. Expertise, and following expertise suggestions,…
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by Joshua Covill Rare and Notables – November 2019 10/20 – Barred Owl photographed at Owen Sowerwine Natural Area (Jake B.) 10/25 – Surf Scoter in Somers Bay, Flathead Lake (Craig H.) 10/27 – 8 Greater White-fronted Geese on West Valley Ponds with Canada Geese flocks (Dan C.) 10/27 – Surf Scoter on Foy’s Lake…
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by Lewis Young, compiler The 25th annual Eureka Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, December 16 in mild weather that ranged from 22F to 35F. Twenty-two field observers and 15 feeder watchers recorded 69 species and 2779 individual birds. The 69 species were the second highest total in our history. Three new species were…
Read Moreby Craig Hohenberger, compiler The 44th annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count was held Saturday, December 16th, under cloudy skies and mild weather conditions; snow depth 1-4 inches, temperatures ranged from 28-34 degrees F with little or no wind. Rivers and lakes were mostly open and there was a little ice on Flathead Lake at the edges….
Read MoreThe Metamorphosis by Denny Olson This particular Northern Rockies winter demanded a bit of patience and self-reliance. Without proper clothing and an interest in snow-dependent pursuits, winters like this one can make edgy shut-ins from normally well-adjusted people. Uncommon cold and waist-deep snow established this winter near the end of the “temperate” spectrum, and turned…
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By Margaret Parodi. Seventeen people participated in the Flathead Audubon field trip to the Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge (northwest of Marion) on June 19. Participants met at the refuge headquarters at 8:30 am. The day was cool, breezy, and sunny, with morning temperature in the lower 50’s, later reaching a high of 65 degrees. The…
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by Lewis Young The 23nd annual Eureka Christmas bird count was held on Sunday December 20 in mild weather. We are one of about 30 counts in Montana that are part of National Audubon Society’s long running citizen science Christmas Bird Counts. Twenty people went to the field and 19 people counted at their feeders. …
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By Jeannie Marcure In an effort to improve my birding skills, I’ve recently been trying to learn to identify birds by their calls. For someone lacking musical training or talent, this is a daunting task, so it makes sense that I’d have a special fondness for any bird that makes this job easier by calling…
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