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TENTH ANNUAL WILD MILE WILDFLOWER AND BIRD WALKS
TUESDAY DURING MAY AND JUNE |
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COMMUNITY BIRD DAY FESTIVAL
THURSDAY MAY 23, 2013 |
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BIRDING IN GLACIER NP
SATURDAY MAY 25, 2013 |
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A TOUR OF THE LAZY CREEK AREA ABOVE THE HEAD OF WHITEFISH LAKE
SUNDAY, MAY 26, 2013 |
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THE WARBLER WEEKEND AT TALLY LAKE
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, MAY 31 & JUNE 1, 2013 |
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EXPLORING VIKING CREEK WETLANDS PRESERVE
SATURDAY JUNE 8 |
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COMMON LOONS AND LOON CHICKS
SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 2013 |
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WARM SPRINGS WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA A WELL KEPT SECRET!
Gary Swant will introduce FAS to a rich birding area at our Annual Meeting on May 13. Warm Springs Wildlife Management Area, 17 miles south of Deer Lodge, is an outstanding birding area that few have birded or notice driving down I-90 at Warm Springs. Gary, though, has documented 206 species of birds on the 21 ponds of the 6,400 acre site! Gary has been monitoring the WMA for spring, fall and breeding waterfowl and shorebird species since 2009. He has documented 50 waterrelated species such as geese, ducks, loons, grebes, pelican, cormorant, bittern, heron and egret, and 30 species of shorebirds.
“The Ponds” were originally developed in 1911 by the Anaconda Company to treat mine waste water that flowed down Silver Bow Creek, before it
joined Warm Springs Creek and formed the headwaters of the Clark Fork River. In 1975, additional ponds, called the Job Corps Ponds, were added and in 1990, the Ducks Unlimited Ponds were added, thus completing the WMA, which is managed by ARCO and MT Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Currently, a superfund cleanup of the Clark Fork River is taking place above and below the WMA.
Gary will discuss the history, physical features and operation of the WMA. He will show that the WMA should be classified as an Important Bird Area and maintained, after it is no longer needed to treat heavy metal pollutants from Silver Bow Creek, when it is officially clean in 2015.
Gary has a Master’s Degree in Education and Environmental Education from the University of Montana. He taught biology and field ecology in
Deer Lodge for 25 years. Upon retirement, he formed GoBirdMontana as a guide and consultant service in avian concerns. He has also acted as a consultant with MT FWP, ARCO, Montana Aeronautics Administration, Powell County and the city of Deer Lodge on bird-related issues. He has the distinction of holding the record for the most birds seen in a single year in Montana. In 2007 he did a “Big
Year” and observed 328 species of birds in Montana. That record still holds today.
We look forward to seeing you at our Annual Meeting, potluck and silent auction on Monday, May 13 at the Whitefish Community Center. Doors open at 5 PM, potluck at 6 PM and meeting at 7 PM. At
that meeting, we will also present Flathead Audubon's
final Conservation Achievement Recognition to Jean Robocker. See you there!
MAY FLATHEAD AUDUBON MEETING
Date: Monday, May 13, 2013
Location: Whitefish Community Center
Address: 121 Second Street, Whitefish
Directions: In Whitefish, turn west on Highway 93, the Community Center is at the southwest corner of the bridge over the Whitefish River
Times: Doors Open 5:00 PM, Potluck Dinner 6:00 PM, Meeting Begins 7:00 PM
Be sure to arrive early enough to look over and bid on silent auction items!
Business Meeting: We will elect officers and Board members
Silent Auction Request: Of course, one of the most exciting parts of the evening will be the Silent Auction. Everyone is encouraged to bring any bird or nature related items to donate and to shop till you drop at the Silent Auction tables. Nowhere else will you find such a diverse, eclectic mixture of interesting things that you really do need!
Gardener Special: Rod McIver will again have plants and trees for sale, so start planning your new yard and garden now. Flathead Audubon is very grateful to Rod for this donation of time, plants and hard work in raising, potting, and transporting all of the plants. And he donates all of the proceeds of his sale to Flathead Audubon - what a generous guy! So buy liberally, plant gently and thank Rod for this wonderful way of brightening of our May meeting!
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