Highlights from the December 2, 2019 Board meeting

  • The list of nominees for the Conservation Achievement Recognition award was reviewed and updated, and ballots were cast for individual and business awards.
  • Conservation Educator Denny Olson is seeking input from the Board to help guide his decisions about priorities, goals, and buckthorn control/restoration in OSNA.
  • A discussion was held about trying to provide better information to members and to the public related to what individuals can do in their own yards to support birds.
  • The 2 bridges spanning the swampy area of OSNA accessed through the Greenridge entrance have been identified as needing improvements.  The OSNA Committee will investigate DNRC approval, materials needed, and funding sources.
  • Bob Lee reported that a Pentax spotting scope has been donated and will be available for field trips and for Christmas Bird Counts.

Many Thanks to the Whitefish Community Foundation

The Whitefish Community Foundation has provided a $3,000 award to our education program for this year. This is the 12th year The Foundation has supported the program. The generous contributions from The Foundation have allowed our education program to grow in both numbers of people served and in the quality of the programs. 

Congratulations to Code Cranes

Kay Mitchell from Flathead Audubon Society worked with a trio of Kalispell Middle School girls who were participating in an after school program called Girls Who Code. Girls Who Code was created to provide a chance for young women to employ science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills.

The team, “Code Cranes”, was comprised of Zoe Wendt, Beatrix Poitra, and Anna Bergstedt. Using the bird call recordings made by Bruce Tannehill, they created an app to help birders identify birds by their calls. Recently, Code Cranes won the 2019 Congressional App Challenge for Montana, and their winning app will be displayed at the US Capital with the winners from each other congressional district. Congratulations to Code Cranes Zoe, Beatrix, and Anna!

Have a good birding story?

We invite readers to submit their own birding story to be printed in the Pileated Post in what we hope becomes an occasional feature called STORIES FROM OUR READERS. If you have an interesting birding story you would like to share, send it to Linda Winnie or Lewis Young (email or phone contacts listed on page 10) with a picture if possible; maximum of about 600 words; picture in .jpg format. Submissions may be edited and corrected for scientific accuracy. They will be published as space permits.

Learn Cool Stuff About Birds

Birds in Our Lives
Continuing Education Center
Flathead Valley Community College
Class Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Day:  Tuesdays
Dates: February 4, 11, March 3, 10,17,24,31; April 7,14, 21

Instructor: Dr David A. Manuwal, Board member, Flathead Audubon Society. For more information contact him at manuwal2@centurylink.net

Amazon Smile

Christmas may be past but Amazon Smile works all year long. Select Flathead Audubon as your charity and Amazon Smile donates a portion of each purchase.  Go to https://smile.amazon.com to get started.