by Carole Jorgensen Audubon shared the recent dire study showing that 3 billion birds have declined since 1970, almost 30 percent of the North American bird population (https://science.org/content/article/three-billion-north-american-birds-have-vanished-1970-surveys-show). Some of the reasons given were habitat loss due to development, changing climate and weather patterns, pesticides and even cats, although the reasons are complex and each…

by Darcy Thomas River Design Group (RDG), one of the leading river restoration consulting firms in the Intermountain West and Pacific Northwest, was founded in the Flathead Valley in 2003 by four individuals with a passion for rivers. Since the beginning, the company has promoted a healthy work-life balance and maintained a culture deeply rooted…

Do you feed birds during the cold winter months, or know of a friend or family member that does? If so, we at Montana Audubon encourage you to join us and contribute to a large Rosy-Finch study spanning at least eight western states!  This coming winter Montana Audubon is once again partnering with Utah’s Sageland…

by Lynda Saul Who Was Owen Sowerwine? Ever wonder about the person behind a named landmark, national forest, or natural area?  How about our local Owen Sowerwine Natural Area?  A look at the headstone mounted on an erratic boulder in the back row of the Columbia Falls Fairview Cemetery reveals Owen Evan Sowerwine. Aug 1,…

“The overall message is that most people in North American and Europe can live very close to wolves and be perfectly OK in 99.99999% of cases,” said John Linnell, senior research scientist with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and the lead author on the recent report. “But it’s never 100%. Things can happen. We need…

by Bridger Donaldson Birds and Glass: Preventing Avian Window Collisions Many of us have at some point come across a deceased bird underneath a window or investigated after hearing the startling noise of a bird hitting a glass pane. One of the largest anthropogenic causes of avian death in the US, along with habitat destruction…

As bright beams illuminate the New York City skies above the National 9/11 Museum & Memorial’s Tribute in Light, thousands of migratory birds circle and call, disoriented by the lights. As the swirl intensifies, Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientist Andrew Farnsworth gives the signal, the lights turn off, and the birds disperse into the night….

Rocky Mountain Wild has developed a new Pika Patrol mobile app.This new app will help the community and scientists alike to track observations and monitor populations of the climate-sensitive American pika. By making it easier for hikers, community members, and visitors to record pika observations, we can gather even more data on this charismatic mountain…

by Pam Willison It’s always a good feeling to have a “to-do list” and to be able to cross off every item.  On Saturday, October 1, 18 volunteers made that happen in Owen Sowerwine.  They volunteered a total of 54 hours and enjoyed some camaraderie, some sunshine and beautiful fall colors, and the satisfaction of…

by Pat Jaquith Finding Treasures in the Mud of Owen Sowerwine Natural Area Making a list of plant species in Owen Sowerwine seemed like an easy enough task in September when the trails were dry, vegetation was senescing, and the deciduous trees still had leaves and fruit, so I accepted the challenge and started out….