Now we see them, now we don’t by Linda De Kort Every December, on specific days, members of local Audubon Chapters gather in small groups to observe and record the numbers of birds seen and heard within a defined 15-mile radius circle. This information has been gathered and recorded for over a hundred years nationwide…
Read MoreFebruary 2020 Chirps and Squawks
Highlights from the January 6th board meeting Bob Lopp has retired from the Board of Directors. Thank you for your many years of service to FAS. You will be missed. Jan Metzmaker has developed a policy with steps to ensure efficient acknowledgement of donations. Payments were approved for Liability and Director and Officer insurance, and…
Read MoreFlathead Valley Bird Report – February 2020
by Joshua Covill Rare and Notables – January 2020 12/24 – the NORTHERN CARDINAL in Marion was seen again at the same private residence that it was initially reported from, meaning it was been around for 1.5 months (Criag H. & Raylene W.) 12/29 – Prairie Falcon along Fairview Cemetery Rd south of Columbia Falls…
Read MoreFebruary 2020 Program
Raptors Up Close and Personal presented by Nicole Nelson Nicole Nelson will be the guest speaker at the Flathead Audubon meeting Monday, February 10 from 7-9 PM in the Gateway West Community Meeting Room in Kalispell. The program is free and open to the public. Nicole is from the Montana Wild Wings Recovery Center of…
Read MoreEureka CBC 2019 Results
by Lewis Young The 27th annual Eureka Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday December 14 in moderate weather that ranged from 28°F to 32°F. Koocanusa Reservoir was unfrozen as were the streams but smaller lakes and ponds were frozen. Foggy weather in the morning confronted the 25 people that went to the field as…
Read MoreBigfork CBC 2019 Results
by Craig Hohenberger The 46th annual Bigfork Christmas Bird Count was held Saturday, December 14th, under cloudy skies, periodic “snow bands,” and relatively calm conditions all day. Snow depths were non-existent and/or limited to the higher eastern edges of the count circle; temperatures ranged from 31-39 degrees F. Rivers and lakes were mostly open and…
Read MoreGrant Awarded for Owen Sowerwine Weed Control
by Pam Willison, Co-Chair, OSNA Committee Flathead Conservation District has awarded FAS a $2000 grant through their Cost-Share program, which will be used to address the weed problem in Owen Sowerwine. This is a 75%/25% matching grant, which means FAS will need to provide match funds and volunteer hours to fulfill our match and use…
Read MoreConservation Educator’s Niche – January 2020
by Denny Olson I’m spoiled I’ve always been a student of nature, gleaning factoids and evaluating the quality of evidence about the health of our wild environment. I’ve been able to teach what I have learned – about in equal measure to my continuing efforts as a student – to literally hundreds of thousands of…
Read MoreBackyard and Local Conservation for Birds – They Need Our Help
by Kathy Ross Recent research findings on declining bird populations motivates all of us to find ways to help the birds that add so much to our world. Many Bird Conservation organizations are offering ideas on how we as humans can help. Below is a list drawn from suggestions made by the Cornell Lab of…
Read MoreJanuary 2020 Chirps and Squawks
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…
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