Highlights from the March 4, 2019 Board meeting

  • President Kay Mitchell informed us that, unfortunately, we were not able to qualify for the Great Fish Community Challenge. The committee had invested over 100 hours completing the application, so it was quite a disappointment.
  • Bob Lee is seeking nomination for FAS Board members.
  • We made good progress setting parameters for an updated logo that could be used more efficiently for items such as stickers, embroidered garments, and banners.
  • The OSNA committee recommendations were approved. These include adding FAS to the license along with Montana Audubon, renewing the 10 year license, and continuing to manage Owen Sowerwine.
  • A committee and work group will be formed to resume and finish work on the Wylie Bird Blind. Work will include finishing the windows, adding an access ramp, and preparing some parking spots.

2019 Wings Across the Big Sky Bird Festival

 “Montana Audubon will host its 20th annual Wings Across the Big Sky bird festival at the Cottonwood Inn, in Glasgow on June 7th-9th, 2019! This longstanding, community event celebrates Montana’ native bird species and typically draws hundreds of wildlife enthusiasts from across the state and beyond. For 2019 the festival lead sponsor is American Prairie Reserve (APR).

Online registration is now OPEN and our stunning, full color brochure can be downloaded on our website:mtaudubon.org/birding/montana-bird-festival/

Register today: field trips are filling up fast! Hope to see you on Montana’s vast eastern prairies in June!

Nominate a Conservation Leader for a 2019 Montana Audubon Award!

Nominations are now being accepted for Montana Audubon’s 2019 awards. Consider nominating someone you know for Conservationist of the Year, Environmental Educator of the Year, Citizen Scientist of the Year, or a Lifetime Achievement award! Nomination forms can be found on our website: mtaudubon.org/about/awards/. The deadline for nominations is May 20, 2018. Please submit via email (preferred) to info@mtaudubon.org or by mail to Montana Audubon, PO Box 595, Helena, MT 59624. Award winners will be announced at our Bird Festival banquet in Glasgow on June 8.

Nongame Wildlife Tax Check-off

When filling out your Montana tax form this year, think “wildlife” by donating to the Nongame Wildlife Program, found on Form 2, page 10, under Voluntary Contributions. If your taxes are prepared, tell your accountant that you want to donate to wildlife! Your contributions are tax deductible on next year’s return. Look for the soaring Bald Eagle in the instruction booklet. Montana has more than 500 species of “nongame” animals that benefit from public support each year at tax time. Since 1983, the check-off has contributed over $27,000 annually to this important wildlife program.

Utah Desert Wildflowers

Flathead Chapter of Montana Native Plant Society

Peter Lesica, Montana Botanist and Conservationist, will present “Utah Red Rock Desert Wildflowers” at the April meeting of the Flathead Chapter of Montana Native Plant Society. The meeting is Wednesday, April 17, 7:00 PM in the United Way conference Room of the Gateway Community Center, Highway 2 W, Kalispell. Lesica will take us on a virtual tour of his explorations of the Colorado Plateau country with all of its eye-popping wildflowers, which are compiled in his most recently published book on the same subject.

EARTH DAY!

Visit Flathead Audubon at the

5th Annual Flathead Earth Day Celebration!

Saturday, April 27, 10 AM – 2 PM at Whitefish Middle School

The celebration is hosted by Citizens for a Better Flathead and sponsored by local businesses.

Flathead Audubon will be there with a booth and volunteers, some great family-friendly crafts and activities, and a roving bird interpretation by Professor Avian Guano!

Plus:

  • live music
  • local food trucks & vendors
  • Get-a-Grip climbing wall
  • booths with hands-on kid-friendly activities and crafts.

OSNA MONITORS NEEDED FOR SUMMER

Volunteers are needed to make monitoring visits to the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area (OSNA) throughout this coming summer.

Monitors record their OSNA observations on the OSNA Volunteer Monitoring form. This form (and an OSNA trail map) can be printed from the FAS website or picked up at any FAS meeting. The completed form is sent to Kay Mitchell (address on the form).

There are two ways to be a monitor:

1. Take an OSNA Volunteer Monitoring Form with you whenever you visit OSNA. 

2. Do a scheduled monitoring visit. You can sign up for either the first half or the second half of your chosen month, then make one monitoring visit to OSNA during that half-month.

For more information about the OSNA Volunteer Monitoring Program, click here for the form and more information, or contact Linda Winnie (755-1406 or lindawin626@gmail.com). You can sign up for a scheduled monitoring visit at the upcoming April FAS meeting, or contact me.