Flathead Valley Bird Report – March 2024

Rare and Notables – January/February 2024 Generally mild and relatively dry since the deep cold spell early in the period, this was a month with few rarities. People continued to enjoy the widespread Pine Grosbeaks and sporadic flocks of Common Redpolls. Thousands of Canada Geese and Mallards could be found throughout, particularly along the lower…

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Flathead Valley Bird Report – February 2024

Rare and Notables – December 2023/January 2024 As mild as it seemed going into the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) season, it certainly changed in early January! Pine Grosbeaks continued to show up throughout the area, but Bohemian Waxwings were present in much smaller numbers than usual. Rough-legged Hawk numbers were also surprisingly low. Common Loons…

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Introducing Our New Operations Coordinator

by Darcy Thomas Please welcome Dee Baginski to our Audubon family. Dee, a graduate of Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania in Parks and Resource Management, and veteran Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Glacier Institute, and US Forest Service employee, has accepted a contract to work part-time as an Operations Coordinator for Flathead…

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Birdathon 2023 – Birding for a “Caws”

by Shannon Donaldson On Saturday, June 17, Flathead Audubon Society hosted the Flathead Valley Birdathon. Twenty-six participants on nine teams spent the day birding for a “caws” – raising money for the conservation easement in the Owen Sowerwine area.  Although the morning began with plenty of rain showers and low visibility, by about 9 a.m. it began…

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Getting to Know Owen Sowerwine Natural Area – Part 2

by Dan Casey Important Bird Area Status Last month we began a series of articles describing the characteristics, history, and management status of the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area (OSNA). This month we examine its status as an “Important Bird Area”, a designation that carries with it no legal protection, but that recognizes the value of…

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Conservation Educator’s Niche – April 2021

by Denny Olson Frustrated with Birding ID by Ear? Help is on the way! There are 270 nesting species of birds in Montana, and 435 species that we know have at least passed through on their travels. They all make some kinds of noises, and those noises are at least slightly different from each other,…

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