by Michell De Leon Tyler Oh, how I love Spring! Not only because warmer weather and sunshine are coming, but also because Spring brings migratory birds back to the Flathead Valley. Every year, I wait in anticipation for the Ospreys to return. Ospreys migrate from South America to North America to breed. On April 7,…
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April 2024 Chirps and Squawks
Highlights from the March 4, 2024 Board of Directors Meeting Get ready for the Annual May Silent Auction and Potluck Dinner A CELEBRATION OF OWEN SOWERWINE The annual Silent Auction is the perfect time to gather all the valuable “stuff” that you’ve squirreled away. Gather up bird books, outdoor gear, artwork, live bedding plants, homemade pies…
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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…
Read MorePeeps from the President – January 2024
by Darcy Thomas Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday rich with love, peace, and joy. May this coming year give you happiness, health, and wondrous outdoor adventures! May it also be a great year for birds! I have great news to tell you. After many years of hard work, keeping fingers…
Read MoreSixteenth Jewel Basin Hawk Watch Season Wrap-Up
by Dan Casey, JBHW Coordinator The 2023 migration season at the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch concluded on November 1, when Jake Bramante counted 26 birds during our 47th survey of the season. We finished the season with a total of 3,131 birds counted (10.5/hr) our fourth highest. It was also a season of diversity; we…
Read MorePeeps from the President – December 2023
Jewel Basin Hawk Watch Mid-Season Update 2023
by Dan Casey With another 21 surveys conducted since the last update in the Pileated Post, the 16th season of raptor surveys in the Jewel Basin has continued to result in above-average numbers for many species. We had tallied 2,586 raptors of 17 species as of October 15th. These included record numbers of Broad-winged Hawks,…
Read MoreFlathead Valley Bird Report – November 2023
by Dan Casey Rare and Notables – September/October 2023 It was an excellent month for migration, with record numbers of Broad-winged Hawks at the Jewel Basin Hawk Watch, and an influx of gulls (including Lesser Black-backed and Short-billed). A small group of Greater White-fronted Geese in Somers was followed by two which spent several days…
Read MoreMorning at Smith Lake Field Trip
by Darcy Thomas Clear skies and cool air greeted a group of six in Kila the morning of September 16th. We got off to a shaky start with crows, starlings, house sparrows, coots, robins, magpies, and mallards on our list. It was worth a chuckle. We kept birding and were rewarded at the fishing access…
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