Yellowstone Ranger District Offers May 18th Field Trip in Big Timber
Friday, May 18 – 8:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
SHORT-GRASS PRAIRIE BIRD TOUR
Presenters: Wildlife Biologists Beth Madden and Rachel Feigley.
Join us for some quality bird watching near Big Timber in short-grass prairie and other unique habitats. We will hit birding hot spots on routes within Sweetgrass County and try to identify as many species as possible. Options for possible viewing include long-billed curlews, sandhill cranes, raptors, waterfowl, and migratory songbirds. No fee. Meet at the Yellowstone Ranger District, Big Timber Office, 225 Big Timber Loop Road.
IMBD offerings are open to community members of all ages. Please sign up for evening lectures and field trips through the Livingston Adult Community Education website @ www.livingstonace.org. Call Rachel Feigley, Yellowstone District Wildlife Biologist, for more information at 222-1892 or 823-6064.
May 19th Field Trip – Fish Technology Center (aka Fish Hatchery)
American Dipper Photo by J. Harris
May 19th: Fish Technology Center
Leader: Lou Ann Harris 406-600-3585 (4 hour trip; easy walking)
Situated where Bridger Creek flows past the base of Drinking Horse Mountain, this small area is a prime birding spot. Several species of warblers, hummingbirds, flycatchers nest in the willows and dogwood along the stream, and the drier slopes of the adjoining hillsides. This is also one of the best places around to look for American Dippers. 15 person limit.
Participants in all trips will meet at the front parking lot of the Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 a.m. and depart at 7:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Car pools will be arranged at the museum; an offer to help with gas to the person driving is always appreciated but not mandatory. Dress for the weather; good footwear is a must as field trip conditions are not always dry. Turn off your cell phones and keep unnecessary conversations to a minimum. Some field trips are limited to a certain number of participants. Contact the trip leader for more details about any trip, and to sign up for the trip. We encourage beginning birders to participate. Come have a good time and learn something new.
2012 Sacajawea Audubon Spring Birding Series
Participants in all trips will meet at the front parking lot of the Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 a.m. and depart at 7:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Car pools will be arranged at the museum; an offer to help with gas to the person driving is always appreciated but not mandatory. Dress for the weather; good footwear is a must as field trip conditions are not always dry. Turn off your cell phones and keep unnecessary conversations to a minimum. Some field trips are limited to a certain number of participants. Contact the trip leader for more details about any trip, and to sign up for the trip. We encourage beginning birders to participate. Come have a good time and learn something new.
May 5th : Headwaters State Park
Leader: Annie Sisk, 285-6596 (1/2 day trip; easy walking)
The Headwaters area includes a variety of habitats, including sage/grassland and riparian, so anything from waterfowl to sparrows can occur. One of the unique features of the Headwaters area are the limestone cliffs, which support several cliff nesting species such as Prairie Falcons and White-throated Swifts. The park, which is situated along the Missouri River corridor, is an ideal location to observe early spring migrants. Those wishing to meet at the Headwaters area, contact the trip leader. 15 person limit.
May 12th: East Gallatin Recreation Area
Leader: Andrew Guttenberg 406-451-5427 (4 hour trip; easy walking)
This trip covers several habitats in a relatively small area. In the wet riparian areas bordering the East Gallatin River are many early spring migrants including warblers. The grasslands, brushy areas and lake will provide many opportunities for sparrows, swallows and water birds. At this location, nearly anything is possible. 15 person limit.
May 19th: Fish Technology Center
Leader: Lou Ann Harris 406-600-3585 (4 hour trip; easy walking)
Situated where Bridger Creek flows past the base of Drinking Horse Mountain, this small area is a prime birding spot. Several species of warblers, hummingbirds, flycatchers nest in the willows and dogwood along the stream, and the drier slopes of the adjoining hillsides. This is also one of the best places around to look for American Dippers. 15 person limit.
May 26th: Mount Ellis
Leader: John Parker 586-5863 (4-5 hour trip; moderately strenuous walking)
We will explore a variety of habitats including grassland, aspen meadow and conifer forest edge, while we look for late spring migrants. Some of the nesting species include Red-naped Sapsucker, Orange-crowned Warblers, White-crowned Sparrow, among others. 15 person limit.
June 2nd: Sourdough Nature Trail
Leader: Angie Kociolek 406-209-2570 (3-4 hour trip; easy walking)
After leaving the MOR parking lot, this trip will begin at the Goldenstein Lane entrance. The trail is an easy, level stroll following Sourdough Creek. This trip is at the peak of spring migration so we should see and hear a variety of flycatchers, thrushes and warblers. Some of the neotropic birds nesting here are Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and Black-headed Grosbeak. 12 person limit.
June 3rd: Rocky Mountain Road Bluebird Trail
Leader: Lou Ann Harris 600-3585 (1/2 day, mostly driving along gravel roads)
Get up close and personal with Mountain Bluebirds. Join bluebirders Lou Ann Harris, Diane Gresham and Janne Hayward as they check bluebird nest boxes and band adults and nestlings along Rocky Mountain Road. This is a rare opportunity to get an inside look at the lives of these amazing birds, including nest building, egg laying and raising young. Due to the sensitive nature of the work, we are limiting this field trip to 6 participants. Inclement weather will cancel. If there is enough interest, a second trip will be added Monday, June 4th. (3 spots left)
June 8-10th: Please join us at the 2012 Montana Audubon Bird Festival in Kalispell, MT.
Contact Montana Audubon at (406) 443-3949 or go to www.mtaudubon.org. This year features pre-festival workshops, Keynote speaker Peter Sherrington, and over 25 field trips, including Glacier National Park. Come join the fun.
June 9th: Lewis and Clark Caverns
Leader: Tom Forwood 406-287-3541
Meet at 8 a.m. at the main (lower) visitor's center for a walk around the grounds of the caverns. 50 species of birds have been seen on this five-hour trip and some interesting ones have turned up! Contact the leader for more information.
June 16th: Mission Creek
Leader: Robin Wolcott 581-5418 (Until mid-afternoon; bring a lunch)
After leaving Bozeman, we will meet at Albertson's parking lot in Livingston at 7:30 a.m. and then leave from there at 7:45 a.m. Carpooling is essential.
In the rolling prairie we may find McCown's Longspur, Long-billed Curlew, and raptors. In the Mission Creek Valley we will watch for residents of the spruce forest. On the return trip we may see Lark Buntings. We have seen over 110 species along this route, including Sprague's Pipit, Upland Sandpiper, and Broad-winged Hawk.
June 23rd: Kelly Canyon
Leader: Ron Farmer 586-3987 (driving and walking along gravel roads)
This trip passes through open fields, then climbs past dry juniper covered hillsides, mature wetlands, mixed woodlands, and eventually reaches into the conifer forest. Bluebirds, towhees, kingbirds, hummingbirds, warblers, grosbeaks and tanagers are just a few of the species that we should see along this route. Four car limit.
** This summer, check the Sacajawea Audubon website for leader's choice field trips in late July and August. **
Headwaters IBA May Bird Census Scheduled
The next Headwaters' IBA Citizen Science effort will be Sunday May 20th, 2012. We'll meet at the Headwaters' State Park across from the campground in the Visitor's Kiosk parking lot at 7:30am to walk the trails in an effort to record species data. May has been historically a very active count with a wide variety of species to be seen. Wet conditions are possible, please wear appropriate foot wear.
Please feel free to call Annie Sisk at 406-285-6596 with any questions. Consider printing a copy of the attached data form for the count if you're attending.
Hope you're all well and enjoying Spring!
Best,
Annie Sisk
Citizen Science Coordinator - Headwaters IBA
Madison Valley IBA Spring Bird Census – April 21st
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Hi again birders!
I am once again looking for volunteers to help with the next survey of the Madison Valley IBA on Saturday, April 21st. Birding is about to get a lot more exciting with all the spring migrants arriving back for the season and its time to document the use of the IBA. Last year's survey in late April had 84 species sighted in spite of a 4-5" snowstorm the night before.
We will meet at the Ennis Pharmacy Cafe at 7:15 am for those who would like to have breakfast there. The rest of you can sleep in a bit longer and show up by 7:45. We should head out on our survey by 8 am.
Please let me know if you can join us by email, bigskyepples@msn.com, or phone 406-580-6186.
Paulette Epple
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Headwaters IBA Bird Census – April 14th
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Hello birders!
Please consider joining us for our first Headwaters IBA count, Saturday April 14th. We'll meet at 8:00 am at the Visitor's Kiosk across from the campground at the Headwaters State Park. Highlights from a recent drive to the park include a Canyon Wren and both Prairie and Peregrine Falcons. It's starting to feel like Spring here in Three Forks!
For questions or to sign-up for this opportunity to participate in citizen science, please contact me at 406-285-6596 or rmr605@hotmail.com
Annie Sisk
Headwaters IBA Citizen Science Coordinator
Sacajawea Audubon
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March Raptor Trip On Tap
Sharp-shinned Hawk (photo by L. Harris)
MARCH RAPTOR TRIP
Join us on Saturday, March 3rd for a morning searching for raptors, along the roads of the northern Gallatin Valley. On this early spring trip the focus will be on finding raptors, but there should be some other interesting birds along this route. The trip ends early in the afternoon at Central Park Pond. We will meet at the Museum of the Rockies at 8:30 am, and leave at 8:45. Be sure to dress for the weather and bring any necessary drinks or snacks for this 4-5 hour trip. If you have a spotting scope that you can bring, that would be helpful. For more information call John Parker at 586-5863.
Madison Valley IBA Winter Bird Census Scheduled
Photo by Beth Johns
Its been an exciting winter with record setting Christmas Bird Counts, the Snowy Owl invasion, and odd birds wintering in Montana like the Great-tailed Grackle at the Gallatin Valley Mall. Its time to do our late winter bird survey on the Madison Valley IBA and it will be interesting to see if we turn up some different birds with the mild winter we have had this year.
The next IBA survey will be on Sunday, March 4th. We will meet at the Ennis Pharmacy Cafe in Ennis at 7:15 if you want to eat breakfast there or a little later if you don't need breakfast. We will try to leave the cafe for our bird counts by 8am. We should be done and ready to leave by noon.
For more information, please email Paulette Epple at bigskyepplesATmsn.com or call at 406-580-6186.
Christmas Bird Count Schedule Announced
Come join the fun in one of our area’s Christmas Bird Counts. The Christmas counts, started in 1900, are an opportunity for beginning and expert birders to get together and enjoy this holiday tradition.
Ennis - Wednesday, December 14th
Compiler: Robin Wolcott 582-0070
Meet at Yesterdays Café in the Ennis Pharmacy, Ennis
at 7:30 AM
Bozeman - Saturday, December 17th
Compiler: John Parker 586-5863
Meet at Perkins Restaurant, 2505 West Main, Bozeman
between 7:00-7:30AM
West Yellowstone - Sunday, December 18th
Compiler: John Heinie (w) 646-7001 (h) (406)640-0124
Meet at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center
West Yellowstone at 8:30 AM
Livingston - Sunday, December 18th (NEW MEETING LOCATION)
Compiler: Sally MacDonald 222-5752 or 223-9167
Meet at the Northern Pacific Beanery at 108 W. Park in
Livingston between 7:00-7:30 AM,
smacbirder@msn.com
Three Forks - Monday, December 26th
Compiler: Dennis Flath 406-539-1145
Meet at Bair’s Truck Stop (Flying J at the
South side of the Belgrade Interchange)
at 7:00 AM
For more information, contact the count compilers. Please Contact the area compiler before the count, as this will give them the opportunity to plan and organize the count before the count day. There is a $5.00 (kids are free) participation fee. This money is sent to the National Audubon Society to pay for compiling and publishing the results of all of the Christmas Bird Counts.
Ennis Lake Field Trip Report – Oct. 22nd
Ennis Lake Waterfowl Field Trip Report
Saturday, October 22nd
Twenty-one people took advantage of the glorious fall day for the Ennis Lake field trip on October 22nd. It was a congenial group that enjoyed the beautiful day, and three members of the group got life birds on this trip.
Perhaps the most stunning sight of the day was right when we arrived at the lake. Over 200 Tundra Swans flew in several V’s north to south over the lake, with the Madison range as a backdrop. At Meadow Lake fishing access, we had excellent views of several species of ducks and gulls, including 2 adult and 1 immature Herring Gulls.
Townsend’s Solitaires were continuously calling and singing as the group spent the next couple of hours around the entrance to Bear Trap Canyon. At the bridge three Clark’s Nutcrackers flew over, giving one group member a life bird. There was a Double-crested Cormorant, several Common Loons, Belted Kingfisher, and Horned Grebes. Bald Eagles wheeled overhead, giving aerobatic displays for the group.
We then went to the southeast corner of the lake. A large number of ducks, including Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, Canvasbacks, Redheads, and Ruddy Ducks, were close in and easy to observe with the seven spotting scopes brought by members of the group. Two people got good looks at their life bird for the day, which was a Barrow’s Goldeneye. After spending about two hours here, the group reluctantly left to go to Clute’s Landing for a brief look. After seeing 30 American White Pelicans fly over the lake, and counting over 300 Western Grebe, they then left to go back to Bozeman.
John Parker