Sacajawea Audubon 2012 Birdathon
Saturday, May 12 – Sunday, June 24, 2012

Spring is here, which means it's time to call your favorite birders and register your birdathon team.  The Sacajawea Audubon Birdathon Committee would like to announce our 2012 Birdathon.

How does a Birdathon Work?

A Birdathon is similar to a walk-a-thon, but instead of collecting pledges per mile walked, you spend a great spring day outdoors with fellow birders, scanning skies, trees, shrubs, fields and water - even your backyard feeder - for birds.  The challenge is to identify as many bird species as possible within a 24 hour period from May 12 – June 24, 2012.  You collect pledges per bird species and the money raised benefits Southwestern Montana birds and other wildlife.

To add to the fun - by participating you could win prizes and awards. Check-out the Birdathon Rules and Prize & Award information sheets in the Birdathon Kit you can find at the bottom of this post, or call 406 600-6666.

How Can You Participate in the Birdathon?

Participation is easier: You don't have to be an expert - some people even do Birdathons by counting the visitors to their feeder. Others cover dozens of miles in a day, racking up over 100 species. The key to Birdathon is to have fun!

• Join a Team

Contact the Birdathon Committee, we have birdathon teams that would love for you to join them.  Even if you can't tell a goose from a grouse, we can teach you how.  We also, have celebrity birder teams.

• Form a Team

Get a few of your birding friends together and schedule a 24 hour period to go birding. Contact us for a Birdathon Kit and register your team. (see registration form for details)

• Take a Business "Bird Break"

Trade in your briefcase for binoculars, grab co-workers and count birds on your lunch hour! Contact us for more information on getting your business involved in Sacajawea Birdathon - becoming an event sponsor, creating a company team, or specific levels and benefits of event sponsorship,

• Be a Backyard Birder

Gather pledges and watch birds in your neighborhood park, or at your own backyard feeder. Compete for our “Sitting Duck” award. Contact us or go online at www.sacajaweaaudubon.org for a Birdathon Kit.

• Sponsor a Team Member

Support your favorite team or team participant by making a pledging.

The Birdathon Committee has maps, field guides, fundraising tips, and plenty of experience to share. Contact us at www.sacajaweaaudubon.org or 600-6666.

2012 Birdathon Key Dates

May 12 - First Day of Birdathon

June 24 - Last Day of Birdathons

June 26 - Team Reports and Pledge Forms Due

June 28 - Birdathon Award & Celebration Party

Awards & Prizes Categories

There Are Many Prizes – check out our website for more details

We will be giving out 11 Awards this year.  They are.....

Most Species Identified: This award recognizes the team that identifies the most species in a 24-hour period. All members of the team must seen or heard 95% of the birds reported.

Most Money Raised: This award recognizes the team that raises the highest total dollar amount in donations.

Most Pledges Collected: This award recognizes the team that solicits the highest number of individual pledges.

Best Bird Award:   This award recognizes the team that records the "best" bird as determined by an outside judge. This could be a rare bird for a specific habitat or a bird that is difficult to find in its habitat.

Sacajawea Audubon Award:   This award recognizes the team that sees the most Flickers on their Birdathon Day.

Montana Audubon Award:   This award recognizes the team that see the most Magpies on their Birdathon Day

Important Bird Area (IBA) Sighting Award:   This award recognizes the team that observes the most bird species in Montana IBA. The Team Report submitted must indicate on which IBAs the birds were seen.

Sitting Duck Award:   This award is given to the team whose members identify the highest number of species while staying within an imaginary circle 200 feet in diameter during their count.

Carbon Neutral Award:   This award is given to the team who is the most energy efficient or the smallest carbon footprint.

Mentor Award - Each Team Leader will be entered for a prize.

Rookie Award:  If you’re new to birdwatching you will be eligible for a  prize at the awards celebration.

Sacajawea Audubon Birdathon ....

 … the most fun you'll ever have helping to protect Southwest Montana’s natural heritage.

For Birdathon Kit or more information:

Birdathon Kit 2012  or

contact Loreene Reid at loreener@yahoo.com  or 600-6666.

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.

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.

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. **

Northern Red Bishop - Photo by Ron & Cheryl Farmer

Twelve intrepid Montana birders traveled to The Gambia for two weeks of amazing birding in October 2011. Ron & Cheryl Farmer will present commentary and slides from the trip as the Audubon program for Monday April 9, 2012. A small African country, The Gambia is a long narrow strip of land following the river Gambia. Surrounded on three sides Senegal, The Gambia has savanna, small forests, inland wetlands, and coastal wetlands that attract over 500 species of birds. Ornithologist Jeff Marks led the birding expedition for Montana Audubon. Other trip participants attending this meeting may join the discussion.

Ron & Cheryl Farmer are members of Sacajawea Audubon Society. Ron received Montana Audubon's Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Montana Bird Festival in Glasgow on June 4, 2011. The award recognizes a volunteer who has dedicated extraordinary effort, time, and energy to Audubon. Ron has donated decades of valuable service to the chapter, the state, and the birds. Cheryl has participated in birding also for decades, including trips to see birds around this country and abroad.

The Sacajawea Audubon Society meets the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m., at the Hope Lutheran Church, 2152 W. Graf Street (off of South 19th), Bozeman. Audubon invites the public to attend its meetings and participate in its field trips, listed here on the chapter's website. We meet monthly September through May, and during the summer we play: We go birding, and we survey birds at Important Bird Areas. Watch this website for our summer activities.