It’s the time of year all bird lovers wait for! Please join SAS for one of our 18 spring field trips. Participants in all trips will meet at the front parking lot of the Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 AM and depart at 7:00 AM unless otherwise noted. Contact the trip leader to reserve a spot and for more details about all trips. If you signed up for a trip, but are unable to attend, please notify the trip leader as others may be on a waiting list. Field trips are limited to a certain number of participants and vehicles. Car pools will be arranged prior to the trip or at the pre-determined meeting place. Dress for the weather; good footwear is a must as field trip conditions are not always dry. Bring any food or beverages that you will need during the course of the trips, and some of the longer trips might require that you pack a lunch. An offer to help with gas to the person driving is always appreciated but not mandatory. Please turn off your cell phones and keep unnecessary conversations to a minimum while in the field. We encourage all skill levels of birders to participate. Enjoy a good time with the birds and your fellow birders!
May 9, Saturday: Sacred Pine Ranch
Leader: John Parker 406-586-5863 conundrumjp@gmail.com
This is a full day’s trip, with light walking on uneven ground.
On this trip we will visit a private ranch in the northwest corner of the Madison Valley above Ennis Lake. We will get an introduction to the ranch’s regenerative practices and their mission to improve the quality of the land from the soil up. We will then bird the property as it extends from wet meadows, benchlands, and up into the foothills of the Tobacco Root Mountains. As we move upslope we should encounter a wide variety of birds, giving us a nice cross section of the birdlife in the valleys of western Montana. If time permits in the afternoon, we may visit the north shore of Ennis Lake. Meet at Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 AM 8-person limit.
May 10, Sunday: Sourdough Nature Trail
Leader: Woody Martyn 406-224-1476 woodymartyn@hotmail.com
(3-4 hours; easy walking)
Enjoy a weekday morning stroll following Sourdough Creek during the peak of migration and early breeding season. We should see and hear a wide variety of flycatchers, thrushes and warblers. During this time of the migration there are often some surprises! Some of the neotropic birds nesting here are Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Meet at Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 AM 8-person limit.
May 16, Saturday: Headwaters State Park
Leader: Dave Story 206-718-5940 story.david.m@gmail.com
(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 Peregrine 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. Carpooling will be arranged where possible. Meet in the northeast corner of the Target parking lot at 6:45 AM and depart at 7:00 AM. Those wishing to meet at Headwaters area please make arrangements with the trip leader. 15-person limit
May 17, Sunday: Mount Ellis
Leader: Brian Thorpe 406-581-8544 thorpe_22@hotmail.com (underscore between thorpe and 22)
(4 -5-hour trip; moderately strenuous walking 3 miles)
This slow-paced hike of approximately 3 miles, will explore a number of habitats on State and Forest Service lands, including grassland, aspen meadow, and conifer forest edge. At this time of year many of the nesting birds, such as Calliope Hummingbirds, Dusky Flycatchers, Red Crossbills, Orange-crowned Warblers, MacGillivray’s Warblers and a wide variety of sparrows will have arrived on their territories. Along with terrific views of the Gallatin Valley, the wildflowers on this walk will likely distract you from the diversity of birds.Meet at Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 AM 8-person limit.
May 20 Wednesday: Bozeman Fish Technology Center
Leader: Travis Kidd 989-820-0078 travis.w.kidd@gmail.com
(Until late morning; moderate walking)
There are several habitat types that come together in this relatively compact area, including the riparian areas along Bridger Creek, the conifer slopes of Drinking Horse Mountain, and the drier slopes of the M Trail. Many of the breeding birds should already be on their territories and actively singing at this date. Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Townsend’s Solitaires, Green-tailed Towhees, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and American Dippers are expected here. Meet at the Drinking Horse Trail parking lot at 7:15 AM 8-person limit.
May 23, Saturday: Milligan Canyon and the Headwaters Area
Leader: Josiah Kiehl 406-539-6832 josiah.kiehl@gmail.com
(Until early to midafternoon; 2 miles of easy walking on gravel roads)
This trip begins with a walk through the arid limestone cliffs of Milligan Canyon. Canyon Wrens, Rock Wrens, and Spotted Towhees frequent this dry landscape. Golden Eagles and Pinyon Jays are also a possibility along this portion of the trip. Later in the morning we will explore some of the other areas near Three Forks featuring a variety of habitats, including sage/grassland and riparian, so anything from waterfowl to sparrows is possible. Meet in Three Forks, contact leader for details. 4 car and 12-person limit.
May 24, Sunday: Glen Lake Rotary Park
Leader: Woody Martyn 406-224-1476 woodymartyn@hotmail.com
(3–4 hour trip; easy walking; at most two miles)
There are many possibilities at this local birding hotspot. Over 180 bird species have been seen in the recreation area. With a pond, riparian habitat, limited grassland, and mature cottonwoods we hope to see good diversity of what Gallatin Valley has to offer during peak breeding season. Species may include flycatchers, Warbling Vireo, Gray Catbird, several warblers, Lazuli Bunting, and Black Headed Grosbeak. Meet 7:00 AM at the Glen Lake parking lot. 8-person limit.
May 26, Tuesday: Sourdough Nature Trail
Leader: Travis Kidd 989-820-0078 travis.w.kidd@gmail.com
(3-4 hours; easy walking)
Enjoy a weekday morning stroll following Sourdough Creek during the peak of migration and early breeding season. We should see and hear a wide variety of flycatchers, thrushes and warblers. During this time of the migration there are often some surprises! Some of the neotropic birds nesting here are Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, and Black-headed Grosbeak. Meet at Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 AM 8-person limit.
May 30, Saturday: Sweet Grass County Prairie Bird Tour
Leader: Beth Madden 406-224-1012 bethmadden64@gmail.com
Full day tour, with option for early departure. (TRIP CURRENTLY FULL)
Enjoy a day on the spectacular high prairie east of the Crazy Mountains. We will follow an approximately 45-mile driving route through prairie and agricultural landscapes north of Big Timber, with an hour-long walk on some prairie lands. In addition to migrants, we can expect to see early breeders such as curlews, cranes, raptors, and prairie songbirds like longspurs and meadowlarks. Meet in Big Timber (Big Timber is 63 miles east of Bozeman on Interstate 90) at the Town Pump located at I-90 Exit 367 at 8:00 am. Bozeman carpooling may also be arranged. 12-person limit.
May 31, Sunday: Spanish Creek
Leader: Tim Preso 406-600-3302 presofamily@msn.com
(Until mid-afternoon; moderate walking on forest trail, with several hundred foot elevation gain)
This trip follows Spanish Creek through the Flying D Ranch, to the edge of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. We will spend most of the morning birding along the road focusing on the grasslands and forest edges. Once at the trailhead there is a juxtaposition of habitats, which support an interesting mix of birds. In one direction the trail borders the wet willow riparian area along Spanish Creek, while going in the other direction, the trail climbs through dry open slopes. Meet at the rear parking lot behind the Jump at Cottonwood Road and Highway 191 at 7:30 AM 10 person or 4 cars limit.
June 6, Saturday: Chestnut Mountain
Leader: Andrew Guttenberg 406-451-5427 afgutte@hotmail.com
(1/2-day; hike of moderate difficulty, 4 miles out and back)
This trail climbs the north slopes of Chestnut Mountain, from Rocky Creek to the back side of Frog Rock. A wide diversity of birds breed here including several species of woodpeckers, flycatchers, and finches including Olive-sided Flycatcher and Cassin’s Finch. The cool recesses harbor Swainson’s Thrush, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and this may be the best local spot to find Ovenbirds. Meet at Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 AM 8-person limit.
June 7, Sunday: Mount Ellis
Leader: John Parker 406-586-5863 conundrumjp@gmail.com
(4 -5-hour trip; moderately strenuous walking about 3 miles)
This slow-paced hike of approximately 3 miles, will explore a number of habitats on State and Forest Service lands, including grassland, aspen meadow, and conifer forest edge. At this time of year many of the nesting birds, such as Calliope Hummingbirds, Dusky Flycatchers, Red Crossbills, Orange-crowned Warblers, MacGillivray’s Warblers and a wide variety of sparrows will have arrived on their territories. Along with terrific views of the Gallatin Valley, the wildflowers on this walk will likely distract you from the diversity of birds.Meet at Museum of the Rockies at 6:45 AM 8-person limit.
