by John Parker
This month’s edition of Bird Sightings should be called the Early Bird Special. Our warmest winter on record (the continental U.S. and Montana), has transitioned to a mild start of spring, and some of the migratory birds seem to be responding the widespread early warmth.
Perhaps the most exceptional early bird was the Calliope Hummingbird that was at Dave Benes and Dana Skorupa’s feeder on Gallatin Gateway on April 11th. This sighting was fifteen days earlier then the previous early spring record for anywhere in Montana, outside of the far western valleys. Dave said he had just put out the feeder, and not more then an hour later the Calliope was there.
Another surprising early record was the Swainson’s Hawk Mike Vivian saw along Davis Lane on March 24th. This date equals the earliest record for Montana. This spot in northeast Bozeman has had nesting Swainson’s Hawks for many years. John Edwards spotted another early Swainson’s Hawk five days later, over his house several miles north of Bozeman.
On March 30th, Lou Ann Harris found a Long-billed Curlew along Bench Road south of Three Forks. This is about a week earlier then the expected first arrivals.
While birding the south end of Hyalite Reservoir on March 17th, John Parker heard at least two Varied Thrush singing, eventually spotting one singing from the top of the highest spruce tree. Fairly uncommon in this area, Varied Thrushes aren’t usually detected until later in March.
With many warm nights in late March and early April, it was a great opportunity to go out owling in the foothills around the Gallatin Valley. Birders were able to see or hear up to seven different species of owls, including Great Horned Owl, Great Gray Owl, Barred Owl, Long-eared Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Northern Pygmy Owl, and Western Screech-Owl.
There was quite an early run of Spotted Towhees this spring, the earliest being the one that showed up in Linda and Ray Forrest’s Paradise Valley yard following a storm early in March. With the lack of spring snow storms to push rosy finches into the valleys, there have been fewer reports than normal this year. But during that same period early in March Linda and Ray had quite a few Gray-crowned Rosy Finches, which were joined by several Black Rosy Finches.
Photo of Calliope Hummingbird by Dave Benes.
