3 days, 2 nights:  Departs Bozeman Friday morning, June 7 – Returns by 5:00 PM on Sunday, June 9 

$650/person for double occupancy   |   single supplement + $175

Includes lodging, food, and transportation from Bozeman. Limited to 10 participants

TOUR GUIDES: Steve Hoffman & Steve Eshbaugh, Merlin Birding & Nature Tours LLC

This tour will explore a diversity of habitats, ranging from high-elevation wetland and prairie habitats at 6,600 feet to the forests of the Centennial Mountains.

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is in the incredibly scenic and isolated Centennial Valley of southwestern Montana, 60 miles west of Yellowstone National Park. This 3-day, 2-night tour will include a vast array of habitats, ranging from high-elevation wetland and prairie habitats at 6,600 feet, to the dense aspen & conifer forests of the adjacent Centennial Mountains, which ascend to over 10,000 ft. in elevation. This diverse, wetland-prairie-sagebrush-montane environment gives Red Rock Lakes its unique character. Nesting wetland and prairie birds are abundant throughout Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge at this time of year, with 120+ species possible. 

Red Rock Lakes is best known as the primary location for heroic efforts in the 1930’s to save the Trumpeter Swan from regional extirpation. In addition to this majestic swan, another 230 bird species have been identified within the refuge, including: Long-billed Curlew, Sandhill Crane, Red-necked Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron, American White Pelican, Sora, White-faced Ibis, American Avocet, Willet, Northern Harrier, Bald & Golden Eagles, Swainson’s & Ferruginous Hawks, Prairie & Peregrine Falcons, Short-eared Owl, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s Sparrow,  numerous duck species, flycatchers, kinglets, warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes, woodpeckers and, if we’re lucky, even Greater Sage-Grouse! Moose, Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Coyote, Red Fox are likely. Gray Wolf and Grizzly Bear are possible!

For more information, email Steve Hoffman at Steve@merlinbirding.com or cal 406-461-5714. Spaces for this trip will be limited to no more than 10 participants, providing an exceptional ratio of five participants to each of the two skilled guides. Registration will be on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.

To register for this trip click HERE.

 

Photo by Kyle Moon