Grouse and Ruffed Hummingbirds Calliope Bird Photos by Bob Martinka this IBA. habitats within www.mtaudubon.org Libby Whitefish rely on

Hamilton Kalispell Polson Missoula Safe HarborMarsh Anaconda Browning Deer Deer Lodge Dillon Butte Ennis

particularly abundantspecies,particularly breeding, during essentialhabitatfor threatened, unique, or

as awildlife The site isactuallyasmallbay preserve. con- that ismanaged property isaNaturehectares) Conservancy and is openfor visitation. site isprotected from development destruction, andhabitat mited to stewardship at the Safe so the and Harbor marsh, Goshawk iscom- canalso beseen.The Nature Conservancy in the area andother raptors such asOsprey andNorthern BaldEaglesare Chickadee. knownMountain to over-winter Nuthatch, and both Black-capped various flycatchers and Important Bird Important Areas are sitesthat provide Great Great Falls forest speciessuch asWestern Wood Pewee, Red-breasted nected by channels side to the large openbodyofwater Safe HarborMarshIBA Bozeman conifer forest sourrounds andsupports the marsh composing Flathead Lake. Though small,over 130 The Safe Harbor Marsh Important BirdThe Safe Area Important HarborMarsh (53 Livingston Yellowthroat. Mixed ponderosa and Douglasfir pine migration, orwinterseason species ofbirds, many breeding, have beencounted bird, Wren, Marsh SongSparrow andCommon here inthisunique low-elevation freshwater like Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Black- marsh. The marsh has bulrush and cattails along cattails has bulrush and The marsh marsh. the edge thatthe provide edge for habitat nesting species Havre Lewistown Billings Malta Forsyth Glasgow s. Broadus Glendive Sidney Safe Harbor Marsh Important Bird Area

Coordinated by BirdLife International, the Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program is a global initiative aimed at identifying and conserving the most important places for birds. The IBA Program’s foundation is an emphasis on science-based identification, assessment, and conservation of birds and the habitats needed to survive. IBAs rely Notable bird species on local stewardship and focus on engaging individuals, associated with the IBA private landowners, local communities, businesses, part- (above - Photo by Maria ner organizations, and government agencies in site conser- Mantas, TNC) vation. Important Bird Area designation does not confer legal or regulatory status to a site. Instead, participation > Ruffed Grouse in conservation is voluntary on the part of landowners > Calliope Hummingbird and land managers. IBA boundaries serve as an initial > Rufous Hummingbird spatial guide and help identify areas that warrant > Willow Flycatcher prioritization for protection and conservation actions. > Hammond’s Flycatcher > Marsh Wren You can help with the conservation of this IBA by submit- > Cassin’s Finch ting your bird observations through Montana Natural > Song Sparrow Heritage Program or at ebird.org, an online bird sighting > Common database. To get to Safe Harbor Marsk, follow highway 93 Yellowthroat (top) north to Rocky Point Rd. Turn right and then right again > Yellow-headed Blackbird onto King’s Point Rd. There are conservancy signs about 1.5 > Red-winged Blackbird miles east to enter. yellowthr photo by Bob Martinka For more information contact Amy Seaman: [email protected], or Janene Lichtenberg: [email protected]