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18th ANNUAL MONTANA AUDUBON BIRD FESTIVAL June 9–11, 2017 Best Western Plus Heritage Inn Great Falls, Montana
John Lambing
Russell Hill program 17 layout:Layout 1 2/22/17 2:10 PM Page 2
welcome Festival headquarters and lodging The Best Western Plus Heritage Inn is located off the 10th Avenue South We will be celebrating the milestone of Montana (I-15) exit in Great Falls and is within minutes of the CM Russell Museum, Audubon’s first 40 Years at our 18th Annual Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Giant Springs State Park, First People’s Wings Across the Big Sky Festival, co-hosted by Buffalo Jump, Great Falls International Airport, Holiday Village Mall, and the the Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon Chapter. Rivers Edge Trail along the Missouri River. As the largest full-service hotel in This is shaping up to be a spectacular event and Central Montana with 231 guest rooms and over 17,000 sq. ft. event space we hope you will join us in Great Falls, June 9–11, with 12 meeting rooms, we are able to accommodate groups of all sizes. 2017. Registration will open at 1:00 p.m. so plan Complimentary features include: airport and area-wide transportation, to sign in and enjoy a special presentation parking, wireless internet, indoor pool and fitness center. The address is Friday afternoon, followed by a Barbecue and 1700 Fox Farm Road and is easily accessible from the south, north or west Celebration Friday evening. We invite you to using the 10th Avenue exit, or from the east following 10th Avenue South participate in dynamic birding field trips, listen across the Missouri River to the base of the hill. to interesting speakers, view a wide variety of informational booths, and join in on other fun Rooms are available for $104 per night. Please call 406-761-1900 or festivities as we celebrate efforts to conserve 1-800-548-8256 and mention Montana Audubon to receive this special our birds and wildlife in Montana. discounted rate. We suggest that you book early, especially if you are planning to arrive early or stay late for the extra field trip opportunities Take a minute to review this brochure for offered by the local Audubon Chapter. The hotel will honor the pricing information on our Festival headquarters, as long as there are rooms available. speakers, and fantastic birding field trips to help you decide how to spend your fun-filled The Heritage Inn proudly supports Montana Audubon and looks forward weekend in and around Great Falls. to welcoming you in June!
Overview FRIDAY 1:00 p.m. Registration Begins 2:30 p.m. Veracruz Tour Presentation keynote speaker by Steve Hoffman 4:45 p.m. Barbecue David Ringer 6:15 p.m. Welcome by Mayor Bob Kelly, and 40th Anniversary Celebration, including As Audubon’s first Chief Network Officer, a Bird Calling Contest. David J. Ringer oversees the health, vitality, capacity, diversity, and strength of Audubon’s SATURDAY MORNING vast distributed network. That network 5:00 a.m. Breakfast with field trip groups includes more than 460 Audubon chapters, and leaders, Field Trips more than 40 Audubon nature centers, SATURDAY AFTERNOON key strategic partners, and thousands of 1:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker – David Ringer, advocates and volunteers. He also leads National Audubon Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Communities 2:00 p.m. Afternoon Speaker Sessions with program, which engages people in practical, Montana Audubon Programs joyful solutions to protect birds and special places SATURDAY EVENING and to make communities healthier for people too. 5:30 p.m. Banquet, Dessert Auction, Awards Ringer previously served as Audubon’s national communications director, SUNDAY MORNING overseeing communications, public relations, and social media, and before 5:00 a.m. Breakfast with field trip groups that as Audubon’s communications director for the Gulf of Mexico and and leaders, Field Trips Mississippi Flyway. He was Audubon’s front-line PR manager in Louisiana during the 2010 BP oil disaster. (Look for information on Page 7 regarding pre- and post-festival field trips sponsored and facilitated by the Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon chapter.) Before joining the Audubon staff, Ringer provided a wide variety of communications and media for NGOs around the world, an experience that took him to more than 25 countries on six continents. He has also Festival Carbon Footprints and You worked as a web developer and a biological field technician. Ringer writes about bird taxonomy and systematics, and other natural history topics. Included with your registration is an opportunity His love of birds began in childhood, and his connection to Audubon to offset your carbon footprint travelling to and started in high school, when he joined the Greater Ozarks Audubon from the Festival. We once again invite you to donate toward our goal of achieving carbon Society of Springfield, Missouri. neutrality at the Montana Audubon Center. 2 program 17 layout:Layout 1 2/22/17 2:10 PM Page 3
Friday afternoon presentation: Veracruz River of Raptors Project
Steve Hoffman opportunities to view the spectacular Blue crowned Retired Executive Director of raptor migration as well as enjoy diverse Motmot Montana Audubon birding experiences throughout central and southern Veracruz – 300+ bird species can Steve Hoffman will present a slideshow be observed on this trip! International, overview of the Veracruz River of Raptors a nonprofit Project (VRR), located near the Gulf Coast Recently retired as Executive Director of organization
in eastern Mexico. This project is designed Montana Audubon, Steve Hoffman served dedicated to Martinka Bob to monitor the largest raptor migration on in this capacity for more than a decade. monitoring and Earth (4-6 million raptors of more than 25 After earning his M.S. degree in Wildlife conserving hawks, eagles and other raptors raptor species counted each autumn). As Ecology from Utah State University in 1979, across the American West. He has authored co-founder, Steve will describe how VRR he devoted his entire 38-year career more than 35 scientific papers on raptor was launched, and give an overview of key to wildlife conservation. After 10 years migration, ecology, conservation, and findings of this unique 25-year raptor of government service (primarily as an endangered species management. Steve has population monitoring effort. Steve will also Endangered Species Biologist for the US given dozens of presentations throughout briefly highlight his upcoming fall 2017 Fish & Wildlife Service in the American the US and abroad on the identification, birding tour to Veracruz, which includes Southwest), Steve founded HawkWatch migration and conservation of raptors.
Saturday afternoon presentations by Montana Audubon Staff
Janet Ellis Montana Audubon; the “Lifetime Award resource issues Public Policy Director for Conservation and Clean Energy across the state, with Achievement” from the National Wildlife a proven ability to Janet Ellis has coordinated Montana Federation; and a “Special Achievement work with diverse Audubon’s legislative and public policy work Award” from the Montana Native Plant stakeholders to solve on behalf of Montana’s wildlife and habitat Society. She holds a degree in biology from tough problems. since 1983. She became Program Director the University of Montana. In 2015, Janet Public policy is an on a full-time, year-round basis in 1989. She began a new adventure, serving in the important element of our has received several awards for her work, Montana Legislature as HD81 Representative. conservation work. We safeguard Montana’s including “Conservationist of the Year” from natural heritage by influencing decision the Montana Environmental Information Montana Audubon is a respected and makers to protect our state’s healthy Center, Montana Wildlife Federation, and influential voice on complex natural environment and rich biodiversity.
Amy Seaman the Madison and Missouri Rivers, Charles we collect data, and Conservation Program Manager & Lobbyist M. Russell NWR, Bitterroot Valley, Bridger what threats are Ridge, and Glacier National Park. most pressing. As Amy Seaman came to Montana Audubon in we continue to mold 2013 and is now our Conservation Program The long-term conservation of priority our conservation Manager and lead lobbyist. She has a birds, with a focus on Montana’s important approach to account background in biology and environmental riparian, sagebrush, and native grassland for these sometimes science. She works on our Important Bird habitats, has been central to Montana sweeping changes it is Area (IBA) Program and myriad other bird Audubon’s mission since our inception. important to recall our conservation and monitoring projects. During the past 40 years the growth of our past successes and revisit our She has studied birds widely throughout program has been shaped by many forces, dedication to using the best available science the west and in Montana locations such as including how birders communicate, how as we move forward.
Carolyn Sevier She has been connected with the Montana is also one of Montana Audubon Center Director, Billings Audubon Center as a partner, volunteer, and restoration – presenter since moving to Billings in 2007, changing what was Carolyn has been in Montana since 1998, and has been on staff since January 2016. once a gravel mine earning her degree from Carroll College into a vibrant and working for a number of environmental For more than ten years, the Audubon riparian habitat that education and conservation organizations Center has been providing nature education includes a series of in the state since then. She was a board along the Yellowstone River corridor in demonstration gardens member of the Montana Environmental Billings, Montana. On its 54-acre campus and and plant communities Education Association from 2008–2016, in partnership with the Yellowstone River native to south-central serving as its president for five years. Parks Association, the story of the Center Montana.
3 program 17 layout:Layout 1 2/22/17 2:10 PM Page 4 field trips Restrooms All field trips this year have been designated All field trips are limited to 15 participants end a bit later in Available “Family Friendly” by the UMBA Chapter. and will leave the Heritage Inn at 6:00 a.m. the day or away Come with your water bottles and unless otherwise noted. Be sure to join your from Great Falls. Mostly comfortable shoes and participate in breakfast table marked with your field trip Check individual Driving a diverse selection of birding and number between 5 and 6 a.m. so the leader trip descriptions conservation-themed trips. Please review can give you pertinent information and make for more info. each description (pages 4–6) and make plans for car-pooling. Sack lunches are your choices. available as part of your registration, so be Please check out the pre- and post-trips on sure to pick those up as you leave with your page 7 that will be offered along with the Saturday trips are labeled “SA”; Sunday trips group. Also, bring your gear—comfortable festival this year. Upper Missouri Breaks are “SU.” Please note the first 14 trips are walking shoes, water, raingear, camera, Audubon has scheduled two pre- and one labeled SA / SU since the trips are identical binoculars and any personal needs for your post-trip. Contact information is included both days. trip. All Saturday trips will return to the with the narrative describing the trips. hotel by noon, whereas some Sunday trips
Sparrow, and various flycatchers. Records from SA1 / SU1 Arod Lake 2009 indicate that 100 species were observed SA6 / SU6 Highwood Loop on a daylong field trip. Sunday’s excursion will Arod Lake is an 800-acre Wildlife Management spend more time and involve more stops. A trip around the Highwood Mountains takes Area and a Montana IBA. It consists of three Restrooms available only in Choteau. in grassland pastures, cultivated lands, several main lakes. This water and grassland habitat is state Waterfowl Production Areas and unique home to nesting colonies of American Pelican, geographic formations, such as the Shonkin Sag California Gull and Double-crested Cormorant. SA4 / SU4 Freezout Lake and Square Butte. You’ll take a walk to explore You will see diverse species like Marsh Wren, the Sag. You could see Northern Harrier, Common Yellowthroat, Red-winged and Yellow- Located 36 miles west of Great Falls, this Common Raven, Golden Eagles, Bald Eagles, headed blackbirds, snipe, and shorebirds such Montana FWP waterfowl production area is an Waterfowl, Short-eared Owl, Mountain as Willet, yellowlegs, Long-billed Curlew and 11,350-acre prairie marsh with substantial Bluebird, Loggerhead Shrike. Time and weather Marbled Godwit. There are also several ancient grassland that attracts American White Pelican, permitting, we will walk to the shallow marsh teepee rings in the area. You’ll also learn about Clark’s, western and eared grebes, American Kingsbury Lake, through brushy grassland. A the flora, geography, and history of the landscape. avocet, Black-necked stilt, Franklin’s gull, Marsh prairie dog town on the east side of Kingsbury Walking, 2 miles, uneven ground of flat shortgrass Wren, Say’s Phoebe, Wilson’s Phalarope, Lake is a possible location for burrowing owls. prairie with cactus. Wear protective shoes. Forster’s, Common and the occasional Black More time can be spent at each location on Tern, White-faced Ibis, Yellow-headed and Red- Sunday. Walking at Shonkin Sag is shortgrass winged blackbirds. Best known for the hundreds prairie; no trail. Kingsbury Lake has no trails; tall SA2 / SU2 Benton Lake NWR of thousands of Snow Geese that stage here in sagebrush, brushy and possibly rattlesnakes. March, it has an eBird checklist of over 200 birds. Few restroom facilities. Located eight miles north of Great Falls, Benton Limited walking; short distances. Lake National Wildlife Refuge is an IBA and was set aside as a refuge and breeding ground for SA7 / SU7 Raptor Special birds in 1929. The prairie marsh and grasslands SA5 / SU5 Giant Springs; provides prime habitat for Chestnut-collared Local Hot Spots This trip takes you along the Missouri and Smith Longspur, Marbled Godwit, Long-billed Curlew, Rivers, the high plains between Ulm and Marsh Wren, Eared Grebe, Wilson’s Phalarope, Giant Springs was documented by the Lewis Cascade then back along the Missouri River. Franklin’s Gull, Forster’s Tern and Common and Clark Expedition in 1805 and is one of the The route has produced amazing numbers of Terns, White-faced Ibis, Yellow-headed largest freshwater springs in the country. The raptors during spring migration. In June you Blackbirds, American Avocet and in some years springs are the site of the Roe River, once listed should see nesting raptors such as Red-tailed Burrowing Owls. A staff member from Benton in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Hawks, Swainson’s Hawks, Golden Eagle, Lake will accompany the group to talk about world’s shortest. Large trees and Missouri River Ferruginous Hawk, American Kestrel, and current management changes and challenges. riparian habitat make this a dependable place to possibly Short-eared Owl. The route passes by Mostly driving; short boardwalk. see birds near Great Falls. Bullock’s oriole, pasture grassland, cultivated land and several House Wren, swallows, kingbirds, Gray Catbird, potholes to add to the variety of birds you Yellow Warbler, Northern Flicker and Great could see. The Sunday trip will allow more SA3 / SU3 Choteau Loop Horned Owl all nest in the area. It has an eBird time at each stop and a lunch break stop. checklist over 200 species. This is a great trip for Mostly roadside walking. This route through ranchlands and around Pine beginners and families. Other local hot spots, Butte Preserve on the Rocky Mountain Front West Bank Park (eBird checklist over 150 offers views of grassland birds such as Long- species), Garden Home Park, and various fishing billed Curlew, McCown’s and Chestnut-collared access sites near Great Falls, will be visited Longspurs, Golden Eagle, Bobolink, Sprague’s depending on which birds have been seen Pipit, bluebirds, Lazuli Bunting, Clay-colored recently. Walking established trails and paths, 100 yards to 1 mile at each stop; easy. 4 program 17 layout:Layout 1 2/22/17 2:10 PM Page 5
American White Pelican, possibly Yellow- will talk to the group about how ranching and SA8 / SU8 Ryan Dam breasted Chat and Yellow Warblers. Easy protecting habitat for wildlife can coexist. Expect walking on established trail; 3.6 miles round trip; to see a diverse mix of grassland and riparian This trip starts with some easy walking along some up and down. birds, including upland birds, waterfowl such as West Bank Park. June is generally “baby duck” herons, shorebirds and nesting Bald Eagles. If month. The trip continues to Ryan Dam, a public road conditions permit, we’ll visit the ranch picnic area on an island developed by Montana SA12 / SU12 Sun River Canyon; wetlands that attract waterfowl year round. Power, which is on the Missouri River. The site Wagner Basin Walking on ranchlands. has large cottonwoods that host a nesting pair of Bald Eagles. The lower stories have a We will hike along aspens, cliffs, fen, forest and surprising number of warblers, towhees, wildflowers on the Rocky Mountain Front and SA16 First Peoples Buffalo Jump; swallows, catbirds. A large number of birds use explore the beaver-dam bottomland. Plan on Surveying the river as a highway. A rough trail used by scrambling off-trail for a mile and climbing a non-motorized bikes above the island takes you ridge for views, looking for bighorn sheep. We First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park-National through rocky grassland, yucca, sagebrush and will seek Hairy Woodpecker, Clark’s Nutcracker, Historic Landmark is an archaeological site with coulees that border the river. West Bank Park Townsend’s Solitaire, Pine Siskin, Mountain possibly the largest bison cliff jump in North and Ryan Dam Island are easy walking up to Bluebird, Dusky Grouse, Golden Eagle, Prairie America. Native peoples used this site for at 1 mile. Trail is rough, uneven with some elevation Falcon and Great Horned Owl. Bring bear spray, least a thousand years before Lewis and Clark up and down. windbreaker and hiking boots. No restrooms. arrived. The jump consists of a mile long Sunday we will hike further up the ridge for sandstone cliff; there are remnants of drive lines lunch, returning mid-afternoon. Hiking off-trail, on top of the cliff and up to 18-feet of SA9 / SU9 Salisbury Farm rocky terrain; elevation gain 1,000 feet; expect compacted remains below. We will visit the wind especially at elevation. jump site and learn about using eBird and Visit a 5000-acre organic farm along the survey techniques while observing Rock Wren, Missouri River near Floweree, 30 miles north of Say’s Phoebe, Long-billed Curlews, Upland Great Falls. Learn about the small grain and SA13 / SU13 Teton River; Sandpiper, Black-headed Grosbeak, warblers and cattle ranch run by Elsie and Russ Salisbury, Cave Mountain flycatchers among the slopes, mixed-grass while observing a variety of birds, a bald eagle prairie and if time allows, nearby riparian areas. nest and tipi rings. Canada geese, Blue-winged From Choteau you will follow the Teton River Established trail over prairie; some elevation Teal, Gadwall, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern past cultivated fields, ranches, riparian, and gain/loss; distance 2 miles. Harrier, American Avocet, Willet, Short-eared streamside habitats into the Rocky Mountain Owl, Downy Woodpecker, Western Wood- Front including Cave Mountain campground and peewee and more. They have recently finished Teton Pass ski area. Look for Dippers, Mountain SA17 Little Belt Bluebird Trail; a new home insulated with hay bales! Bluebirds, Rufous Hummingbird, flycatchers, Logging Creek Walking short distances over farmland. Belted Kingfisher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Chickadee, This field trip is on fair weather roads. It begins Swainson’s Hawk, Prairie Falcon, MacGillivray’s with stops at possibly the “birdiest” rest stop in SA10 / SU10 Stanford Bluebird Trail Warbler and Long-billed Curlew. the state. Then it follows an active bluebird trail on Logging Creek Road into the Little Belts. The The Stanford Bluebird Trail is a loop that starts area is valley-bottom habitat with small creeks at Stanford, follows Dry Wolf Road to the SA14 / SU14 Thain Creek Road and brush. In addition to Mountain Bluebirds campground then loops back on Running Wolf you could see Bobolink, Sandhill crane, Western Road. The route consists of grasslands, The Thain Creek Road leads to Thain Creek Tanager, Rock Wren, Lazuli Bunting, swallows, coniferous woods, aspen, riparian, wetland and campground and trailheads into the Highwood kingbirds, even hear a Veery and observe various burned forest habitat. With all that habitat you Mountains. It is a mixture of grassland, riparian, raptors. could see nearly anything including Mountain foothills, mountain streamside and more. If you Chickadee, Hairy Woodpecker, Gray Catbird, don’t make stops to look and listen, you could Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Dipper, Sandhill miss swallows, flycatchers, Common Nighthawk, SA18 Little Belts; Sluice Boxes Crane, swallows and Mountain Bluebirds, Rufous Hummingbird, American Redstart, Belted Steller’s Jay, Pine Siskin, flycatchers, warblers, and Kingfisher, kingbirds, goldfinch, Lazuli Bunting, Izaak Walton Spring is not only a rest stop, it is raptors. Roadside walking. Restrooms available sparrows, Western Tanager even Dippers. There a little gem of cliff, riparian and small wetland at campground. is one vault toilet at Thain Creek trailhead. We and the first stop as you head to Sluice Boxes. will walk up along Thain Creek at the trailhead You can hear and see Common Yellowthroat, as time and snowpack allows. Roadside birding Cordilleran Flycatcher, Gray Catbird. You could SA11 / SU11 Sulphur Springs while driving Thain Creek Road; walk along the spend all morning but your next stop is Sluice creek is established trail; little elevation change; Boxes. The area is a delight of songs and This hiking trail is an easy 3.6-mile round trip stream crossing on primitive footlogs. Limited sightings in an easy 3/4 mile walk on established through yucca, grasslands and coulees. The trip restrooms at end of road. trail (up to the first stream crossing). We’ll find will highlight birds, plants and Lewis and Clark Calliope hummingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Western history on a relatively remote stretch of the Tanager, White-throated Swift, swallows, Spotted Missouri River to the cold springs. Water from SA15 Bird Creek Ranch Towhee, Northern Harrier. Time permitting we Sulphur Springs proved vital in treating will then explore Dry Fork of Belt Creek. More Sacagawea’s illness during the 1805 portage at The 2292-acre Bird Creek Ranch has a songs – warblers, thrush, Red-naped Sapsucker, Great Falls. The interpretive signs along the trail permanent conservation easement held by Mountain Chickadee. ¾ mile one way on offer information regarding the Lewis & Clark Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The ranch has a established wide trail at Sluice Boxes; otherwise expedition. Expect to see lark sparrow, Eastern mix of hardwood trees, wetlands, streams, native roadside; easy, level walking on road surface or and Western Kingbirds, Bullock’s Oriole, grassland and farmland. Jim and Cindy Kittredge gravel. Restrooms available at two stops. 5 program 17 layout:Layout 1 2/22/17 2:10 PM Page 6
SA19 Muddy Creek Falls SU18 First Peoples Buffalo Jump Western Wood-Peewee, Say’s Phoebe, Marsh Wren, Brown Thrasher, Sprague’s Pipit, Brewer’s West of Bynum on the Rocky Mountain Front, is First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park - National Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow and Chestnut- a popular hidden slot canyon ending in a 50–60 Historic Landmark is an archaeological site with collared Longspur. To break up the long drive, foot waterfall. The trailhead is near the possibly the largest bison cliff jump in North we’ll stop in Valier to visit Rock City (and a prehistoric Old North Trail and will take you America. Native peoples used this site for at rest stop) and end the day at Lake Shel-oole along a rocky wetland path. The last portion is least a thousand years before Lewis and Clark (eBird list is 140 species) in Shelby. Roads are an undeveloped route that crosses the small arrived. The bison jump consists of a mile long impassable to the WMA in wet weather – dry stream on rocks several times. You could see sandstone cliff; there are remnants of drive lines road alternatives exist in the area. Trip ends at Dippers and warblers. Moderate; 5-mile round on top of the cliff and up to 18 feet of 4:00 p.m. in Shelby. Walking undeveloped trails; trip on undeveloped but well-used rocky trail with compacted remains below. We will visit the bears and snakes possible; 3-mile round trip. several stream crossings. Primitive restroom stops. jump site while observing rock wren, Say’s Restrooms available at rest area, but not at site. phoebe, Long-billed Curlews, Upland Sandpiper, Black-headed Grosbeak, warblers and SU15 Beartooth WMA flycatchers among the slopes, mixed-grass SU22 Muddy Creek Falls; prairie and if time allows, nearby riparian areas. Blackleaf Canyon This trip near Wolf Creek, will explore habitats Established trail over prairie; some elevation from ungrazed grasslands, riparian and burned change; distance 2 miles. West of Bynum on the Rocky Mountain Front is forest to high elevation mountain meadows and a popular hidden slot canyon ending in a 50-60 conifer forests. We anticipate seeing numerous foot waterfall. The trailhead is near the bird species, including Ruffed and Dusky Grouse, SU19 Kevin Rim prehistoric, Old North Trail and will take you Golden Eagle, other raptors, Dusky, Hammond’s along a rocky wetland path. The last portion is and Willow flycatchers, Canyon Wren, Western Located north of Shelby, the Kevin Rim an undeveloped trail that crosses the small Tanager, Mountain Bluebird, Spotted Towhee, escarpment provides nesting habitat for a stream on rocks several times. You could see Lazuli Bunting and Red-naped Sapsucker. diversity of raptors and has been designated as dippers and warblers at this time of year. Sunday The trip ends mid-afternoon at Wolf Creek. an Area of Critical Environmental Concern and will include a stop for lunch at Blackleaf Canyon Some light to slightly moderate walking, up to a Key Raptor Area by the Bureau of Land and a hike to a large meadow with views of Mt. mile; mostly on fairly level roads/paths; not much Management and is also an Important Bird Area. Werner and Mt. Frazier. This area was targeted elevation change. In recent years, wind turbine farms have been for natural gas development in the past and constructed in the area. With sweeping views of a few active gas wells remain to the north. prairie and the Bears Paw Mountains from the Trip ends mid-afternoon in Great Falls. SU16 Beaver Creek Park Rim, expect to see Ferruginous and Swainson’s Moderate walking; 5-mile round trip on Hawks, Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Sprague’s undeveloped but well-used rocky trail with several Hill County’s Beaver Creek Park is the largest Pipit, longspurs, and Long-billed Curlew. High- stream crossings. Primitive restroom facilities. county park in the US. The park is a mile wide clearance, 4WD vehicles are preferred, but we strip following Beaver Creek for 17 miles in the can carpool the last road section. Wet weather Bears Paw Mountains, an island range. Habitat will limit us to main roads. Return mid- SU23 Our Lake consists of rolling grasslands, lakes, brushy afternoon. Mostly roadside; some walking on the stream, aspen/cottonwood groves and cliffs. This rim—short grass, rocky. No restrooms on the rim. Our Lake is the most popular destination hike eBird hotspot has 114 species so far including on the Rocky Mountain Front. What you don’t Long-billed Curlew, Mountain Bluebird, see in birds you will in mountains vistas. It is a Swainson’s and Ferruginous Hawks, Yellow- SU20 Little Belt Mountains moderate climb to the high alpine lake set in a breasted Chat, Wilson’s Snipe, Lazuli Bunting, rugged basin surrounded by rock faces. See Ovenbird, Rock Wren, Golden Eagle and much This trip is a continuation of the Saturday Little mountain goats, marmots and a lake of more. We will stretch our legs and do our first Belts trip starting at Dry Wolf Creek Road at Cutthroat Trout. In case of heavy snowpack a birding at Sands Pothole on our way to Beaver Monarch then continuing to Monument Falls Rocky Mountain Front alternative is planned. Creek Park. It’s a long trip but well worth the and Porphyry Peak lookout. Additional species Trip will end about 4:00 p.m. in Great Falls. time; will end at 4:00 p.m. in Havre. Easy walking to look for are Sandhill Crane, Spotted Hiking well-traveled trail; 1500 ft. elevation gain; on 1-mile established trail. Additional fee: $10/car. Sandpiper, Mountain Bluebird, Dipper, warblers, 8 miles round trip; moderate climb; horse free trail; thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Will return to may be snow at higher elevations. Restrooms Great Falls mid-afternoon. Roadside birding available only at trailhead. SU17 Blackfoot Sculpture Dry Wolf Creek Road. Walking at Monument Park; Brown’s Lake Falls is short, established trail; Porphyry Peak, closed forest service road, uphill elevation gain. SU24 Pine Butte; Buffalo Run The Aspen Campground/Blackfoot Pathway Sculpture Park is easy walking. To be seen are We will stop along the roads for grassland Williamson’s Sapsucker, Evening Grosbeak, Red- SU21 Marias River WMA and riparian birds on the way to lunch on a breasted Nuthatch, warblers, Junco, Pine Siskin, ridge overlooking Pine Butte swamp where you kinglets. The trip proceeds to Brown’s Lake The 5845-acre Marias River WMA was are likely to see moose, deer, and possibly bear. which hosts more than just waterbirds – the established in 2009. The site includes an Take your eyes away from the views of the surrounding sagebrush, grasslands, and cultivated undeveloped 14-mile stretch of the Marias as Rocky Mountain Front and you might see fields are a haven for a diversity of birdlife. 191 well as sagebrush and shortgrass prairie. It is Long-Billed Curlews, Bobolink, kingbirds and species have been reported around this eBird non-motorized access only. We will be walking a host of raptor species. Trips returns to hotspot – Black Tern, Red-necked grebe, Western along the river for about 1.5 miles. Birds we may Great Falls mid-afternoon. Easy prairie walking; Grebe, Horned Grebe, Sandhill Crane, various encounter include Gray Partridge, Sharp-tailed 2 miles round trip. raptors, swallows, Clay-colored Sparrow, Sora, Grouse, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, flycatchers, Caspian Tern. Trip ends at 3:00 p.m. Killdeer, Long-billed Curlew, Great-horned Owl, at Brown’s Lake. Easy walking in Sculpture Park. Common Nighthawk, Belted Kingfisher, 6 program 17 layout:Layout 1 2/23/17 10:18 AM Page 7
Pre- and Post-Festival Trips This year, Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon Chapter is offering two Pre-Trips and a Post-Trip. The Chapter will provide transportation from Great Falls and experienced leaders. To register or for more information, call or email the contact listed with each trip.
American Prairie Reserve For grassland species, we will search for Baird’s Missouri River Float June 7–9, 2017 Sparrow, Mountain Plover, Lark Bunting, June 12, 2017 Itinerary: 3 Days McCown’s Longspur, Chestnut Collared Itinerary: ½ Day Departing: June 7, 2017 from Great Falls Longspur, and Sprague’s Pipit. Departing: June 12, 2017 from Great Falls Travelers: Limited to 10 guests Travelers: Limited to 16 guests Cost: $750 That night, we’ll enjoy fine dinner and drinks Cost: $160 per Guest catered by the American Prairie Reserve. Few places on earth have as intact prairie Returning to Malta for the night, we will arrive Join Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon Chapter habitat and ecosystems as the American Prairie in Great Falls Friday June 9 to enjoy the Wings on an exciting birding adventure with beautiful Reserve and Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge. Across the Big Sky Bird Festival. Beth Hill will be mountain scenery along the Wolf Creek On this three day journey, view wildlife in rich the trip leader, along with Scott Heidebrink, Canyon and Dearborn River. This is a leisurely environments, discover from experts the American Prairie Reserve staff. float in the Wolf Creek Canyon area, with a fast programs and studies on the grasslands and current and a few riffles, with no rapids or learn about the restoration and conservation Thank you to American Prairie Reserve for white water. The cost includes lunch and efforts in the region. their generosity in donating a portion of the transportation to the canyon. The trip is cost of this trip. perfect for couples, individuals and families. • Take a guided tour of the American Prairie Reserve For more information on this UMBA chapter • Take a guided float trip on the scenic • Enjoy a private excursion of sponsored trip, contact UMBA at Missouri River Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge [email protected] or • Enjoy a private birding tour and a • Eat a delicious dinner prepared on www.umbaudubon.com, or call Candace Beery delicious lunch the Reserve 907-306-6320. • Transportation to and from Great Falls
We will depart from Great Falls June 7 As we float through this dramatic canyon for Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge, an InFARMation scenery, we will travel past sheer cliff walls of Important Bird Area located near Malta. June 9, 2017 igneous rock, some over 300 vertical feet tall, Established in 1936, Bowdoin National Wildlife Itinerary: ½ day (4 hours) beautiful forest, and meadow scenery, with Refuge is a prairie and wetland ecosystem with Departing: 7am June 9, 2017 from historic Tower Rock. Each raft holds eight over 15,000 acres. Nineteen species of global CMR High School, 228 17 Ave NW, Great Falls passengers. Trip leader and raft guide is Todd conservation concern are found at Bowdoin Travelers: Limited to 8 guests Ondick. (Ferruginous Hawk, Piping Plover, Long-billed Cost: $30 Curlew, Red-headed Woodpecker, Sprague’s Target birds along the Missouri River are Pipit, Brewer’s Sparrow, Chestnut-collared InFARMation is a community Ag Advocacy Osprey, Bald and Golden Eagles, Bullock’s Longspur), as well as continental concern Project to showcase Montana’s rich agricultural Oriole, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Least species (Upland Sandpiper, Marbled Godwit, production. The inspiration came from a similar Flycatcher, and Spotted Towhee. Common Tern, Short-eared Owl, Willow project at Washington State University. Signs Flycatcher, Baird’s Sparrow, McCown’s are placed in fields to identify the different For more information on this UMBA chapter Longspur). crops growing in the area, helping to make the sponsored trip, contact UMBA at traveling public more aware of agricultural [email protected], Bowdoin has one of only four nesting colonies production around them. The Electric City FFA www.umbaudubon.com, or call Candace Beery of American White Pelicans, and one of only Chapter of Great Falls, Montana is working with 907-306-6320. five nesting colonies of Franklin’s Gulls, in Central Montana Tourism Region as well as Montana. Because of the concentrations of other contributors to provide this service. migrating shorebirds, the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network recognizes Lake The trip consists of a loop through the three Bowdoin as a site of Regional importance. counties of Cascade, Chouteau, and Judith POINTS OF INTEREST IN GREAT FALLS Basin. We’ll travel from Great Falls to Fort Charles M. Russell Museum We will have dinner and stay in Malta for the Benton (US Hwy 87) to Stanford (MT Hwy 80) 400 13th St N night. On June 8, we travel to the American and back to Great Falls (US Hwy 87). Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center Prairie Reserve to learn of its scientific research, 4201 Giant Springs Rd and to view birds found on the Reserve. For more information on this UMBA Children’s Museum Incorporating two of Montana’s Important Bird sponsored trip, contact UMBA at 22 Railroad Square Areas, the Reserve has 19 Sage Grouse leks [email protected] or River’s Edge Trail, including Gibson Park, and is home to more than two dozen species www.umbaudubon.com, or call Kay Silk Black Eagle Falls, Rainbow Falls of raptors, including Burrowing Owls, Prairie 406-453-0545. Giant Springs State Park and Peregrine Falcons, and Northern Harriers. 4803 Giant Springs Rd
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #144 Helena MT
PO Box 595 Helena, MT 59624
18th ANNUAL MONTANA AUDUBON BIRD FESTIVAL
June 9–11, 2017 Best Western Plus Heritage Inn Great Falls, Montana
A special thank you to John Lambing for the cover photo taken along the Rocky Mountain Front, and to Russell Hill for the Curlew photo taken at Benton Lake, and to Bob Martinka for the bird photos displayed throughout this brochure.
American CELEBRATING Avocet 40 YEARS OF CONSERVATION Bob Martinka
2017 marks the end of our 40th Anniversary Year of conserving native birds, other wildlife and their habitats across Montana!
At this year’s Wings Across the Big Sky bird festival in Great Falls, we will revisit some of our past successes and other notable events in our long history in becoming one of the most trusted conservation voices in the state, as well as look forward to the next 40 years of Montana Audubon.
Stay tuned to our website, www.mtaudubon.org and Facebook page to learn more about what we’re doing to further Montana Audubon’s interests and issues.