IBA. habitats withinthis Bird Photos by Bob Martinka Hawks Rough-legged www.mtaudubon.org Libby Whitefish rely on Hamilton Kalispell Polson Missoula Ronan Hawk Roost Anaconda Browning Deer Deer Lodge Dillon Butte Ennis

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

Important Bird Important Areas are sitesthat provide throughout thevalley. privately owned, butraptors canbeseen regularly to the IBA isnotVisitation since thesite encouraged is studied by the University duringthe 90’s. ofMontana also common.This unique locationwas discovered and OwlareHawk, Baldand GoldenEagle,andShort-eared only raptor drawn to the valley inwinter; Red-tailed largest known communalroosting site ofwintering encompasses(<200 hectares) the core usearea ofthe The Ronan Hawk Roost Bird Area andImportant Great Great Falls Rough-legged Hawks intheworld. The roost islocated Ronan Hawk RoostIBA Bozeman lands andpasture. Rough-legged hawks are not the on private land within the Flathead Indian Livingston out inthemorningto hunt insurrounding farm- migration, orwinterseason Reservation and is a stand ofDouglas fir, andisastand Reservation Some years over 300hawks roost nightly, fanning ponderosa pine,andwestern larch, nestled in and accesibilityofvoles throughout the winter. the Mission Mountain foothills.the MissionMountain Rough-legged Hawks are atracted to the valley’s large number Havre Lewistown

Billings Malta Forsyth Glasgow s. Broadus Glendive Sidney Ronan Hawk Roost 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 on The Ronan Hawk Roost and Important Bird Area local stewardship and focus on engaging individuals, (<200 hectares) encompasses the core use area of the Notable bird species private landowners, local communities, businesses, largest known communal roosting site of wintering associated with the valley partner organizations, and government agencies in site Rough-legged Hawks in the world. The roost is located and IBA conservation. Important Bird Area designation does not on private land within the Flathead Indian confer legal or regulatory status to a site. Instead, Reservation and is a stand of Douglas fir, > Rough-legged Hawk participation in conservation is voluntary on the part of ponderosa pine, and western larch, nestled in > Red-tailed Hawk (above) landowners and land managers. IBA boundaries serve as the Mission Mountain foothills. Rough-legged > Ferruginous Hawk an initial spatial guide and help identify areas that Hawks are atracted to the valley’s large number > Bald Eagle warrant prioritization for protection and conservation and accesibility of voles throughout the winter. > Golden Eagle actions. Some years over 300 hawks roost nightly, fanning > Short-eared Owl out in the morning to hunt in surrounding farm- You can help with the conservation of this IBA by lands and pasture. Rough-legged hawks are not the submitting your raptor observations from throughout the only raptor drawn to the valley in winter; Red-tailed valley through Montana Natural Heritage Program or at Hawk, Bald and Golden Eagle, and Short-eared Owl are ebird.org, an online bird sighting database. also common. This unique location was discovered and studied by the University of Montana during the 90’s. Visitation to the IBA is not encouraged since the site is For more information contact Amy Seaman: privately owned, but raptors can be seen regularly [email protected], or throughout the valley. Janene Lichtenberg: [email protected]