spring2019 A PLAY OF LIGHT TWO PHOTOGRAPHERS CAPTURE THE SOUL OF MONTANA page 4 2018 ANNUAL REPORT page 18 THE VIEW FROM ABOVE Our mission is to promote Helena Office Like a Rare Bird PO Box 595, Helena, MT 59624 • Phone: 406-443-3949 appreciation, knowledge and Fax: 406-443-7144 • [email protected] • www.mtaudubon.org It was a cold and windy Saturday morning as I headed conservation of Montana’s out to East Helena in search of my white whale after Audubon Center native birds, other wildlife, 7026 S. Billings Blvd., Billings, MT 59101 • Phone: 406-294-5099 noting Bob Martinka’s recorded sighting on Montana and natural ecosystems to www.mtaudubon.org/center eBird. The Lapland Longspur is a common songbird of safeguard biological diversity the Arctic tundra that winters in open fields across for current and future Staff Board of Directors much of northern United States but has always eluded Larry Berrin generations. Officers Rachel Van Wingen, me, though I’ve lived for the last 20+ years mostly in Executive Director President northern states – from Maine to Oregon. I spent the Heather Bilden Joe Batts, Vice-President Founded in 1976, Montana Bernie McHugh, Community Programs Lead Secretary day scanning fields and observed flocks of Horned Ron Farmer, Treasurer Audubon has built effective Sarah Chatwood Larks (which Lapland Longspurs often accompany) The passage of a At-large Board Members historic public lands programs in public policy, Preschool Lead Mimi Falivene but unfortunately the day ended with another miss – education, and bird Emily Chilcoat Curt Larsen call me Ishmael! Though I headed home disappointed, package included one conservation to serve its Volunteer Coordinator Cary Lund my mood quickly improved after hearing on the radio of Montana Audubon’s Bob Mackin members and Montana’s David Cronenwett that an important piece of legislation had passed the key pieces of policy Communications & Grant Writer Center Council Delegate U.S. Senate and was on its way to the U.S. House. work over the last year. nine community-based Krista Cunningham Don Roberts Audubon Chapters. Teacher-Naturalist Chapter Delegates Lauren D’Ascanio In an era when bipartisanship remains elusive, like a rare bird, it seems that Bitterroot Audubon conservation victories are still possible. The passage of a historic public lands package Teacher-Naturalist Becky Peters Hannah Dunford included one of Montana Audubon’s key pieces of policy work over the last year: Five Valleys Audubon Youth Programs Lead Rose Leach Senate Bill 47 permanently reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund Nicole Eckstrom (LWCF). Since its inception, the program has provided more than $18 billion to Flathead Audubon Preschool Educator Bob Lee projects in every county in the nation but Congressional inaction last fall meant the Cathie Erickson Last Chance Audubon fund expired, depriving conservation projects of more than $350 million. Accounting Specialist Janice Miller Norane Freistadt Mission Mountain Audubon In a rare victory for conservation and our wildlife heritage, this bipartisan public lands Development Director Jim Rogers Alina Garner package passed through congress by votes of 92-8 in the Senate and 363-62 in the Pintler Audubon School Programs Lead Jack Kirkley House, and was finally signed into law when it hit the President’s desk. Permanent Taisha Haggard reauthorization of LWCF was a big win for public lands, our outdoor heritage and Sacajawea Audubon Teacher-Naturalist Loreene Reid conservation here in Montana and across the country. It was the largest bill of its kind Janet Johnston Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon in more than a decade. We commend our congressional delegation, who all voted Office Manager Candace Beery Ashley Laukhuf yes, for convincing their colleagues on both sides of the aisle to overwhelmingly pass Teacher-Naturalist this public lands package and invest in our vibrant outdoor recreation economy. Mackenzie Ruppert Now it is critical to gain full funding for the LWCF. Preschool Educator Anthony Sammartano Beyond LWCF reauthorization, this public lands package also designates more than BSWC Restoration Specialist 1.3 million acres of Wilderness, protects nearly 400 miles of rivers and creates four Amy Seaman new national monuments. In addition, 30,370 acres of public land on the doorstep of Conservation Program Manager Carolyn Sevier Montana Audubon is a proud Yellowstone National Park here in Montana, will be protected from destructive and Center Director member organization of toxic gold mining. In a time when it is hard to find good news, Montana Shares, a partnership Wyatt Smith like finding that rare bird in the field, it’s encouraging to know spring 2019 of Montana-based nonprofits Legislative Assistant devoted to improving the that we can still be pleasantly surprised from time to time. 4 Cover Story: Jennifer Walker quality of life in the Big Sky a Teacher-Naturalist state. Yours in Conservation, k A Play of Light n i t r a M 8 Conservation Briefs b o B 12 News from the Center On the cover: Little Blackfoot River and Flint Creek Range, Larry Berrin 18 2018 Annual Report John Lambing photo. Executive Director Canyon Wren, Bob Martinka photo. Lapland Longspur SPRING 201 9 3 COVER STORY g n i b m a L n h o J a k n i t r a M b o B APLAYOF Using their cameras, John Lambing and Bob Martinka help Montana Audubon accomplish on-the-ground conservation LIwhich ultimaGtely benefits thHe Montana we aT ll cherish. Montana Audubon is a statewide Both men have lived onservation is a passion rooted in the personal, conservation organization with a in Montana for decades, individual experience of mission specific to wildlife protection but grew up elsewhere Cnature. For organizations and has a hand in other types of (Lambing in the Midwest and whose task it is to protect the natural environmental protection and Martinka in the Northeast), and describe world, the ability to tap into the education. their respective love affairs for their here full time in 1967, I knew I’d made a aesthetic and emotional power of adopted state in similar terms of awe and permanent transition to a better world.” wildlife and landscapes is critical, We have been extremely fortunate in affection. “I was absolutely blown away because it is what moves people to recent years to have nearly unfettered with the country when I transferred to Like many pursuits, nature photography action. Often the best way to accomplish access to the remarkable work of two Montana as a young USGS scientist,” bears a similarity to hunting and this is this is via the written word and of very gifted and generous photographers: Lambing recounts. “Growing up partly how our photographers describe it. course, photographs. A camera in the Bob Martinka and John Lambing. exploring the Ozarks was great, but it Though Lambing specializes in hands of a master photographer can Their images grace most of the outreach didn’t prepare me for the vast scale or landscapes and Bob Martinka birds generate immediate emotional impact materials published by Montana wildness that I encountered when and other wildlife, the search for the to the viewer. When combined with Audubon and to that degree, help coming to Montana.” Martinka echoed “right shot”, while considering many powerful language, the effect is convey our important conservation this sentiment saying, “This placed environmental variables, requires a level doubly compelling. mission to the world. changed my life; after moving of discipline, self-mastery and persistence continued... 4 MONTANA AUDUBON SPRING 201 9 5 a k n “It is critical to make people aware i t r a of the need for study, appreciation M b o and protection of our irreplaceable B natural ecosystems and the life they support.” –John Lambing g g n i n i b b m m a a L L n n h h o J o J a host of other factors, especially the “The experience of interacting type of natural lighting encountered. with nature is more important Pursuing wildlife adds another level of than the photos, yet I find great complexity and randomness: “All I can meaning in sharing my travels do is put myself into the right habitat with others.” which may hold the bird species I want –Bob Martinka a k n i t to photograph,” Martinka recounts. r a M “If I find them, I will try to maneuver primary to me, whether it be natural b o B for composition. When everything history, human culture or other elements. represent that cooperates, the experience and final Generally speaking, the experience of a troubling many hunters product can be quite magical.” interacting with nature is more important trend.” notes Lambing. “It is critical would relate to. than the photos, yet the pictures are to make people aware of the need for Martinka describes it: It is the overall process of photography really useful for sharing experiences. study, appreciation and protection of “Like hunting, nature photography in the landscape, and the multi-layered I find great meaning in sharing my our irreplaceable natural ecosystems and requires a lot of patience but broadens experience of it that motivates Lambing Montana and international travels the life they support. I try to accomplish the view of a place; it requires one to and Martinka: their enthusiasm for the with others.” this with my images, letting nature do fully-inhabit the landscape, using all of craft is infectious. According to John, the work.” the senses, regardless of season, weather “It’s addictive, the research, preparation This sharing of course, extends beyond or other challenging conditions.” and exploring. My photo trips are merely recounting photographic journeys; The two self-taught photographers typically two days to two weeks in it also is driven by a profound if subtle, have done much to bring attention to What ultimately appears on the page is duration, and I am nearly always alone.