Last Chance Audubon Society Spring and Summer 2008 Field Trips
Monday, March 31st, 2008April 19, Saturday - BLM’s McMaster Hills, at the mouth of Spokane Creek
Join Cedron Jones for this local birding adventure. It will be a partly off-trail walk of about 5 miles round trip, with occasional steep and/or rocky slopes. Highlights are a lush riparian habitat at the mouth of Spokane Creek, views of Hauser Reservoir, an intriguing wooded and rocky canyon, and open grasslands. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in the parking lot in front of the Good Samaritan Store. Please pre-register by calling Cedron at 442-1271.
April 26, Saturday - Spring Meadow Lake State Park
Sara Toubman would like to share the avian surprises at nearby Spring Meadow Lake. Meet her at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot at Spring Meadow Lake State Park, on the road to Fort Harrison. Please call Sara to sign up, at 442-1271.
April 26, Saturday - Spring Meadow Lake State Park
As an adjunct to Sara’s trip, or as a separate experience, meet James Wilbur of the Prickly Pear Creek Watershed Group to help plant shrubs to help Spring Meadow recover from last summer’s fire. Our chapter has given them $2000 to assist in the effort, so this would be a good chance to participate in the Park’s program to replace the vegetation that hosts the birds in the area that we so enjoy. Meet James at 8:45 in the parking lot of the State Park and bring a shovel and gloves. The group will work from 9 to 12, then gather for a bring-your-own picnic lunch.
May 14, ,Wednesday - Evening Last Chance Gulch Bird Walk
Meet Cary Lund at the Lewis and Clark Library at 5:30 p.m. for an easy stroll around the neighborhood close to the library, looking for a variety of local species. Call Cary at 449-3180 to sign up.
May 17, Saturday - Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Jo Lace, Brian Shovers and Bob Johnson will lead a group to Benton Lake near Great Falls. This is an excellent opportunity to see waterfowl and burrowing owls. Meet at the DOT parking lot at 7:00 a.m., return about 4:00 p.m. Bring a lunch, water, binoculars, spotting scope and dress for any weather. Call to reserve a spot, 15 people maximum, 443- 6640.
May 28 , Wednesday- Evening Last Chance Gulch Bird Walk
Meet Cary Lund at the Lewis and Clark Library at 5:30 p.m. for an easy stroll around the neighborhood close to the library, looking for a variety of local species. Call Cary at 449-3180 to sign up.
June 6-8 - Friday through Sunday
This weekend is the state Audubon Birding Festival. There will be no Helena area trips scheduled, so sign up and plan to go birding in the Billings area! Montana Audubon, 442-3949.
June 14, Saturday - Little Prickly Pear Creek
Set your alarm clock and join early bird Dan Sullivan at 6:50 a.m. to enjoy some fantastic birding from Silver City to Sieben Ranch, where Little Prickly Pear Creek winds through a narrow valley of grass-covered hills and rocky outcroppings. There is a good chance for hawks, rock wrens, cranes, bobolinks, thrushes, orioles and warblers. Dan would like to meet in front of the Good Samaritan Store at Custer and Montana. Please call him at 443-4229 to reserve a spot.
June 28, Saturday - Nevada Valley Trumpeter Swan Release (tentative)
14 Trumpeter Swans were released on two separate ranches in the Nevada Valley in 2007, bringing the total number of swans released in the valley to 41. Biologists anticipate releasing approximately 40 swans in 2008 and will continue releases until 7 active breeding pairs are so call Nancy Tunnicliff at 442-5024 to confirm the date, reserve a spot, and learn the meeting place and time. established in the Valley. A maximum of 20 visitors from outside the Valley are allowed to witness this moving event,