Last Chance Audubon Society

The Nevada Valley (from Helmville to Ovando) received good snow this winter, so there should be good birding for waterfowl and shorebirds in the upcoming weeks.  As of 14 April about two-thirds of the ponds along Cut-off Road still were ice bound.  On the remaining open water there were approximately 8 species of waterfowl in moderate numbers.  There are also many Red-tailed Hawks, immature Bald Eagles, Sandhill Cranes, a very few Long-billed Curlews, and at least two Rough-legged Hawks still in the area.

On the river, from Aunt Molly to Cedar Meadow there were a few ducks–Mallards, Green-winged Teal, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, and many Canada Geese.  There were lots of Song Sparrows, many courting Northern Flickers.  The Great Blue Heron heronry looks to be strong again this year. 

The waterfowl and shorebirds peak in this area approximately the third week in April, although it could be a bit later this year.  There was still a fair amount of snow in parts of the valley, and along the river.  If you have questions about how to get there, or where to go, call Jim Greene at 495-9270

April 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,

All talks begin at 7 p.m. and will be held at the FWP Commission Room at FWP Headquarters in Helena. People should access the building through the door on the west side of the building. Since this is a fund raiser to help protect Montana’s Important Birding Areas, there will be an admission fee. Cost is $5 per talk or $25 for all six talks. Admission is paid at the door.

March 4 - Richard Manning - “The Montana Prairie: It’s History, Biology, and Promise” - As author of Grasslands: The History, Biology, Politics, and Promise of the American Prairie (1995), Richard will lead off the series with an overview focusing on the biological importance of grasslands, their historic destruction, and plans for grassland conservation in Montana.

March 11 - David Ausband - “Swift Fox on the Northern Plains: A Success Story” - Dave is a Research Associate at the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Montana currently working with wolves in Idaho. He will talk about his studies of Swift foxes on the Blackfoot Indian Reservation.

March 18 - Jack Taylor - “Plants of the Montana Prairies” - As range science researcher and teacher at Montana State University, Jack Taylor spent over thirty years studying grassland ecosystems. Taylor will discuss what he learned and its significance to birdwatchers.

March 25 - Bob Bramblett - “There’s Fish in Them Thar Cricks: Prairie Stream Research at Montana State University” - Bob is an Assistant Research Professor at Montana State University and has worked for 21 years on prairie fishes in eastern Montana and Colorado, as well as some misspent time in Alaska and the Grand Canyon. He will talk about fish, herptiles and even bird life in and along Montana’s prairie riparian corridors.

April 1 - Coburn Currier - “Grassland Birds of Northeastern Montana” - As Project Biologist for the Montana Natural Heritage Program, Coburn has been studying the grassland birds of northcentral and eastern Montana for the Program since 2003. He will provide an overview of grassland birds and their habits and habitat needs. Photos and sounds of these birds will be included in his talk.

April 8 - Mike Madel - “The Prairie Grizzly Bear” - Mike has been involved with research and management of grizzly bears since 1978. He has been in Choteau since 1983 as Grizzly Bear Management Specialist with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. He will talk about grizzly use of the prairies and riparian areas along the Rocky Mountain Front.

Bob Martinka will present “Birds of the Aleutians” this Tuesday, February 19th, at 7:00 p.m. in the L&C Library large meeting room. The event is sponsored by the Last Chance Audubon Society and is free and open to the public.

The Aleutians are an arc of islands that extend westward approximately 1100 miles from southwest Alaska toward Russia.

In 2006 the avian bird flu was spreading through Asia. There was mounting concern as to when and where the virus would first enter North America. Numerous monitoring plans were implemented including extensive sampling of birds in the outer Aleutian Islands. Bob was fortunate to be selected as a volunteer to assist in the monitoring of birds as they migrated from Asia through this region of Alaska. For three weeks in September 2006 he was stationed on Shemya Island, very near Attu Island, which is the farthest west island in the Aleutian Chain. This has become a hallowed place for avid birders due to the Asian rarities that temporarily immigrate to the U.S. there.

Bob’s presentation will cover his experiences with monitoring, some of the history of the area, and birding in this remote portion of the world.

Bob retired from Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks after 30 years as a wildlife biologist and administrator. In 2007 he celebrated his 40th year as a permanent resident of Montana. Among the many interests and activities he currently pursues, birding and photography have come to dominate his time. He is a board member of Last Chance Audubon and keeps track of bird comings and goings in the Helena area.

Bob Niebuhr, current president of Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc., will discuss the importance of bluebird conservation this Tuesday, September 18th, at 7:00 p.m. in the L&C Library large meeting room. The event is sponsored by the Last Chance Audubon Society and is free and open to the public.

Bob will discuss how over the past 50 years, bluebird numbers have significantly increased largely due to the bluebird conservation movement. Other topics include migration patterns of the three species of bluebirds, their winter and summer ranges, and bluebird banding. Finally, Bob will discuss nestbox design and construction and bluebird monitoring.

Bob grew up in South Dakota and moved to Montana for his love of the outdoors. He is currently chair of the Cavity Nesting Bird Committee for Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon in Great Falls. He has also served on the board of the North American Bluebird Society.

Join Nancy Tunnicliff, Jim Greene, and Martha Vogt on a trip to Phantom Springs Ranch at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 23rd.

We’ll tour Bob and Poo Putsch’s Phantom Springs Ranch on Canyon Creek. The ranch includes wetlands, meadows, aspen groves and pine-forested draws, providing a plethora of potential avian sightings.

Meet at the northwest end of the Lundy Center parking lot at 7:00 a.m. with water, snacks, and dressed for the weather. Call Nancy at 442-5024 to reserve a spot.

Sponsored by the Last Chance Audubon Society, the event is free and open to the public.

Join Dan Sullivan on a trip to Little Prickly Pear Creek at 7 a.m. on Saturday, June 16th.

Enjoy fantastic birding from Silver City to the Sieben Ranch, where Little Prickly Pear Creek winds through a narrow valley of grass-covered hills and rocky outcroppings. Probable sightings include hawks, rock wrens, cranes, bobolinks, thrushes, orioles, and warblers.

Call Dan at 443-4229 for details and meeting place.

Sponsored by the Last Chance Audubon Society, the event is free and open to the public.

Join Jim Greene on a trip to H2-O Ranch near Helmville on Saturday, June 9th.

H2-O Ranch adjoins the meandering Blackfoot River among natural wetlands, with mixed woodlands on the periphery. Part of the Blackfoot Challenge project, the area offers a wonderful diversity of habitats and potential avifauna sightings.

Meet at the northwest end of the Lundy Center at 7:00 a.m. for an approximate 70-minute drive to the ranch. Bring lunch, water, appropriate birding equipment and clothes for any kind of weather, including waterproof boots.

Call Jim Greene at 495-9270 for details and to reserve a spot.

Sponsored by the Last Chance Audubon Society, the event is free and open to the public.

Join Jo Lace and Brian Shovers on a trip to Benton Lake near Great Falls on Saturday, May 19th.

Benton Lake is an excellent place to see various waterfowl and burrowing owls. Meet at the DOT parking lot at 7:00 a.m., returning about 4 p.m. Bring lunch, water, binoculars, spotting scope, and dress for any weather.

Call 443-6640 to reserve a spot, 15 people maximum.

Sponsored by the Last Chance Audubon Society, the event is free and open to the public.

Bob Brister, outreach coordinator for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, will present “Wild Utah: America’s Redrock Wilderness” this Tuesday, May 15th, at 7:00 p.m. in the L&C Library large meeting room. The event is sponsored by the Last Chance Audubon Society and is free and open to the public.

Bob will present a multimedia slide show dealing with grassroots efforts to protect the spectacular canyon country of southern Utah. Narrated by Robert Redford, the presentation includes photos, music and words donated by Utahns concerned with saving this unique and inspiring landscape.

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has been working for decades to have this land designated as Wilderness, and Bob has been a public lands protection advocate for over 10 years.