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NEWS FROM LCAS

DECEMBER 2024 PROGRAM

A Study of Butterflies of Priest Pass

Tues. December 10, 2024 – Program Begins 7:00PM
Montana WILD, 2668 Broadwater Ave.
Free – All Are Welcome

In 2013, while Curt Serviss was birding in Texas, he became interested in butterflies and the challenge of working with this species. Returning to Montana, he researched the available literature concerning the State’s butterfly population/distribution and determined that studies were rather limited and outdated. Based on this and his love of being in the Rocky Mountains, he decided to evaluate the butterfly species on the Continental Divide in the Priest Pass area, 15 miles west of Helena. The first five years of the study, which had identified a diverse population of 61 species, was published in American Butterflies in 2018.  In that same year, a colleague with similar interest in photography and butterflies, initiated a study 6 miles to the west on MacDonald Pass. To date, the Priest Pass and MacDonald Pass butterfly studies have identified 76 and 68 species, respectively. This presentation will address the study methodology, present outstanding photographs of selected species to illustrate the diversity of the butterfly population and give an overview of the results. Read more…

 

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25^th annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Who:  Everyone is invited                                                                                                                           Where:  Helena, MT                                                                                                                                           When:  Saturday, December 14^th 2024

The Last Chance Audubon Society is hosting the Christmas Bird Count in Helena again this year.  We meet on the morning of the count at The Crooked Frog Restaurant (Jorgenson’s/Family Roots) at 7am.  Teams will leave for their designated areas around 8am.

We encourage everyone to come out for this fun event.  You need not be an expert.  Our group leaders are all very experienced and enjoy the opportunity to share what they know.  Participants can sign up for a half day or full day in the field.

Last Chance Audubon Society also hosts an evening get-together to celebrate the day.  We will meet at the Lewis and Clark Brewery (1535 Dodge Ave, just off N. Montana) from 4:30pm to 6:30pm.  The first round of pizzas are on us!    We’ll share food and stories!

Please join us for both!  If you have questions, please contact Coburn Currier (CBC Coordinator) at 449-2475 or email him at clcurrier@hotmail.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Reminder when recreating on state lands in Montana

Audubon members venturing out onto public lands this spring and summer need to be aware of the law that went into effect last year which requires persons 12 and older to purchase a Conservation License when accessing most state lands.  Please go to the Fish, Wildlife and Parks link below for more information or to purchase a Conservation License.  Thank you!

https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/conservation-license

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PRACTICING ETHICAL BIRDING

Ethical Birding: As some of you are aware, periodically a ‘Rare Bird’ is sighted nearby, or some distance from Helena and attracts a lot of attention.

Cornell’s eBird program has designated several “sensitive species” in order to prevent birders and photographers from simultaneously flocking to an area to see them. The rationale for this designation is to protect these species from unnecessary stress due to disturbance. Even the most well-intentioned individual can inadvertently cause birds to become stressed without realizing it. A good local example is driving on the flats east of Helena, spotting a Prairie Falcon or Rough-legged Hawk on a power pole, and stopping close to the pole to take a photo which flushes the bird from its perch causing unneeded wintertime stress.

In addition, eBird and social media posts regarding the location of sensitive species can also lead to illegal trapping or taking of some species. Thus birders should always exercise caution when creating posts, or commenting on social media outlets regarding these birds and their locations. For sensitive species, such as Great Gray Owls and American Goshawks, eBird automatically hides the location information. If you include a sensitive species in an eBird checklist please consider using a general geographic location such as a county name.

A link from eBird discussing the nature of ‘Sensitive Species’ is included below. It defines protocols and practices for observing and reporting these birds. If you are planning to try to locate a known bird that meets the “sensitive” species definition, refer to the eBird Sensitive Species protocol, along with the ABA Birding Code of Ethics, before heading out.

Remember – ALL birds are susceptible to stress, so birds depend on us to practice good birding behavior in the field. Thanks for giving the birds a break.

The ABA Birding Code of Ethics: Practice and promote respectful, enjoyable, and thoughtful birding as defined in this code.

1. Respect and promote birds and their environment.
2. Respect and promote the birding community and its individual members.
3. Respect and promote the law and the rights of others. Birding should be fun and help build a better future for birds, for birders, and for all people.

In brief: Sensitive Species in eBird are those for which demonstrable harm could occur from public display of site-level records, including (but not limited to):

targeted capture for the caged-bird trade;targeted hunting;targeted disturbance of nests, roosts, or individual birds from birdwatchers or photographers.

Let’s all practice good birding ethics. Helpful links: https://www.aba.org/aba-code-of-birding-ethics/

https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000803210-sensitive-species-in-ebird

— Bob Martinka, Last Chance Audubon Society Board Member

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CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT RESULTS ARE IN!

The Last Chance Audubon Christmas Bird Count was held on December 16. We had 55 participants find 68 species with a total of 9247 individual birds!  We also had our 147^th species added this year with Sora.  Common Grackle was also an unusual sighting, seen for only the fourth time. See all the results here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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LAST CHANCE AUDUBON SCHOLARSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT

We are excited to announce the application process for the 2023-2024 High School Scholarship. This helps college students pay for expenses while pursuing studies in conservation, habitat protection, and/or restoration of value to avian and other wildlife species. To apply, please visit the Last Chance Audubon scholarship homepage. 

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BEASLEY TRAIL DEDICATION

On Sunday September 12, 2021, LCAS dedicated a new trail at Spring Meadow Lake State Park. The trail was officially named the Jane Beasley Memorial Trail and is complete with decomposed granite foundation, weed remediation and signage. This project was a collaborative effort by LCAS, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and Montana Conservation Corps. The dedication hosted a variety of speakers and a hike along the new trail. Members of the Shull/Beasley family were on hand for a sign unveiling. Read more…