Explore some of Montana’s Wildlife Refuges and Important Bird Areas (IBA) with Dan Ellison as your guide. This program will take you on a tour from Medicine Lake to Stevensville, Broadus to West Glacier, and points in between. Learn where you might find a Black Swift nest, a Snowy Owl or a Broad-winged Hawk. Now in full retirement mode, Dan is methodically pursuing a goal to visit every wildlife refuge and IBA in the state, while documenting birds and other wildlife with his camera and through e-Bird checklists. His program provides highlights of his visits to diverse natural resource areas with photos showing the many excellent birding opportunities across the Big Sky state.

Dan Ellison grew up in the Bitterroot Valley, graduated from the Naval Academy, and served on active duty for 26 years as a Navy pilot. He returned to Montana in 1999 and settled in Helena where he worked for several years in state government including as Chief Financial Officer for Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. In 2009 he was elected to the Helena City Commission and re-elected in 2013. Now retired from public service, his personal time is divided between managing the family ranch near Stevensville, bird watching, fly fishing, wildlife photography, and other outdoor pursuits with his wife, Jane Fournier.