FLATHEAD AUDUBON SOCIETY

2004 SPRING and Summer FIELDTRIPS

MAY 21-23 MONTANA BIRD FESTIVAL IN STEVENSVILLE 
Don’t forget about this year’s big birding festival!  For information about this annual event, see the PILEATED POST, the Montana Audubon web site, or contact Barbara Johnson in the Montana Audubon office in Helena—406-443-3949 bjohnson@montana.com.  In addition, the Montana Audubon web site (www.mtaudubon.org) will contain a summary of the full program and registration information. 

MAY & JUNE - BIGFORK WILD MILE CORRIDOR WILDFLOWER & BIRD WALKS
Each Tuesday of May and June, 10 AM  to Noon (May 4, 11, 18, 25 & June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29).  Join Anne Morley (Montana Native Plant Society) and Neal Brown (Flathead Audubon Society) for a gentle morning of wildflower and bird identification along the Old Swan River Road.  Meet in front of Showthyme Restaurant in downtown Bigfork.  Contact: Neal Brown at 837-5018 or nealpatt@cyberport.net

SATURDAY, MAY 8 - HARLEQUIN DUCKS AND AMERICAN DIPPERS
See first hand the amazing adaptations of Harlequin Ducks, one of Montana’s rarest birds. We will watch them courting in the rapids alongside the American Dipper, a hearty year-round resident.  Easy, all morning trip with short level walks.  Glacier National Park entrance fee or pass required. The number of participants is limited to minimize disturbance to these shy ducks. Please contact  Jim Swab, 387-4299 or suejim@bigsky.net  for more information.

SATURDAY, MAY 8 - INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY AT THE BISON RANGE
The birds brought spring back, and here's your chance to enjoy it by celebrating International Migratory Bird Day at the National Bison Range.  A variety of bird activities are planned, including an advanced birding hike and a beginning bird walk (space is limited, so pre-registration is required). There will also be a variety of other activities, including a talk about bluebird habitat and houses, information on backyard bird feeding, special bird video showings, giveaways, contests, coloring pages, and a book sale. The National Bison Range is also planning to open the 19-mile Red Sleep Mountain Drive in time for this celebration (fees are charged for the drive). The Range will open at 7:00 a.m.  Please call the National Bison Range at (406) 644-2211, extension 207 to register for activities.

SATURDAY, MAY 15 - SPRING LOON CENSUS DAY

SATURDAY, MAY 22 - GLACIER NATIONAL PARK ASSOCIATES VOLUNTEER DAY
Join members of GNPA  for  their annual Volunteer Day in Glacier National Park.  Volunteers will meet with park officials at 9:15 a.m. in front of the GNP Community Center to select from a list of work projects ranging from trail clearing (bird watching opportunities)  to working in the park nursery.  For additional information, contact Jim Swab at 387-4299 or suejim@bigsky.net.

SUNDAY, MAY 16 - LOST TRAIL WILDLIFE REFUGE TRIP
Join us for a trip to the new National Wildlife Refuge in the Pleasant Valley near Marion.  This is a very exciting time to visit this wonderful place. The fields and marshes and woodlands are alive with bird song not to mention birds.  The habitat is very diverse, and we will have a chance to see everything from shore birds to ducks to warblers to raptors. We will meet at 7AM at the Fish, Wildlife & Parks Building in Kalispell. To sign up, lease contact Leslie Kehoe at (406) 837-4467 or ljkehoe@digisys.net

SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - BIRDING IN THE NORTH FORK
We will meet at the Polebridge Mercantile store at 9:00 a.m. and car pool to 8 miles north on the Outside North Fork Road and begin our search for warbles and other birds.  .  Contact Donna at 257-4362. 

SUNDAY, JUNE 13 - OWEN SOWERWINE CANOE TRIP

SATURDAY, JUNE 19 - SQUEEZER CREEK BIRDING AREA
Join Rod Ash for a unique birding experience in the Swan Valley’s Squeezer Creek area.  Afterwards, the group will gather for lunch at the Swan Ecosystem Center in Condon, and an optional tour of the Center will be offered.  Meet at the junction of Rt. 83 and the Swan River State Forest Headquarters (1/2 mile south of mile post 59), 9:30 a.m. and bring a lunch.  For more information, call Rod at (406) 754-2289.

SATURDAY, JULY 17 - MONTANA LOON DAY
 The Montana Loon Society and the Montana Common Loon Working Group will need volunteers to help look for the count loons on the lakes in northwest Montana.  The need is especially great for people to help in the North and Middle Fork areas, the Thompson Chain of lakes, and the Troy and Libby areas.  If you can help, please contact one of the following:  for north and west of Kalispell or the Swan Valley, Jane Ingebretson, 837-5081, or Gael Bissell, 752-3874; for Glacier Park, Steve Gniadek, 888-7833; for the Libby/Troy area, Joni Manning, 295-7495.

SUNDAY, JULY 18 - FLATHEAD RIVER FLOAT

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14 - MIGRANT SHOREBIRDS
This trip will highlight the shorebirds of the Flathead Valley, and will offer you a chance to see dowitchers, phalaropes, yellowlegs and sandpipers -- up to 15 species may be seen! Dan Casey will lead this trip to various locations around the Valley.  Meet at the west end of the Tidyman’s parking lot at 9:00 AM. Please RSVP with Dan at (406) 857-3143 or caseys4@centurytel.net.