Dear Friend,
It's officially the unofficial start of summer and everyone at Montana Audubon is thrilled.
We have so much going on it's hard to keep track of what everyone is doing! Audubon Conservation Ranching had training in California in April and is now getting out to ranches to do surveys, the Science Team is still recruiting volunteers for the Great Blue Heron Citizen Science surveys, the Montana Audubon Center is always busy with classes and activities, and of course, we have our Wings Across the Big Sky Festival next weekend!
Since there's so much going on, sometimes we forget to appreciate the beautiful state of Montana and the people that live in it. So, thank you for allowing Montana Audubon to be able to do all that we do.
Thank you.
Yours in Conservation,
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Larry Berrin
Executive Director
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U.S. Supreme Court's Ruling on Wetlands |
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We are disappointed to hear the ruling by The Supreme Court against the EPA's right to determine certain wetlands as 'waters of the United States' under the Clean Water Act.
The policy of Montana Audubon regarding Water Quality is to:
- Educate the public and decision-makers about the connections between water quality and the health of our communities, healthy wildlife habitats, and species populations
- Support an enforceable and broadly protective Clean Water Act
- Encourage the development and application of scientifically sound management techniques to reduce water degradation and reclaim and restore degraded water-based habitats
- Support programs and practices designed to enhance the retention of surface water in its watershed of origin and to conserve natural reservoirs of underground water
Montana Audubon believes clean and abundant water is vital to Montanans, our thriving communities, our economy, and wildlife.
Read the EPA's statement on the ruling HERE. |
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Citizen Science: You Can Still Participate |
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There are still two great statewide citizen science projects taking place across the state this spring, and you can still participate!
Great Blue Heron citizen science surveys occur until June 15th, and Audubon's Climate Watch runs until June 15th.
Both projects will take you to beautiful locations across the state and have great resources for simple data collection.
Our partnership with the Montana Natural Heritage Program continues to help us deliver on our Great Blue Heron project. We even have a slick app that allows in-field data collection to run smoothly on any smartphone, adding to your enjoyment of observing colonies, or rookeries, where herons are found, rather than wrestling with paper data.
The data is so important! Findings from the nationwide Breeding Bird Survey indicate that populations of Great Blue Heron have declined every year from 1966 to 2015. Several factors may be to blame, including the loss of riparian cottonwood stands, increased urban sprawl, human disturbance, and changing waterway conditions. Due to these changes, herons commonly abandon their nests and move to better locations, often to more remote and undisturbed areas, making population monitoring difficult.
That’s where you come in. If you are interested in becoming a citizen scientist or have any questions, please email Amy Seaman at aseaman@mtaudubon.org or visit our Citizen Science webpage.
Learn more about Climate Watch and sign up to receive email alerts HERE.
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Attending the National Audubon Conservation Ranching Conference in California |
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From April 10th to the 13th, the Montana Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) team visited Davis, California to attend the National ACR meeting. Leaving the frigid and snowy Bozeman airport, they were delighted that spring had fully sprung in California, with lots of sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. Yellow-rumped Warblers were chirping from the treetops, while frogs were singing from the wetlands. As Davis is in the heart of the agricultural Central Valley, our team saw Swainson’s Hawks, Turkey Vultures, a Broad-tailed Hawk, and a White-tailed Kite soaring over the palm-skirted almond groves. Flooded rice fields held Great Egrets, American Avocets, Black-necked Stilts, Osprey, Greater White-fronted Geese, and various ducks.
On the first day, attendees discussed climate trajectory, how to write a ranch-specific Habitat Management Plan, and the unprecedented potential of ACR to meet National Audubon Society (NAS) habitat conservation goals. That evening, our team convened in Winters, CA, dining on local fare, including - you guessed it - Audubon Certified hamburgers, produced at the nearby Bobcat Ranch, a 6,800-acre NAS working ranch, a flagship demonstration for ACR. On the following day, attendees returned to Bobcat Ranch for a site visit, observing Acorn Woodpeckers, Oak Titmouse, Yellow-billed Magpie, Black Phoebe, Western Bluebirds, and migrating White-crowned Sparrows. Attendees walked the ranch, discussing the role of fire on the landscape, blue oak succession, propagating pollinating flowers, and grazing in California’s rangelands.
Our Montana ACR team was energized after connecting with ACR staff from all parts of the American West. Montana Audubon is fortunate to have such a dedicated team working to support grassland bird habitats on working lands in Montana!
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May is marvelous and mesmerizing and requires a lot of meticulous planning at the Montana Audubon Center. In late May we start warping up our school season programs, work in as many field trips as staffing allows, and go home feeling tired but full of purpose for what we do. Our work to create nature-minded and engaged individuals is often showcased as they come back for summer programs, where we often see their confidence, knowledge, enthusiasm, and a sense of place shine. Once the school year starts back up we won't see as many of our budding naturalists but are glad that we’ve had a part in their development. A part, that even as they grow, will be there whether they remember their time with us or not. Planting that spark for exploration, inquiry, and creating a sense of place can start at any age. All it takes is that first step outside, with a purpose to explore.
To start the spark of exploration, join us for our upcoming programs:
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Evening Explorations: June 6th, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
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Morning Bird Strolls: June 10th 8:30pm to 10pm
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Weekend Wonders Family Program: June 10th 10:30am to 12pm
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Bat Night Hike: June 23rd from 8:30pm-10pm
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Nature Nuts: Tuesdays from 10am to 11am
For more information on programs, visit our website.
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Birdathon
We count birds because birds count on us!
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As we move through spring, new beginnings are on our minds! Birds are returning, native plants are sprouting, and the days are becoming warmer and longer. Much like springtime, new beginnings are happening at Montana Audubon. We have spread our wings in significant ways, from launching our new Conservation Ranching department to building a new preschool space, Shepard’s Field Station, at Montana Audubon Center.
With Montana’s landscapes stirring back to life, it's time for our annual Birdathon, one of Montana’s Audubon’s largest fundraisers of the year. Birdathon engages you, our supporters, in the vital conservation work we do for birds and other wildlife in the state.
Your support of Birdathon is a vital part of the financial backbone of Montana Audubon. We need your help now more than ever, with always-increasing challenges threatening our conservation work.
Birdathon will take place over 24 hours at this year’s Wings Across the Big Sky, Montana’s Premier Birding Festival. With Festival attendees and Montana Audubon staff participation, Birdathon will begin on June 9th, 6 pm, and conclude on June 10th, 6 pm.
Giving to the Birdathon is easy! You can donate an amount “per-bird species sighted” (we’re shooting for 125!), or you can give any sum of your choice.
The best part about donating to Birdathon is that your gift helps us double our impact. To date, generous donors have pledged $10,000 in matching funds for each dollar we raise from supporters like you.
THANK YOU for your past and future support!
Please consider a Birdathon gift that is personally meaningful to you…and double your conservation impact this year and beyond!
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Donate $100 or more and receive our new Wildlife Guide or our popular Bird Guide. Give $200 or more and get both!
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