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Dear Montana,
Spring is in full swing, and so is our work to protect Montana’s birds and the habitats they depend on. We can’t wait to celebrate our successful year as we gather with fellow bird lovers from across the state at our Wings Across the Big Sky Birding Festival next week in Missoula. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time!
This month’s newsletter is filled with exciting news and opportunities. From the passage of HB 932—ushering in a new era of habitat conservation funding—to the expansion of our Audubon Conservation Ranching program with the Old Salt Co-op, there’s so much momentum to celebrate. Our Science Team is gearing up for a busy field season, and we’re thrilled to kick off statewide Nightjar surveys in partnership with Montana FWP. You’ll also find updates on youth and family programs at our Center, and on the upcoming Evening Under The Big Sky fundraising gala- tickets are on sale now!
Thank you for being part of this incredible flock. We look forward to seeing many of you in Missoula next week!
Yours in Conservation,
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Larry Berrin
Executive Director
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- Wings Across the Big Sky Birding Festival
- HB 932 Signed Into Law!
- Sign Up for Nightjar Surveys
- Science Team Prepares for Field Season
- ACR- A New Co-op of Ranches Joins the Flock
- Montana Audubon Center Update
- Birdathon 2025
- In the News
| | | Wings Across the Big Sky Birding Festival | | |
Thank you to our lead sponsor: University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab
May 30 - June 1, 2025
Missoula, MT
The festival starts next week! We can't wait to see everyone in Missoula. There are still spots available- registration is open until Friday May 30- so for those who like to wait until the last minute, the time is now!
There are also student scholarships available to cover the cost of registration- help us spread the word to interested student birders! To apply, please fill out an easy application: 2025 Student Scholarship Application Form
For more information and to register online, visit the Festival website:
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You won't want to miss the Saturday afternoon bird science lectures:
Where Do Birds Go, and How Do We Know It?
Not too long ago people were mystified when birds disappeared in the fall, and came up with explanations such as swallows spent the winter in mud at the bottoms of ponds. We are living in a revolutionary age with the development of a wide variety of technologies to study bird movement and migration. We are lucky that there are some world experts studying bird migration right here in western Montana.
Join us on Saturday afternoon as they show and explain a variety of technologies that scientists use to study bird migration, such as Motus tracking, GPS satellite tracking, geolocators, and pin point trackers. They will also show you some of their truly mind-boggling research results with some local birds.
The Panel:
- Kate Stone, Avian Scientist with MPG Ranch
- Megan Fylling, Avian Ecologist and Research Director at UM Bird Ecology Lab (UMBEL)
- Maggie Blake, Research Associate at UMBEL
- Rob Domenech, Director of Raptor View Research Institute (RVRI)
- Adam Shreading, Senior Research Biologist at RVRI
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Last week, House Bill 932, a major habitat funding bill, was signed by the governor!
HB 932 represents an extraordinary expansion of conservation funding for Montana. The bill sends tens of millions of dollars per biennium to the Habitat Montana program, expands the state’s habitat improvement to work across jurisdictional boundaries, and creates the first-of-its-kind wildlife highway crossing account.
We are delighted to see this bill signed into law and look forward to the impacts it will have on wildlife all around the state of Montana.
Learn more in the May 14 Action Alert.
| | Sign Up for Nightjar Surveys | | |
This year, we're excited to be partnering with Montana FWP to start our new state-wide surveys for Common Nighthawks and Common Poorwills. Thank you to Tracy Aviary for funding this important project!
For those in Helena, join us for an in-person training on June 27 at 7 p.m. at the Montana WILD Center Auditorium.
To learn more, visit our citizen science website or email Gwynne at gwynne@mtaudubon.org.
| | Science Team Prepares for Field Season | | |
Earlier this week the Science Team spent a couple days in the field preparing for the upcoming field season of bird surveys.
Next week they'll be heading out across the state to conduct surveys on Audubon Certified ranches, tracking the effectiveness of habitat management plans on bird abundance and diversity.
We'll have more updates throughout the summer, so stay tuned!
| | A New Co-op of Ranches Joins the Flock! | | |
We are thrilled to announce that the Montana Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) program is now enrolling the ranches that make up the Old Salt Co-op!
In partnership with the ranchers, we are working to write customized “Bird-friendly” Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) for the four primary ranches that make up the Co-op, including: the Mannix Ranch in Helmville, the Sieben Livestock Company in Adel, the LF Ranch in Augusta, and the J Bar L Ranch based out of Melville, Montana. Read more on our website:
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Old Salt Festival- June 20-22
This year, OSF is donating 10% of every ticket sale to Montana Audubon when you purchase tickets with our custom code- and, you’ll get $5 off!
Enter MTAUDUBON at checkout.
Buy your tickets here
| | | | Spring in Full Bloom at the Center | | |
Thank you to everyone who contributed during Yellowstone Valley Gives—your support is what keeps our mission soaring!
As we wrap up school-year programs, excitement is building for a summer of nature exploration, from blooming prairie smoke and nesting tree swallows to the start of our popular camps and citizen science projects like NestWatch and Nightjar surveys.
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This month featured engaging events like Amphibian Week with ZooMontana, the Weekend Wonder Mother’s Day program, and the kickoff of our Master Naturalist course.
Homeschool students explored “Creepy Creatures,” and Fledglings preschoolers are showing newfound independence.
Don’t miss upcoming bird strolls, family programs, and volunteer opportunities that help us care for our habitat and grow our community connections.
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities
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Evening Explorations: May 28, 4 PM (rent a canoe, ask a naturalist, and more)
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Volunteer Work Day - Turtle Habitat Improvement: May 28, 4 PM
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High School Greening STEM Symposium, May 29, 5 PM at MSUB
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Nature Nuts (Ages 1–4 + adult): Every Tues, 10–11 a.m.
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Adventure Summer Camp Starts June 9th!
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Morning Bird Stroll: Saturday, June 14, 8:30 AM
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Weekend Wonder Family Program- Canoeing: Sat, May 10, 10:30 a.m.
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Evening Explorations: June 18, 4 PM
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Raptor Ecology and Conservation Event: June 21, 11 AM
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It's almost time for our annual Birdathon, Montana Audubon's largest fundraiser of the year! For a 24 hour period starting at 6 PM on June 25 and ending at 6 PM on June 26, Montana Audubon staff will spread out across the state to detect as many bird species as possible.
Giving to the Birdathon is easy! Donate a lump sum through our website, or contact the Montana Audubon office if you'd like to make a per-bird pledge. And, thanks to a generous donor, your gift will be matched up to $10,000!
However you choose to give, your support will directly benefit Montana's native birds and their habitats- donate today!
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Support Montana Audubon
Conservation is about people working together to protect habitat for birds, other wildlife, & a legacy for the future.
| | | | Connect with Montana Audubon | | | | | |
