Wild Wings Light Goose Festival
2025-03-21 - 2025-03-23

Mission Valley Raptors Field Trip
2025-03-22
Mission Valley Raptors, March 22, 2025
Join BBA’s Alex Kearney for a trip to Mission Valley at the south end of Flathead Lake. While the focus will be raptors of the area, we will discover other early spring arrivals. Alex led the same trip one month ago and saw 39 species! We will meet at two locations to organize carpools (Stevensville and Ignatius) and will return to the Bitterroot Valley by the late afternoon. Bring clothing for short walks from the cars, snacks, lunch, and water. We’ll make several bathroom stops. This trip has a limited number of participants, so please pre-register soon by contacting Alex Kearny at 406-360-2345.

Author Event: Flight Paths with Rebecca Heisman
2025-04-02 17:00 - 18:30 UTC
Bitterroot Bird Alliance, Chapter One Book Store, and MPG Ranch are excited to host a virtual happy hour to discuss the book Flight Paths with science writer Rebecca Heisman on Wednesday April 2 at 5:00 pm. You may recognize Rebecca’s name from outlets like Audubon magazine, Living Bird, Scientific American, the American Bird Conservancy and others. Rebecca describes Flight Paths as follows:
“Did you know that one of the first ways to measure bird migration was counting the silhouettes of night-migrating birds as they passed in front of the full moon? Or that British radar operators during World War II were mystified by “angels” appearing on their screens that turned out to be seabirds in flight? Or that scientists today can tell roughly where a bird spent the winter by analyzing the ratios of hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur isotopes in its feathers? Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration is my first book and tells the incredible scientific story of how we know what we know about bird migration, tackling the methods scientists use to track this amazing natural phenomenon — from the origins of bird banding to the latest in high-throughput genetic sequencing and space-based tracking systems — chapter by chapter.”
We are really lucky to have such a distinguished author discuss her work with us. One reason this book is so special is that it discusses an acoustic monitoring project that took place in the Bitterroot Valley, with many BBA members participating!
You will need to pre-register for this event: Click here to register.
You can order this book from Chapter One; hardback versions are available now, and softback versions can be pre-ordered and will be available March 18th!
There are also multiple copies available within the Montana Library System.

Beginning Bird Walk at Lee Metcalf NWR
2025-04-19 10:00 - 13:00
This field trip is brought to you by our friends to the north: Five Valleys Audubon Society.

Join Larry Weeks and Five Valleys Audubon for a beginning bird walk at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge from 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Meet the field trip leader at the Refuge Visitor’s Center. This field trip involves walking on level paved and unpaved paths.

The group will observe and identify birds on the Visitor Center Ponds, Kenai Trail and in the Wildlife Viewing Area.

There are outdoor toilets at the Visitor’s Center and the Wildlife Viewing Area.

Welcome Back Waterfowl
2025-04-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Lee Metcalf, United States
Mark your calendars: WELCOME BACK WATERFOWL DAY will take place Saturday April 19th from 10 am to 1:00 pm. at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge north of Stevensville. Bitterroot Bird Alliance members with high quality optical equipment will be available to assist in identifying, learning about and observing waterfowl and other birds that use the refuge wetlands. The scopes will be stationed along Wildfowl Lane on the county road between the ponds west of the Visitor Center. This special event is open to the public.

Monthly Program: Tricia Rodriguez Songbird Banding
2025-04-21 19:00 - 20:30
Beyond Binoculars: The Science and Impact of Bird Banding
By Tricia Rodriguez and Kate Stone
Our April program will welcome professional bird bander and avian ecologist Tricia Rodriguez from the University of Montana’s Bird Ecology Lab (UMBEL).
Field ornithologists collect information about wild bird populations in a variety of ways, with the goals or questions in a study guiding the choice of methodology. Banding is an excellent choice for researchers who need to mark and identify individual birds, assess health and body condition, collect measurements, and more. UMBEL has been studying songbird populations in western Montana since 2006, capturing and banding over 37,000 birds of 154 species. Tricia will familiarize you with bird banding efforts in Montana and around the world! She will share results from several local studies.
Tricia was born and raised in Georgia, where she lived a suburban lifestyle without a bird feeder in sight. In her final semester at the University of Georgia, she took ornithology “just for fun”, but it ultimately changed the direction of her life. After graduation, she traveled for eight years as a seasonal field technician, working on bird projects in places like Cape May, NJ, Denali National Park, AK, and Maui, HI. She has been an avian ecologist with UMBEL since 2012, managing the banding program but also jumping in to work on any of the other great projects at UMBEL whenever there’s a chance. Tricia enjoys spending time on the river, camping in beautiful places, cooking, knitting, and playing with her two cats.
Please join Tricia Rodriguez and Bitterroot Bird Alliance to learn more about songbird banding on Monday, April 21st in the Education Building adjacent to the Slack Barn at Teller Wildlife Refuge, 1180 Chaffin Lane in Corvallis.

Birding Lake Como
2025-05-04 08:00 - 12:00
May 4, 2025
8:00 AM to about noon
We will meet in Hamilton at 8 am, arrange carpools, and caravan 20 miles to Lake Como where we will make two stops and walk about a total of 2-3 miles along well-established trails. We should see about 30-40 species that might include ruffed grouse, red-necked grebe, common loon, Williamson’s and red-naped sabsuckers, Cassin’s vireo and Townsend’s solitaire. We should return to Hamilton by about noon or early afternoon. Call or text Corbin Grimes at 406-360-3052 for details.

Ruffatto Ranch River Walk
2025-05-04 16:30 - 18:30
May 4, 2025
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Bitterroot Bird Alliance and the Feminist Bird Club of Northwestern Montana are pleased to welcome birders of all backgrounds and abilities on a spring walk through the Ruffatto Ranch’s Block Management “River Unit” off of Highway 93 between Stevensville and Florence. Kate Stone will lead birders on an easy round-trip walk of about 1.5 miles on a ranch road, with one gentle downgrade at the beginning followed by level conditions as the road winds towards and then along the Bitterroot River. We’ll hope to observe many riparian and floodplain specialists, including Red-eyed Vireos, Willow Flycatchers, Least Flycatchers, Gray Catbirds, Nashville Warblers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. Nice stands of ponderosa pine may host all three nuthatch species, Western Wood-pewees, and various woodpeckers. This site’s parking area is on the east side of Highway 93, 0.5 miles north of the Bass Creek Fishing Access site and just north of where Bass Creek Rd joins Hwy 93 from the west side. For people coming from the north, it is approximately 1 mile south of where Larry Creek Rd intersects Highway 93 from the west side. Or use these coordinates: 46.574554°; -114.092773°.

Teller Wildlife Refuge Great Blue Heron Rookery Viewing
2025-05-08 17:30 - 20:00
Join BBA’s Alex Kearney and Teller Wildlife Refuge’s Nicole Ballard to view one of the Bitterroot Valley’s great blue heron rookeries. The parents should be busy at this time getting the next generation of herons off to a good start. Scopes and field glasses are suggested, but will also be provided for viewing. Please contact Alex Kearny (406-360-2345) to pre-register and get directions to the meeting place.

AWESOME HIGHWAY CLEANUP
2025-05-13 16:00 - 18:00
By Skip Horner
Our semi-annual highway cleanup will take place on Tuesday, May 13, at 4PM. We’ll meet and park on the west side of Bell Crossing and clean miles 60 to 62 north and south from there. Bitterroot Audubon’s name is on those big highway signs, even though we’re Bitterroot Bird Alliance now, so come out and help us and the highway look good. Bring your own gloves. We’ll supply high-visibility vests and stout plastic bags.
Questions? Call Skip at 406-369-5367

West Cow Creek Road to Sheafman Creek Trailhead Field Trip
2025-05-15 07:30 - 12:00
West Cow Creek Road to Sheafman Creek Trailhead, May 15, 2025 at 7:30 AM to 12PM:
We will meet at the Woodside Cut-off Road and U.S. Route 93 intersection to arrange carpools. From there we will bird our way west toward W. Cow Creek Road and the Bitterroot National Forest and the Sheafman Creek Trailhead. We will make 3-5 stops along the way and walk on secondary roads and foot trails for about 2-3 miles. The road and trail passes through several different habitat types as it gains elevation and we should see 20-30 different species. Bring snacks and water. Text Larry Barnes at 208-471-8297 for details and to sign up.

Beginning bird walk at Lee Metcalf
2025-05-18 10:00 - 13:00

BITTERROOT BIRD ALLIANCE 40TH ANNIVERSARY POTLUCK AND CELEBRATION
2025-05-19 17:30 - 19:00
BITTERROOT BIRD ALLIANCE 40TH ANNIVERSARY POTLUCK AND CELEBRATION
Bitterroot Bird Alliance (formerly Bitterroot Audubon) is FORTY YEARS old! Join us for an anniversary celebration and potluck dinner at 5:30PM on May 19th. We’ll meet outside of Lee Metcalf Refuge’s Visitor Center (4567 Wild Fowl Lane, Stevensville, MT). There are multiple picnic table options outside, and feel free to bring your own chair or blanket. We will also have access to the education space inside if the weather is chilly! Please bring a dish to share and your own beverage. We will have plates and utensils! AND CAKE!

Big Creek Ranch Field Trip
2025-05-24 08:00 - 11:00
Big Creek Ranch, May 24, 2025 (8-11AM)
Walk just over two miles of mostly flat ponderosa forest and field habitat through a private ranch near Stevensville. We could see 30 to 40 species, which, if we are very lucky, might include a great gray owl. We’ll meet at the ranch and the walk should take between 2.5 to 3 hours. Meet trip leader Jill Davies at Big Creek Ranch, about 500 yards off of Hwy 75 on Mittower West Road north of Victor.

Larry Creek Riparian and Bobolinks Meadow Field Trip
2025-05-27 18:30 - 20:30
Larry Creek Riparian and Bobolinks Meadow, May 27, 2025 at 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM:
Sherry Ritter will lead an evening field trip to watch Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows in a ranch meadow and look for songbirds at Larry Creek. At Larry Creek we’ll walk a short way along the Larry Creek Road in a riparian area that’s a mixture of cottonwood, ponderosa pine, and Douglas fir. Some of the species there are Ruffed Grouse, American Redstart, Red-naped Sapsucker, Lazuli Bunting, and Swainson’s Thrush. There’s a group limit of 10 people. Call or text Sherry Ritter at 406-370-4778 to sign up and to provide an email for more details.

Kootenai Creek and Canyon Field Trip
2025-06-01 08:30 - 11:30
Kootenai Creek and Canyon, June 1, 2025 at 8:30AM to 11:30AM
Robert Petty will lead a morning field trip along Kootenai Creek and Canyon. We’ll explore the riparian habitat near the mouth of the canyon that has a mixture of cottonwood, alder, aspen, larch and ponderosa pine. Then we’ll take a walk up the trail into the canyon.
Some of the species we may see include MacGillivray’s Warbler, Western Tanager, Western Flycatcher, Pacific Wren, Canyon Wren, and American Dipper. There is an active Peregrine aerie up the canyon, so there is chance we may see falcons.
Due to the narrowness of the trail, there is a group limit of 10 people for this trip. Call or text Robert Petty at 406-777-0780 to sign up and receive more information.

Ruffatto Ranch River Walk + additional option
2025-06-05 07:30 - 10:30
June 5, 2025
7:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Sherry Ritter will lead a morning field trip in cottonwood/ponderosa pine riparian habitat on the Ruffatto Block Management Area. This is an easy round-trip walk of approximately 1.5 miles. Some of the species we might see include Bank Swallows, Northern Waterthrushes, Red-eyed Vireos, Gray Catbirds, Willow Flycatchers, nuthatches, beaver, and porcupines. If there is time afterwards, we’ll also visit the nearby Bass Creek Fishing Access area and walk another 1-mile round trip overlooking a backwater area of the Bitterroot. This is a narrower trail so not as easy as at Ruffatto’s. There are no restrooms at these locations. There’s a group limit of 10 people. Call or text Sherry Ritter at 406-370-4778 to sign up and to provide an email for more details.

Browns Lake Field Trip
2025-06-07 07:30 - 17:00
Browns Lake Field Trip, June 7, 2025 at 7:30 AM to ~5:00 PM:
Join Alex Kearney for an all-day field trip to Browns Lake near Ovando (about 90 miles from Stevensville) during peak spring when all the birds are actively singing or otherwise involved in the breeding season. We’ll meet at 7:30 at the Stevensville Super 1 parking lot to coordinate carpooling. From there we’ll make several stops at natural areas along the way and could see about 45-60 species in the various habitats we’ll be passing through. The trip is open to all people of all abilities; you don’t even need binoculars. Let us know and the Bitterroot Bird Alliance can provide a loaner. Call Alex (406-360-2345) to let him know you’re coming and for any questions you might have.

Soft Rock Natural Area Field Trip
2025-06-09 07:30 - 11:00
Soft Rock Natural Area, June 9, 2025 at 7:30 AM to 11:00 AM:
Join Larry Barnes on a 3-4 mile walk through the shrub-steppe sagebrush habitat at Soft Rock Natural Area about 6 miles east of Corvallis. We will focus on some of the local bird species that are associated with sagebrush in Montana. The birds will be singing and the bitterroots should be blooming. Come and enjoy the miracle of being alive on a June morning in Montana. Call or text Larry at 208-471-8297 for details on where to meet.

Casual Birding at Lee Metcalf NWR
2025-09-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Lee Metcalf, United States
Fall greetings, friends of Bitterroot Bird Alliance!
We currently have no fall programs organized, but would like to kick off this new season with a casual birding event at Lee Metcalf on our normal September meeting day. So if you can, please join us for an hour or two of birding at the Visitor’s Center at Lee Metcalf beginning at 5 pm on Monday, September 15th. We will have member surveys on hand, and anyone who completes the survey will walk away with a free BBA hat or t-shirt!
See you soon!
BBA Board

Beginning Bird Walk at Lee Metcalf
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00
Join Larry Weeks and Five Valleys Audubon for a beginning bird walk at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge from 10:00 am-1:00 pm. Meet the field trip leader at the Refuge Visitor’s Center. This field trip involves walking on level paved and unpaved paths.

The group will observe and identify birds on the Visitor Center Ponds, Kenai Trail and in the Wildlife Viewing Area.

Due to the ongoing pandemic, please wear a mask if you carpool with people other than your household members and practice social distancing in the field.

There are outdoor toilets at the Visitor’s Center and the Wildlife Viewing Area.

Monthly Program: Black Swifts in Montana
2025-11-17 19:00 - 20:30
Black Swifts in Montana: One of Our Most Fascinating and Mysterious Species
Montana Audubon Avian Specialist Bo Crees has studied Black Swifts in Montana and Idaho for the past 6 years. Bo will share the unique life history of this remarkable species along with interesting highlights, joys, and challenges of searching for one of Montana’s most elusive and vulnerable species in remote, hard-to-access areas.
Did you know that some of our Black Swifts fly continuously, without EVER landing, for more than 9 months?
Or, that even though adults weigh about the same as a golf ball, their incubation period is longer than that of Red-tailed Hawks, and that Black Swift nestlings take longer to fledge than some Golden Eagles?
Please join us on November 17 to learn more about these fascinating, unusual birds!
Please register by 3 pm on the day of the meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PFRETOGwTXCoS4edPxXcsw
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Boaz (Bo) Crees discovered the wonders of birds and birding in his early 20s and was hired as a biological technician on his first bird research project in 2005, while studying wildlife biology at the University of Montana. Bo has been involved in many bird and wildlife research projects over the past 20 years, and has studied birds in Mexico, Canada, and all but two western U.S. states. In 2016 Bo and his wife, Alexis, moved to Helena after living in northern British Columbia for several years, and have lived in Montana ever since. Bo is an Avian Specialist for Montana Audubon and the Montana Natural Heritage Program, working in the field in spring and summer, and processing data the rest of the year. In his free time Bo enjoys birding, hiking, creating wildlife art, and collecting and processing rocks and minerals.

Poets in the 'Root
2025-11-22 13:00 - 15:00
Proudly hosted by Teller Wildlife Refuge 1180 Chaffin Lane, Corvallis, MT
November 22 1:00-3:00
Free and Open to the Public
Nature has always inspired poets! And, poetry seeks to both instruct and delight. Poets in the ‘Root combines the magic and biology of nature. One person reads a poem or part of a poem that uses an element of nature to convey its message. Then the same or another person gives an explanation (5 minutes max) of some aspect of that nature element. The explanation focuses on the scientific interpretation of the nature element within the poem.
Listeners get a bit of poetry and a bit of natural history.
Anyone can volunteer to read a poem and/or offer nature interpretation. Some read poems by others, but if you’re a poet, we’d love to hear your own work.
We’ll have snacks, tea, and wine.

Please send your poems and natural history interpretation (or let us know if you need someone else to do the interpretation) to Helen Atthowe at hatthowe@gmail.com
Supported by: BITTERROOT BIRD ALLIANCE & CHAPTER ONE BOOKSTORE. Art by Deb Goslin.
—
Helen Atthowe
hatthowe@gmail.com

Mission Valley with Five Valleys Audubon
2025-12-06 08:00 - 16:00
This field trip is organized by our friends to the north: Five Valleys Audubon Society!!!
Join Thomas Kallmeyer and Five Valleys Audubon as we explore the back roads of the Mission Valley to observe overwintering species. This is a driving field trip with frequent stops for roadside birding so be prepared for variable weather conditions.
Meet at 08:00 on the West side of the U of M Adams Center parking lot or at 09:00 at the Cenex in Ronan.

Virtual Christmas Bird Count Refresher
2025-12-09 19:00 - 20:30
Hello bird friends-
To get you excited for our upcoming Christmas Bird Counts as well as winter birding, Bitterroot Bird Alliance will be hosting a virtual “CBC Refresher” session on Tuesday, December 9th at 7 pm. Kate Stone will walk you through winter bird identification, interesting CBC trends we’ll have our eyes on this season, and hopefully boost your confidence that you can and will enjoy bird identification this winter.
The person wearing the best bird gear to our virtual event will win a free Bitterroot Bird Alliance t-shirt. Interpret the phrase “bird gear” as you will!!
You will need to register for this event:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/vgQDJT_XSeSFNa40jpjI3g
You will receive additional information in a confirmation email upon registering.

Hamilton Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-14
Participants will gather at 7:30 am at the Teller Education Barn at 1180 Chaffin Lane in Corvallis.
Questions? Contact: Larry Barnes, 208-471-8297

Holiday Social
2025-12-15 18:00 - 19:30
Join old friends and make some new ones at the Bitterroot Bird Alliance Holiday Social Gathering. We’ll be upstairs in the spacious Victor Station to socialize and enjoy some combination of beverage and/or appetizers and/or entrees.

December 15th, 6 pm. Victor Station, 2412 US 93, Victor

Hamilton Library 2026 eBird Big Year
2025-12-18 18:00 - 19:00
The library is promoting engagement with our community through the outdoors, birds, and eBird, the world’s largest citizen science project. Are you ready for a Big Year?
Find out more info by coming to the Hamilton Public Library!
December 18th, 6 pm, Hamilton Library, Hamilton, MT.

Beginning Bird Walk at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge
2025-12-20 10:00 - 12:00

Stevensville Christmas Bird Count
2025-12-27
Participants in the Stevensville CBC will gather at 7:30 am, Saturday, December 27th, at the Stevensville Ranger Station (88 Main Street). We will NOT be regrouping for lunch this year, so bring your own lunch and keep on birding! Email or call-in the day’s results.
Questions? Contact: Deb Goslin 406-214-7879, 1stevicbc@gmail.com.
