Big Creek Ranch Field Trip
2025-05-24 08:00 - 11:00 UTC
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, 2026-02-21 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-03-21 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-04-18 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.

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.

Monthly Program- Bitter Root Land Trust
2026-01-20 18:00 - 19:30
January Program: Bitter Root Land Trust Conservation Efforts
Are you curious about efforts to conserve open space in the Bitterroot Valley? What do networks of protected private land mean for birds and other wildlife? Do you remember voting on the Ravalli County Open Lands bond in a recent election? Or did you see newspaper articles about a new public park in Victor?
Our January program will be an in-person visit with several staff members from the Bitter Root Land Trust. Since its inception in 1997, the Bitter Root Land Trust has worked in partnership with private landowners, the local community, willing donors, and other entities to protect thousands of acres for the benefit of us all. And that includes birds and other wildlife!
BRLT staff will provide an overview of the organization, what their stewardship responsibilities are for conserved land, the workings of the Ravalli County Open Lands Bond Program, and highlight the conservation momentum in the Victor neighborhood, including the formation of the Groff Family Park. Come with any questions you have- they’ll be ready for a lively discussion.
It takes a team to make conservation happen, so we hope you look forward to meeting several members of the Land Trust team, including Stephanie Sipe (Communications Director), Melissa Odell (Lands Director) and Rhiannon Klingonsmith (Stewardship Director).

This program will take place IN PERSON at 6 pm on Jan. 20th at the Neely Center at
150 A Street South in Victor. See you there!

Great Backyard Bird Count
2026-02-13 - 2026-02-16
Each February, for four days, the world comes together for the love of birds. Over these four days we invite people to spend time in their favorite places watching and counting as many birds as they can find and reporting them to us. These observations help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. Please join the movement!! For more information, visit the Great Backyard Bird Count Website

February Program: Common Poorwill nightly activity
2026-02-16 19:00 - 20:30
How do scientists learn what nocturnal birds are doing at night? They are difficult to see, might be dangerous for the observer to track and follow, and getting too close might disturb normal activity. Vocalizations like hoots are biased towards males and may only be useful at certain times in the breeding season.
The Motus Wildlife Tracking System- and the use of “nanotags”- is most often applied to studying long-distance movements of small organisms. But we can also use data gathered from these tags to understand small-scale animal movements, like when they are active or sitting still. Data like these can help us understand the relationships between nocturnal creatures and many factors, including moonlight, weather, and food availability. We can also look at seasonal differences in movements, or how activity changes at different stages of the breeding cycle.
The Bitterroot Valley boasts the only long-term study on the uncommon nightjar the Common Poorwill. Since 2015, we have captured over 250 poorwills on the MPG Ranch near Florence. We’ve spent the last few field seasons deploying nanotags on poorwills and other nocturnal creatures to understand nightly activity patterns. In this talk, we’ll share what we’ve learned so far. How much of the night are poorwills active? Do males and females show different activity patterns? Can we tease out how much time poorwills spend foraging versus singing? Though poorwills will be the focus of this talk, we’ll also look at the activity of several other elusive night creatures, like the Common Nighthawk and Flammulated Owl.
Please join Bitterroot Bird Alliance for this VIRTUAL program on Monday, February 16th at 7 pm. You will need to register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_4JzAH-ARgi1BxZ8sZkW_A
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Polson Raptors
2026-02-22 07:00 - 16:00
Sunday, February 22. Polson Raptors
Join Alex Kearney for a drive north to the Mission Valley. While the focus will be raptors of the area, participants will discover other wintering species and perhaps see the very beginning signs of spring migration. We will meet at two locations to organize carpools (Stevensville and St. 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. Meet at 7 am at the northwest portion of the Stevensville Super 1 parking lot.
To register and receive more information, please contact Alex via phone (406-360-2345) or email (ackbluefish20@gmail.com).

Western screech-owl nest box building party!
2026-03-03 08:00 - 17:00
Nan Christianson recently proposed a great idea backed up with a kind offer. She has a “good-sized” shop and necessary tools to make owl boxes as part Montana Audubon’s effort, detailed here: https://mtaudubon.org/2026/02/10/50-for-50-help-us-build-50-screech-owl-boxes-in-honor-of-our-50th-anniversary/

As the owls’ nesting season is just beginning, we’ll meet SOON: SATURDAY, MARCH 7TH, NOON AT NAN’S HOUSE, HAMILTON.

We need to:

sign up: Contact Nan (406) 369-0793 or Larry (208) 471-8297 right away so we can get the ball rolling.
gather materials

tools (Nan has most of the basics)
materials

left-over asphalt shingles to attach to each roof to extend the life of the box
1″ X 10″ boards. Cedar is most long-lasting, but pine can be stained to last longer
donations of wood, fasteners, etc.

3″ diameter drill bit
We may have members with wood shops and scrap (but useable) wood
We are budgetting $20/box and accepting sponsorships!
If you would like a box for you property, bring $20 to cover expenses (should we need to buy materials)

build boxes
place boxes in appropriate habitat

If we have our ducks (in this case owls) in a row ahead of the box building party, we could probably make several boxes in 1-2 hours, maybe with enough time to install the first box on Nan’s beautiful property (near Hamilton).

Birding ABC and Red Rock Family Farms
2026-03-11 08:00 - 11:00
Birding ABC and Red Rock Family Farms
3/11/26, 8am to 11am
Corbin Grimes
Join Corbin Grimes for a one mile walk through two private properties just south of Hamilton; ABC and Red Rock Farms. They focus on sustainably producing local produce, eggs, chicken, and beef. ABC even has a stunning tropical greenhouse! Both have stores offering the fruits of their labors. The properties also have wildlife that thrive alongside organic farming practices. Walk along the ABC portion of the Bitterroot River and the Red Rock portion of the Big Ditch.
Contact: 406-360-3052

ABC Acres
ABC Acres is a permaculture farm located in Hamilton, MT, a few miles up Sleeping Child Road. Established in 2012, ABC was founded with a focus on healthy lifestyle, farm, and land management. It covers an area of 80 acres that features great trails through native tree and plant sections, a pond, cottonwood forest, Bitterroot riverfront, and farm fields.

The farm is home to resident deer, elk, foxes, coyotes, and of course birds. Songbirds, doves, raptors, woodpeckers, and seasonal migrants all make use of ABC Acres’ habitats. A unique feature of the farm is its tropical botanical garden on property that grows bananas, papayas, citrus fruits, etc. – an unexpected find in Montana.

ABC Acres offers a membership (which is NOT required for this walk) and allows full year access where visitors can go on guided tours, livestock feedings, nature walks, workshops, and enjoy the farm store that is stocked with farm-grown and raised foods along with do-it-yourself materials. The efforts of property owners Tim & Sarah have clearly allowed for a thriving Rocky Mountain valley ecosystem.

Red Rock Farm
Red Rock Farm is a family owned operation that started in 2020 and is located across the street from ABC Acres along Sleeping Child Road. Just like ABC Acres it also follows a regenerative farming practice and has a farm store open to all.

This walk will be much shorter than the ABC one and will mostly be along the Daly Ditch, which provides great views over farm fields and prime raptor habitat. Red-tailed Hawks are expected, and there is a possibility of Rough-legged Hawks, eagles, and others as we transition into the spring. The open farm fields and nearby foothills create wonderful hunting grounds for birds of prey.

Through sustainable farming practices and care for the land, owners Shannon & Mike have helped create a landscape that supports both agriculture and wildlife.

At the very least, you will have an opportunity to explore two beautiful private farms and with some luck, we will see some birds too. See you there!

Wild Wings Festival- Choteau
2026-03-20 - 2026-03-22
Scan the QR code or go to this website for more information: https://www.wildwingschoteau.org/

Freezout Lake, Choteau
2026-03-29 - 2026-03-31
Freezout Lake, Choteau
March 29 to 31, 2026, Sunday AM to Tue PM
Alex Kearney
If you’ve wanted to visit Freezout Lake to see its wonders, which may include sky-darkening numbers of snow geese, now is your chance. Alex Kearney has offered to lead a trip there at the very end of March. Freezout Lake is just south of Choteau, about a 3.5 hours drive from Stevensville. Vast numbers of waterfowl rest and fuel up there on their northward migration each March, and the most numerous among them are clouds of snow geese — if the timing is right. You will probably see about 30-45 species on the round-trip journey from the Bitterroot Valley. Alex has offered to research VRBOs in the area (there are several) that could accommodate 4+ people for the nights of March 29 and 30. Or, participants may book two nights at the Stage Stop Inn. Also, some may wish to tow their trailer to Freezout Lake where there are pit toilets and boondock camping is allowed. Alex’s job would be to help arrange car-pooling, logistics, and knowing when and where to go to see the best of what the area has to offer. This might include rising in the dark on both mornings to be at Freezout at dawn! But the itinerary will be flexible and Alex will probably communicate the general daily plan then you can opt in or out or meet up along the way. If you have questions call/text/email Alex.
Contact: 406-360-2345, ackbluefish20@gmail.com

Bitterroot Peregrine Watch Orientation 2026
2026-04-08 19:00 - 20:00
To join the orientation and get more information on participating, please email audubonmembership@gmail.com
Spend the spring and early summer exploring the canyons and cliffs of the Bitterroot Mountains documenting Peregrine Falcon presence and nesting success. Volunteer peregrine monitoring efforts in the Bitterroot are being coordinated by the Bitterroot Bird Alliance under the auspices of Montana Peregrine Watch, a state-wide peregrine falcon monitoring program which is part of the Montana Peregrine Institute (MPI)

WELCOME BACK WATERFOWL DAY
2026-04-18 10:00 - 13:00
WELCOME BACK WATERFOWL DAY
4/18/26, 10am to 1pm
Come and join us in a tradition 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.
