BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Bitterroot Bird Alliance - ECPv6.16.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Bitterroot Bird Alliance
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Bitterroot Bird Alliance
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:UTC
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20230101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Denver
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:MDT
DTSTART:20240310T090000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:MST
DTSTART:20241103T080000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:MDT
DTSTART:20250309T090000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:MST
DTSTART:20251102T080000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0700
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:MDT
DTSTART:20260308T090000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0700
TZNAME:MST
DTSTART:20261101T080000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250419T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250419T130000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250307T170222Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250307T170222Z
UID:1255-1745056800-1745067600@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Welcome Back Waterfowl
DESCRIPTION: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. \n 
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/welcome-back-waterfowl/
LOCATION:Lee Metcalf\, United States
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250419T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250419T130000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250102T230355Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250102T230355Z
UID:1066-1745056800-1745067600@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Beginning Bird Walk at Lee Metcalf NWR
DESCRIPTION:This field trip is brought to you by our friends to the north: Five Valleys Audubon Society. \n\nJoin 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.\n\nThe group will observe and identify birds on the Visitor Center Ponds\, Kenai Trail and in the Wildlife Viewing Area.\n\nThere are outdoor toilets at the Visitor’s Center and the Wildlife Viewing Area.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/beginning-bird-walk-at-lee-metcalf-nwr-4/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250402T170000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250402T183000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250205T230726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250228T184825Z
UID:1232-1743613200-1743618600@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Author Event: Flight Paths with Rebecca Heisman
DESCRIPTION: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: \n“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.” \nWe 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! \nYou will need to pre-register for this event: Click here to register. \nYou 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! \nThere are also multiple copies available within the Montana Library System.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/author-event-flight-paths-with-rebecca-heisman/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250322
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250323
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250311T171643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250311T171643Z
UID:1275-1742601600-1742687999@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Mission Valley Raptors Field Trip
DESCRIPTION:Mission Valley Raptors\, March 22\, 2025 \nJoin 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.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/mission-valley-raptors-field-trip/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250321
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250324
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250311T171955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250311T171955Z
UID:1277-1742515200-1742774399@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Wild Wings Light Goose Festival
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/wild-wings-light-goose-festival/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250317T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250317T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250127T151334Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250307T170635Z
UID:1214-1742238000-1742243400@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Monthly Program: Diane Boyd on Wolf Conservation
DESCRIPTION:“Five decades of Wolf Recovery in Montana and the West\,” with Diane K. Boyd \nDr. Diane K. Boyd holds a Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana. She has studied wolves in Montana and far beyond\, like in Romania and Italy. She is the author of numerous scientific papers on wolves. She now divides her time between her home in Kalispell and her cabin in the North Fork. \nDr. Boyd will discuss wolf recovery in Montana and the western US\, through natural recolonization and reintroductions. She will discuss the ecology of gray wolves and the challenges of humans and wolves coexisting on a human-dominated landscape. \nDiane’s book\, Woman Among Wolves is available at Chapter One or through their website. The paperback out 8/24/25 is also available for pre-order.\nYou will need to register for this March 17th Zoom event\, using the link below. \nYou are invited to a Zoom meeting.  \nWhen: Mar 17\, 2025 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)  \nRegister in advance for this meeting: \nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rT1rf7hQSsOgDehz9w5oIA \nAfter registering\, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. \n 
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/monthly-program-diane-boyd-on-wolf-conservation/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250315T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250315T130000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250102T230312Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250102T230324Z
UID:1064-1742032800-1742043600@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Beginning Bird Walk at Lee Metcalf NWR
DESCRIPTION:This field trip is brought to you by our friends to the north: Five Valleys Audubon Society. \n\nJoin 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.\n\nThe group will observe and identify birds on the Visitor Center Ponds\, Kenai Trail and in the Wildlife Viewing Area.\n\nThere are outdoor toilets at the Visitor’s Center and the Wildlife Viewing Area.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/beginning-bird-walk-at-lee-metcalf-nwr-3/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250222
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250223
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250131T210921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250131T210921Z
UID:1218-1740182400-1740268799@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Mission Valley Raptors
DESCRIPTION:Join BBA’s Alex Kearney and Five Valley Audubon’s Steve Flood for an all-day trip to the Mission Valley at the south end of Flathead Lake. While the focus will be raptors of the area\, we 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. Trip has a limited number of participants so please pre register by February 16th by contacting Alex Kearny at 406-360-2345.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/mission-valley-raptors/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250217T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250217T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250205T000209Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250205T000534Z
UID:1223-1739818800-1739824200@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Monthly Program: Clark's Nutcrackers with Dr. Diana Tomback
DESCRIPTION:Clark’s Nutcracker: the Bird that Builds Forests\, by Dr. Diana Tomback \nThe presentation will cover Clark’s Nutcrackers as keystone seed dispersers\, and thus forest builders\, for many conifers across the montane west but with the focus on nutcrackers and whitebark pine.  With the decline in whitebark pine\, now a federally threatened species\, there is a concern about a decline in nutcracker populations.  I will include some data from our work on nutcracker forest community use\, annual abundance\, and home range size in Yellowstone National Park. \nDiana F. Tomback is Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of Colorado Denver with expertise in forest ecology and conservation biology. She received a B.A. and M.A. at UCLA and Ph.D. at the University of California Santa Barbara. Author of more than 150 publications and essays\, she has conducted research on high elevation and treeline ecosystems\, including pioneering studies of the keystone seed disperser Clark’s nutcracker\, whitebark pine\, and related five-needle white pines in parks and forests across the U.S. and Canada. In 2001\, Tomback and colleagues started the Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation (WPEF) http://www.whitebarkfound.org\, a science-based 501 (c)3 non-profit to advocate for whitebark pine restoration.  She was science lead on the National Whitebark Pine Restoration Plan\, a multi-agency strategy in partnership with American Forest and advised by the Washington Office of the USDA Forest Service.  She now serves on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Whitebark Pine Recovery Team. \nYou are invited to a Zoom meeting.  \nWhen: Feb 17\, 2025 07:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada) \nRegister in advance for this meeting: \nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/6DSoVThdT6GzuODT1GPsiQ \nAfter registering\, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. \nPlease register before 6 p.m. on the 17th. \n 
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/monthly-program-clarks-nutcrackers-with-dr-diana-tomback/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250215T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250215T130000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250102T230229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250102T230229Z
UID:1062-1739613600-1739624400@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Beginning Bird Walk at Lee Metcalf NWR
DESCRIPTION:This field trip is brought to you by our friends to the north: Five Valleys Audubon Society. \n\nJoin 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.\n\nThe group will observe and identify birds on the Visitor Center Ponds\, Kenai Trail and in the Wildlife Viewing Area.\n\nThere are outdoor toilets at the Visitor’s Center and the Wildlife Viewing Area.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/beginning-bird-walk-at-lee-metcalf-nwr-2/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250215T080000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250215T170000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250102T230517Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250102T230517Z
UID:1068-1739606400-1739638800@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:All Day Field Trip to the Mission Valley
DESCRIPTION:This field trip is brought to you by our friends to the north: Five Valleys Audubon Society. Thanks friends! \nJoin Thomas Kallmeyer and Five Valleys Audubon for an all-day field trip to the Mission Valley to look for resident and overwintering raptors and other birds. Meet at 8:00 am on the West side of the Adams Center parking lot at the U of M or at the Cenex gas station in Ronan at 9:00 am. \nThis is a driving trip with frequent stops to look for birds. We will spend some time outside the car\, so be prepared for cold temperatures\, wind and snow or rain. \nDue 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.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/all-day-field-trip-to-the-mission-valley/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Denver:20250208T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Denver:20250208T150000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250108T161108Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250108T161236Z
UID:1193-1739019600-1739026800@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Poets in the Root
DESCRIPTION:Nature in nearly all manifestations has inspired poets since there were poets! And at least since the Roman poet Horace wrote Ars Poetica or the Art of Poetry in 19BC\, literature\, including poetry\, sought to both instruct and delight. \nPoets in the ‘Root combines these two aims in an uncommon but simple way. 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 nature interpretation\, not literary interpretation. Listeners get a bit of poetry and a bit of natural history. \nWe’ll have refreshments\, including coffee\, tea\, wine\, and snacks! \nAnyone can volunteer to read poetry and/or offer the nature interpretation. This is a fun way for Master Naturalists to earn credit towards their certification. Free and open to the public. \nFor participants\, even attendees\, Chapter One Bookstore in Hamilton is offering 20% off of one book of poetry. Coupons will be available at the event. \nTo ask questions\, please contact Micki Long at mickilong@gmail.com \nTo register\, please visit the Teller Wildlife Refuge website.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/poets-in-the-root/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250120T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250120T203000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20241219T145106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250117T184631Z
UID:929-1737399600-1737405000@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Monthly Program- Shorebird Migration in Montana
DESCRIPTION:Monday January 20th\, 7 pm \nNocturnal peeps: what night sounds can tell us about shorebird migration in Montana \nShorebirds cover huge distances during spring and fall migration\, passing over entire states without touching land. Where they settle\, wetlands provide critical resources for refueling. With widespread population declines\, understanding all aspects of their life histories is important to conserving populations. Because most shorebirds migrate at night and daytime shorebird identification challenges many birders\, we understand very little about their migration through Montana and the Intermountain West. However\, shorebirds make unique flight calls while migrating\, and we can often identify them to species based on these calls. \nSome of you may recall the “Bitterroot Array”- an installation of up to 50 recording units deployed annually from 2013 to 2019 at sites in Montana to study nocturnal bird migration. Though we set most units in the Bitterroot Valley\, we had a handful of sites east of the Continental Divide. We focused most effort on fall migration but also had some units recording in the spring. Several Bitterroot Bird Alliance members hosted recording units at their property\, as did schools like Florence and Darby High Schools. We also had units at familiar locations in the high country- sites like St Mary’s Peak and Sula Peak. \nThis effort resulted in over 20 terabytes of acoustic data. Because of the massive amount of data and the difficulty in identifying some western bird species by flight calls\, we decided to tackle shorebird calls during the year 2017 for an initial analysis. In this presentation\, we’ll walk you through how our Bitterroot data helped train the machine-learning model “Nighthawk” (think “Merlin” for nocturnal flight calls) and how scientists everywhere can use this application to better understand bird migration happening at night. But more importantly\, we’ll share some of our results about the shorebirds migrating over our valley- species you might never see or even expect. We’ll also compare the findings from our recordings to the on-the-ground surveys several BBA members performed at Lee Metcalf NWR the past two years as part of the Intermountain West Shorebird Survey. \nKate Stone is a long-time board member of Bitterroot Bird Alliance and an ecologist at the MPG Ranch. Like many people\, she struggles with visual shorebird identification in the field because she sees relatively few of them. But as an “ear birder” at heart\, she loves the use of acoustic tools to study bird populations. \nPlease join BBA for this glimpse into the scientific process of innovation and discovery during our January virtual program. You will need to register in advance for this meeting:\nhttps://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BOsWvJQTTlOzuJX7sDot5g \nAfter registering\, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. \n 
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/monthly-program-shorebird-migration-in-montana/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250118T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250118T130000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20250102T230154Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250102T230154Z
UID:1060-1737194400-1737205200@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Beginning Bird Walk at Lee Metcalf NWR
DESCRIPTION:This field trip is brought to you by our friends to the north: Five Valleys Audubon Society. \n\nJoin 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.\n\nThe group will observe and identify birds on the Visitor Center Ponds\, Kenai Trail and in the Wildlife Viewing Area.\n\nThere are outdoor toilets at the Visitor’s Center and the Wildlife Viewing Area.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/beginning-bird-walk-at-lee-metcalf-nwr/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20241228T073000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20241228T170000
DTSTAMP:20260605T171058
CREATED:20241220T181256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20241220T181256Z
UID:960-1735371000-1735405200@bitterrootbirdalliance.org
SUMMARY:Stevensville Christmas Bird Count
DESCRIPTION:Join Bitterroot Bird Alliance for the Stevensville Christmas Bird Count! We will gather at 7:30 at the Forest Service’s Stevensville Ranger District at 88 Main St in Stevensville for location assignments and to form small groups. Birders of all levels are welcome! Questions? Contact compiler Deborah Goslin 406-214-7879.
URL:https://bitterrootbirdalliance.org/event/stevensville-christmas-bird-count/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR