Creston bird walk, Bigfork Christmas bird count upcoming

Flathead Audubon Society has several events in the Bigfork area upcoming. 

Michell DeLeon Tyler will lead a walk on Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Creston Fish Hatchery from 8 a.m. until about 10 a.m. Expect to see raptors, a variety of our year-round resident passerines, woodpeckers, geese and ducks. Dress for the weather as conditions in December can be wet, snowy, or icy. Sturdy hiking boots, hiking poles and bear spray are recommended. Bring hot beverages and snacks to help you enjoy this outdoor adventure. To sign up and get more information contact Michell at madtyler67@gmail.com or call (406) 250-5238.

The program is free and open to the public.

The 51st Bigfork Christmas Bird Count will be held Saturday, Dec. 14. 

All volunteers are welcome, the event is free and open to the public. Interested birders will meet in the parking lot at 8 a.m. at Flathead Lake Brewery. After the count, participants will reconvene at Dave Manuwal’s house between 5-5:30 p.m. for a potluck dinner and unofficial bird countdown. Please return packets with the map and bird checklists ASAP after the count so Craig Hohenberger can tally the results. 

Birders can either return counts by mail (asap), email, or text them to group leaders and return their maps, or drop the bird lists in Hohenberger’s mailbox on Riverside Rd. at 95 Hash Mtn. View.

Regional (local) leaders from last year who are not participating in the Bigfork CBC this year, please contact Hohenberger, asoleado2003@yahoo.com. He will be sending out the Bigfork CBC packets with bird checklists and maps with respective sub-regions in the first week of December. If there are multiple people in your regions, you can organize your plan of coverage, or just caravan. 

Directions to David Manuwal’s house: Please let him know what you are bringing for the Potluck. David and his wife are located about 5 miles north of Bigfork and 2.5 south of Creston. Turn off of highway 35 at Lupine Ridge Rd which is near a curve in the highway. Go down Lupine Ridge until you encounter Meadowlark Ridge Rd on the right. Turn and go to the last house (yellow) on the left. That is us: 85 Meadowlark Ridge Rd. 406-257-1471. Email: manuwal2@centurylink.net. 

The mission of the Flathead Audubon Society is to conserve birds, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem diversity in northwest Montana, through education and conservation programs.