Bird Watching in Montana

The best place to observe the most diverse and interesting birds is in Montana during the early Fall. Birds migrating south for the Winter use Montana as a convenient pit stop much like the Howard Johnson’s of their human counter parts on a long family vacation. Montana is rich in grains, berries and nuts with miles of clear, clean water. The Northern Hemisphere provides the ideal nesting area for their young during the Spring. The Summer months provide the period of time for the new fledglings to grow and try their wings. By September the migrating birds receive their cue from nature and seek the warmer climates of the South.

This is paradise for the bird watcher. While not all birds migrate south, in particular the Owl, of which several varieties call Montana their home a total of 413 bird species have been observed in Montana. The Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park Department has a hot-line where bird enthusiast may call in to find out the bird siting of the week. State Hotline Number: (406) 721-9799.

The State of Montana in cooperation with the Audubon Society and the Montana Heritage Project provides a download able bird list that can be found at: http://mtaudubon.org/pdf/MTBirdlist2004.pdf or for additional reading on the Montana Audubon web site at www.mtaudbudon.org. The Montana Fish,Wildlife and Park Department has a dirth of information on birding sites and preserved wetlands at it’s web site www. fwp.state.mt.us.

I am going to mention just a few ideal bird watching areas where I have visited and I know the bird watcher will get an eye full. The Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is near Lima, (pronounced liema), Montana. It is in the southwest corner of Montana near the Idaho border off the Main interstate 15.

The area has abundant grain and water for the birds to make a necessary stop on their way South. Red Rock Lake is the home of the Trumpeter Swan, a majestic bird with a distinct call all birders will recognize. The refuge was formed in the 1930s to protect the rare Trumpeter Swan, but the refuge is also home to well over 200 other bird species looking for a safe and hospitable resting spot. In addition this sanctuary has a visitor center with toilet facilities, campgrounds and is wheelchair accessible in many area. It is open year round 7:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, closed on all federal holidays. There is a display of the Trumpeter Swan in the headquarters facility in Lakeview and the public is welcome to stop in and look around. You can access the government web site at http://redrocks.fws.gov or write to them at 27820 Southside Centennial Road Lima, MT 59739. This is the government at its best and I know you will enjoy your visit.

There is another bird watching area that is very familiar to me and easy for me to tell you some of the more interesting bird sittings and times and places around the Canyon Ferry Lake and Lakeside Lake area near Helena. This lake area is about 19 miles from the center of Helena. After you go over the Canyon Ferry Dam you will see a visitor center, but the area that is most interesting for rare bird watching is on Jim Town Road as it veers into Devils Elbow and onto York Road. You will travel about five miles on a dirt road. The abundance of birds in this area is astonishing. You will see a small inlet waterway and I have seen every imaginable bird in this area. The small blue heron, the trumpeter swan, woodpeckers, owls, snowy egret, osprey and every kind of duck you can imagine.

It is a quiet and shaded sanctuary far away from boats and crowds, but ideal for birds in the early mornings and late in the afternoon around sunset. This is not a tourist rest stop, but you are able to park down the road and walk in. There are no facilities, but Lakeside Restaurant or the York Bar and Restaurant is not too far away. The visitor center closes around Labor Day, but the maps are available from the U.S. Forest Service in Helena or from Fish, Wildlife and Parks. You can request travel brochures of places to stay and eat from the Travel Montana web site. The ideal time for a visit is May through September.