Owls of the Flathead Valley – Guided Educational Hike

Owls of the Flathead Valley – Guided Educational Hike

Hike Overview Continued

Instructor: Denny Olson, Flathead Audubon Conservation Educator

This course will provide a thorough introduction to the ecology and identification of the owls of the Flathead Valley.  Since we humans are mostly diurnal and many owls are nocturnal, they have a reputation of being “secretive”. Montana boasts the largest number (15) of breeding owl species of any state in the nation.  The Flathead Valley provides habitat for approximately 12 of these species, but 3 species are extremely uncommon.  By the end of the course, you should be able to correctly identify NW Montana owls, understand their adaptations, life histories and overall ecology.  In addition, students will have a grasp on some owl research techniques that will help you locate owls on your own.

Meeting Place: 320 Nucleus Ave, Columbia Falls, MT 59912

Itinerary: (subject to change due to trail closures and weather) We will begin at 8:00 AM with an introduction to Montana owls before heading out to drive the backroads in search of owls, based on recent sightings. We will spend time in the field looking and learning about the natural history of Montana’s owls, signs of owls, and other interesting facts. We will have our lunch in the field. The course will end by 4 p.m. and will not be canceled due to weather.

Food:  Please bring a sack lunch, plenty of water, and snacks for the day.

Equipment:  It can be quite windy and /or raining.in the Flathead Valley so prepare with warm layers, jackets, hats, gloves and sturdy shoes or boots. We will be traveling off trail and you may encounter thorn bushes, burrs, mud, ticks, so please plan accordingly. Binoculars and spotting scopes will be beneficial, and the instructor can provide them if notified ahead.

Physical Requirements: We will be taking short off-trail hikes looking for tree holes, whitewash and other signs of owls and their habitats.