Bird’s-Eye View Education Program
CFWEP partners with the University of Montana in Missoula to provide the Bird’s-Eye View Education Program (BEVEP). Funding for this program comes from the State of Montana’s Natural Resource Damage Program. The partnership of CFWEP & The University of Montana provides a unified source for watershed education in the Clark Fork drainage as it relates to damages from a century of mining. The Bird’s-Eye View Education Program runs several times a week from June – August at bird banding stations. These events are free and are appropriate for kids and adults of all ages! Come and gain a bird’s perspective on past mining activities, riparian areas, and what current restoration efforts mean to them.
Visit the University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab Website for more information!
Bird Banding Stations
In the spring and early summer, we capture songbirds at sites along the Clark Fork drainage and collect information regarding the birds’ health and breeding condition. This, in addition to the number of species and individuals, provides us information about the level of biodiversity our riparian habitat is sustaining. We also band and monitor osprey, see our osprey education page.
Join Us at Bird Banding!
Are you curious about Montana’s birds? Join the CFWEP and The University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab for a morning of bird banding at one of the dates below!
What can you expect to see & learn by visiting our bird banding station?
- Observe birds “in the hand” and find out what a “brood patch” is.
- Learn why biologists capture and band birds & what kind of data we collect.
- Gain bird ID skills and learn a few common bird songs.
- Find out why riparian areas are so important to birds.
- Learn the history of mining activities in the Upper Clark Fork Basin and the effect those activities had on bird communities.
Bird Banding Dates 2022
| Rock Creek | Grant-Kohrs Ranch | MPG Ranch* | Special Events |
|---|---|---|---|
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June 1 |
June 2 |
May 31 |
May 21 at Whiskey Gulch, Butte |
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June 15 |
June 14 |
June 13 |
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June 23 |
June 22 |
June 21 |
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July 6 |
July 5 |
July 7 |
July 10 at Milltown State Park |
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July 13 |
July 12 |
July 14 |
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July 21 |
July 20 |
July 22 |
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August 2 |
August 1 |
August 3 |
* By appointment only. Call Holly at 303-667-2735.
Visitors should plan to arrive at 7:30 am or 9:00 am in order to participate in our program. It is also possible to schedule a visit later in the morning, but birds are at their most active early in the morning. For more information about this program or to arrange a group visit, contact Holly at 303-667-2735 or hmgarrod26@gmail.com.
Please keep in mind that these programs are weather dependent – if the forecast is for rain or high winds, we may have to cancel – contact Holly at 303-667-2735 for an update.
Visitors should wear shoes and clothes appropriate for hiking near riparian woodlands & consider
bringing snacks or a lunch, as well as water, sunscreen, a hat, and bug repellent (the mosquitoes can be quite numerous!) Bring binoculars if you have them and a camera if you’d like – this unique “bird-in-the-hand” situation creates nice photo opportunities.
Questions?
Want more information? Check out this flier for information about when to arrive, what to bring, and how to get to bird banding sites.
You can also contactHolly at 303-667-2735 or hmgarrod26@gmail.com
Directions to Rock Creek
From Missoula, drive 20 miles east on I-90 and take exit 126 for Rock Creek. Immediately after the exit, you will take your first left turn and park in the small parking lot. Walk through the wooden gate on the left side of the green road gate and walk approximately ½ mile on the north road, remembering to veer toward the foot path and Clark Fork River as you are walking. You will cross through another gate which will be open and we will be just up the road to the east.
Directions to MPG Ranch *by appointment only, please contact Holly
From Missoula, drive south on Hwy 93 until you reach the only traffic light in Florence. Turn east (left), onto the Eastside Highway/State Highway 203. Travel 1.6 miles, crossing the Bitterroot River. At the traffic circle, take the second exit onto 8 Mile Creek Road for 0.2 miles. The road bends to the north and turns into 8 Mile Creek Rd/Lower Woodchuck Road. Continue travelling north for 0.75 miles. Go straight through the intersection with a 4-way stop; the road signs say Lower Woodchuck Road at this point. Continue following Lower Woodchuck Road north until you reach the locked gate. If you have scheduled an appointment, please wait near the locked gate at the designated time for someone to escort you to the banding site.
Directions to Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is located at the north end of Deer Lodge. From I-90, take exit # 184 and head west toward the town of Deer Lodge. At ½ mile from the highway, turn right (west) into the main parking lot of Grant- Kohrs Ranch. If you arrive at 7:30 or 9:00 am wait in the parking area, and one of our staff will meet you and lead you out to the banding station. If you arrive early or late, please contact Holly at 303-667-2735 for directions. Follow the paved foot trail out to the main ranch area and take a left after passing the ranch house, then follow the gravel road toward the open field and then west to the Clark Fork River. Follow this road toward the river and look for the bird banding station on the right, after crossing the 2nd bridge. The hike from the parking lot to the banding station takes about 15 minutes.