Wings Across the Big Sky Festival Brings Birders and Wildlife Enthusiasts to the Electric City
Story By Amy Joyner • Photos By Russell Hill
Every migrating flock of Canada Geese tells people below there is strength in numbers. In Great Falls June 9-11, about 400 birders will combine forces learning about birds and their habitats during the Montana Audubon’s Wings Across the Big Sky Festival, co-hosted by Upper Missouri Breaks Audubon.
From her Helena office of the Montana Audubon, Cathie Erickson said the organization is excited to round-out their 40th anniversary year with the Bird Festival in Great Falls. This 17th consecutive festival will attract birders and wildlife enthusiasts from around the state and region.
“We will be looking back at 40 years of conservation work in Montana, while looking forward to the challenges in the years ahead,” Erickson added.
From Great Falls, UMBA Vice President Candace Beery is handling festival publicity. She said because of the 40th anniversary, the UMBA expects about 400 people with a mixture of birding experience to attend on-site events and field trips.
“It gets you outdoors with a purpose, and you go out with people who really know birding. … When still learning, having an experienced birder offering names and details is great. When you’re new; you can be struggling, looking at your phone or bird book.”
Both new learners and old pros are embracing smartphone apps in the field, Beery said. She uses iBird ($1.99 to $39.99.) Popular free apps are Merlin Bird ID or the Audubon Bird Guide. “Technolgy. That’s where were going,” she added.
Nora Gray, a retired school teacher and active Great Falls birder for 15 years, uses an app, but also relies on the basics. “It is a challenge to identify birds…even if you can hear them,” she said. “All you need is a pair of binoculars, a guide book and an app on your phone.”
Being from an outdoor family, Gray knows that birding can be done alone or in groups, while hiking, skiing and backpacking. “When you are around water, a mountain or a prairie, you see different birds and you learn more about different habitats and preserving that habitat.”
Bird identification and education will intermix during field trips scheduled to leave Saturday and Sunday from festival headquarters in the Best Western Plus Heritage Inn.
As the festival dates near, more details will be at www.umbaudubon.com or mtaudubon.org
Montana Audubon’s Wings Across the Big Sky Bird Festival
Best Western Plus Heritage Inn, 1700 Fox Farm Rd.
• Pre-Festival birding event: American Prairie Reserve near Malta
Friday, June 9, 2017:
• C.M. Russell High School FFA Students Pre-Festival event
• Friday afternoon – Registration, Heritage Inn
• Friday evening – Western Barbecue and 40th Anniversary celebration. Keynote speaker is David Ringer, National Audubon Society.
Saturday, June 10, 2017:
• Saturday morning – More than 30 field trips led by area experts. Participants will see varied bird species, bird habitats, conservation issues and concerns.
• Saturday afternoon – Mini sessions of Montana Audubon program directors highlight past and future achievements and goals of their programs.
• Saturday evening – Popular banquet, dessert auction, and achievement awards.
• Post-Festival birding event: Missouri River float
