“Building on the tradition of special interest in birds, Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society is organized to promote enjoyment and protection of natural environment through education, activism, and conservation of bird habitat.”
Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society hosts a Public Program Series with a featured speaker September through May on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church. Members, the general public and visitors to the Billings area who are interested in birds, bird habitat and conservation are invited to join us. YVAS sponsors birding field trips, ornithology classes, the Christmas Bird Count, a monthly newsletter, and various conservation and educational projects. Feel free to contact any Board or Committee member for more information.
For the latest news and updates, see the May 2025 newsletter, The Flyer.
Visit us on Facebook – the link is in the upper right-hand corner.
Join a birding trip – 2025 Bird Field Trip Schedule.
The YVAS mailing address is YVAS, PO Box 1075, Billings MT 59103.
Trumpter Swans by Marv Coleman
Showcase of Three Montana Wildlife Photographers
Bozeman photographer Bruce Pitcher has been creating beautiful images of the Gallatin Valley and surrounding areas for nearly 50 years. He obtained a degree in Still Photography from Montana State University. His work has been published in National Wildlife, Wyoming Wildlife, Utah Fish and Game, Professional Photographers of America, Big Sky Journal, as well as numerous other magazines and books.
For Lewistown photographer Lois Shelden, photography is now an avocation rather than the vocation it was for 30 years as a portrait photographer. Today, photography offers her the thrill of closely observing the natural world, birds in particular, and lets her share the experience with friends and family. She finds that seeking an expressive image of an often-elusive subject teaches patience, quiets the mind, and (sometimes) rewards her with an image that provides insight into the lives of Montana birds.
Sandhill Crane with Colts by Merv Coleman
Red Lodge photographer Merv Coleman has been shooting a variety of subjects for 45 years, from wildlife to landscapes to little dancers to school pictures to family and high school portraits. He loves driving the Beartooth Scenic Highway as well as going to Yellowstone National Park or surroundings areas for photographic outings. Although he has also enjoyed taking photographs across the country and abroad, he is always reminded on the next trip into the local mountains of how lucky he is to have all of this in his backyard.
The program is free and the public is invited. Coffee and cookies are served at 6:30 p.m. The program begins at 7:00 p.m.
Upcoming YVAS Birding Field Trips 2025
Unless otherwise noted, field trips are open to the public and depart at 8:00 a.m. by car from the Rocky Mountain College parking lot on Rimrock Road next to Billings Studio Theater. Make transportation and carpooling arrangements ahead of time if possible.
April 26, Saturday – Bluebirds and Blooms in Phipps Park. Meet at Phipps Park at 8 a.m. Steep hike to top. Carolyn Jones & Sue Weinreis, trip leaders.
May 4, Sunday – Two Moon Park. Meet at Two Moon at 8 a.m. Mike Weber, trip leader.
May 10, Saturday – Broadview Ponds. Meet at Rocky near the BST parking lot. Stan Heath, trip leader
May 17, Saturday – Bridger Creek. Meet at 8 a.m. at Itch-Kep-Pe Park, Columbus, near restrooms. Stan Heath & Susan Hovde, leaders.
May 27, Tuesday – Riverfront Park Evening Stroll. Meet at 5 p.m. in the parking lot, second road to the right from the entrance. Mosquito repellent advised. Cathy Breeding, trip leader.
May 31, Saturday – Stillwater River/ Woodbine area. Meet at 8 a.m. at Itch-Kep-Pe Park in Columbus near the restrooms, Carolyn Jones, trip leader.
June 7, Saturday – Pompey’s Pillar and Bundy Fishing Access. Meet at Rocky at 7:30 a.m. or 8 a.m. at Bundy FA. Carolyn Jones, trip leader.
June 10, Tuesday – Red Lodge area. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Red Lodge Town Pump. Stan Heath & Susan Hovde, leaders.
June 14, Saturday – Pryor Mountains and Sage Creek. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Bridger Park located at the south end of town. Stan Heath & Susan Hovde, trip leaders.
June 17, Tuesday – Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area near Pompey’s Pillar. Meet at 8 a.m. at Bundy Bridge Fishing Access.
Megan O’Reilly, trip leader.
June 21, Saturday – Bear Canyon. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Bridger Park located at the south end of town. Stan Heath & Susan Hovde, trip leaders.
June 28, Saturday – Grant’s Marsh near Hardin. Meet at 8 a.m. at Love’s Truck Stop in Hardin on Hwy 47 just off I-90. Megan O’Reilly, trip leader.
For the current status of bird trips, check the YVAS website, YVAS Facebook or the Flyer. Links to these and the 2024-25 Bird Trip Schedule can be found above. To be added to the Bird Trip Notification List, contact Carolyn Jones at carolyn684@gmail.com.
Lawsuit Filed on behalf of Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society – Killing of Native Migratory Birds to Save Nonnative Fish
Ospreys – Edie Linneweber
On behalf of Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society, Earthjustice filed a complaint against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) for allowing the State of Montana to shoot and kill migratory birds in order to protect nonnative fish species.
The November 14, 2024 press release, “Conservation Group Sues Feds Over Fish Hatchery Shooting Migratory Birds” can be found on the Earthjustice website.
In 2018, the US Fish Wildlife Service began issuing Osprey Depredation Permits to the Miles City Hatchery allowing them to kill native migratory Ospreys that were eating their nonnative largemouth bass. With the approval of the US Fish Wildlife Service and the Dept. of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services, the eastern most breeding population of Ospreys on the Yellowstone River was lethally removed by the MT Fish Wildlife & Parks’ Hatchery Division at the Miles City Hatchery in less than two years.
Great Blue Heron
Hundreds of native migratory birds have been shot at the Hatchery including Great Blue Herons, Double-crested cormorants, Canada Geese and Ospreys. YVAS and others immediately protested this practice and the permit process.
YVAS, Earthjustice and others are vigorously pursuing corrective measures to this lethal management of native birds and misguided permit process.
For more information see:
Journal of Raptor Research – Range Contraction of an Osprey Population Following Lethal Control at a State Fish Hatchery in Montana by Dr. Marco Restani
Billings Gazette – FWP’s Bluewater Hatchery contaminated by mudsnails 2nd time in 2 years
Shooting Birds at the Miles City Hatchery (070821) and Protect The Wild Fishing Birds Of Eastern Montana (121321).
Recycle Your Aluminum with YVAS and Support YVAS’ Educational Fund
Aluminum cans, old license plates, signs and other aluminum items (magnet will not attach) can be dropped off in secure bags at 918 Avenue C by the garage. Larry wants to remind all who recycle that the recycling company does accept aluminum foil and pans, but they need to be separate from cans, so please separate into different bags before dropping them off at his house. The aluminum can also be left with a board member at the Chapter Meetings from September through May (those details are above). The refund received goes toward YVAS’ Education Fund which supports a variety of projects – educational signs in public parks, Citizen Science Kits at the Billings Public Library and educational projects as requested. If you have several bags, contact Larry at larryhandsaker@gmail.com and he will be happy to pick it up.
We want your photos!
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