“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 June/July 2024 newsletter, The Flyer.
Visit us on Facebook – the link is in the upper right-hand corner.
Join a birding trip – 2024 Bird Field Trip Schedule.
The YVAS mailing address is YVAS, PO Box 1075, Billings MT 59103.
In 2023 YVAS awarded a $1,000 conservation grant to Isaac Augustine to make and erect a Barn Swallow nesting structure in Rose Park as part of his Eagle Scout qualification. Boy Scout Troop 52 worked on the posts and roof over the winter and Langlas Construction helped put it up on March 15th. Isaac has included an informational sign as part of his project to educate the public about Barn Swallows and their role in mosquito mitigation. Consuming up to 850 insects a day–what’s not to love about a Barn Swallow! KTVQ was on site when the installation was installed. There news article can be viewed here.
Upcoming YVAS Birding Field Trips 2024
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.
May 28, Tuesday – Riverfront Park: Evening Bird Stroll. Meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Riverfront parking lot second road to the right from the entrance. Mosquito repellent advisory. Mike Weber, leader.
May 31, Friday – East Rosebud. Meet at Rocky at 7:30 a.m. Sack lunch. Brenda and Jeff Dunham, leaders
June 1, Saturday – Yellowstone River WMA. Meet at Rocky at 8 a.m. Sack lunch. Megan O’Reilly, leader.
June 8, Saturday – Pompey’s Pillar. Meet at Rocky at 7:00 a.m. Sack lunch. Carolyn Jones, leader.
June 11, Tuesday – Pryor Mountain, Sage Creek. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at Rocky or 8:30 a.m. at Bridger Park south end of Main St in Bridger. Sack lunch. Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, leaders.
June 15, Saturday – Red Lodge area. Meet at 7 a.m. at Rocky or 8:15 a.m. at Red Lodge Town Pump. Sack lunch. Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, leaders.
June 22, Saturday – Bear Canyon. Meet at 6:30 a.m. at Rocky or at 7:30 a.m. Bridger Park south end of Main St in Bridger. Sack lunch. Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, leaders.
June 29, Saturday – Grant Marsh. Meet at 8 a.m. at Love’s Truck Stop on Hwy 47 just off I90 at Hardin. Sack lunch. Megan O’Reilly, leader.
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 one of three convenient places: by the garage at 918 Avenue C or at 519 Highland Park Drive, or bring them to our Chapter Programs September through May (information above). The Education Fund 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 a large load, call Larry (406-855-9832) and he will be happy to pick it up.
Killing of Native Migratory Birds to Save Nonnative Fish
Steve Dubois
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.
YVAS and others immediately protested this practice and the permit process (and continue to). Yet the Miles City Hatchery continues to apply for and receive Depredation Permits from the US Fish Wildlife Service to shoot Ospreys indiscriminately in order to protect nonnative fish.
The Hatchery’s brood stock of largemouth bass spend three summer months at the Miles City Hatchery before being hauled by trucks to the Bluewater Hatchery outside of Bridger, MT, for nine months. Due to an outbreak of invasive New Zealand mudsnails at the Bluewater Hatchery in 2021, the bass brood stock were destroyed in late 2021. In May 2022 another outbreak of the invasive snail occurred at the Bluewater Hatchery.
Still the Miles City Hatchery continues to apply for and receive Depredation Permits from the US Fish Wildlife Service to shoot native species of birds to protect nonnative fish. Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorants and Canada Geese are also included in their Depredation Permits.
YVAS, Earthjustice and others are vigorously pursuing corrective measures to this lethal management of native birds a
nd 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).
We want your photos!
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