Welcome to Yellowstone Valley
Audubon Society
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Education, Activism, and
Conservation
Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society is a local chapter of the National Audubon Society located from the Beartooth Mountains to the prairies of eastern Montana. YVAS hosts monthly Programs with a featured speaker September through May on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church (Billings). Members and the general public 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 2026 newsletter, The Flyer.
Visit us on Facebook.
Join a birding trip – 2026 Bird Field Trip Schedule.
Become a Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society member.
The YVAS mailing address is YVAS, PO Box 1075, Billings MT 59103.
Yellowstone National Park Bird Program: Monitoring, Research, and Management in the World’s First National Park
David Haines, Speaker
Monday, May 18th at 7 p.m.
Yellowstone National Park’s landscape is home to approximately 150 breeding bird species and supports many other species during seasonal passage through the region. The Yellowstone Bird Program monitors a suite of species and bird communities in the park with some long-term data exceeding 90 years. Some of this data has identified species declines, the recovery of bald eagle and peregrine falcon from the negative effects of widespread DDT use, bird community responses to changes in the environment, and more. This talk will provide an overview of Yellowstone’s Bird Program and highlight monitoring, research, and management for trumpeter swans, peregrine falcons, golden eagles, and willow songbird communities.
David Haines is a wildlife biologist with more than 20 years of experience studying birds and 
is currently Yellowstone National Park’s Bird Program lead. David has a bachelor’s degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo in ecology and systematic biology, and a master’s degree from the University of Montana in wildlife biology. He has been affiliated with Yellowstone’s bird program since 2011, first as part of the Yellowstone Raptor Initiative, a five-year program established to collect baseline demographic data on previously overlooked species in Yellowstone. At the University of Montana, David studied the breeding ecology and resource selection of golden eagles across Yellowstone’s northern range.
Join us for coffee and cookies at 6:30 p.m. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church on the corner of Poly and Rehberg. It is free and open to the public.
Upcoming YVAS Birding Field Trips 2026
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.
April 25, Saturday – Phipps Park. Bluebirds and Blooms. Meet at 8 AM at Phipps Park. Steep hike to top. Carolyn Jones trip leader.
May 9, Saturday – Broadview Ponds area. Meet at 8 AM at Rocky by the Billings Studio Theater. Carolyn Jones and Bill Morgan, trip leaders.
May 17, Sunday – Two Moon Park. Meet at Two Moon Park at 8 AM. Mike Weber, trip leader.
May 23, Saturday – Stillwater River/Woodbine area. Meet at 8 AM at Itch-Kep-Pe Park, Columbus, near restrooms. Trip leader, Carolyn Jones.
May 26, Tuesday – Riverfront Evening Stroll. Meet at 5 PM at the parking area with restrooms near the entrance and to the right. Bring mosquito repellant. Cathy Breeding, trip leader.
For the current status of bird trips, check the YVAS website, YVAS Facebook or the Flyer. Links to these and the 2026 Bird Trip Schedule can be found above. To be added to the Bird Trip Notification List, contact Carolyn Jones at carolyn684@gmail.com.
Great Horned Owl found near Joliet MT on highway. Photo – MRCC
Help for Injured Raptors and Other Birds Including Waterfowl
In eastern Montana, there are several resources you can contact for an injured or entangled bird including raptors, waterfowl or other species. The type of bird that may need assistance will determine the best person to call for assistance. For detailed information and recommendations from Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society see the guidelines that can be found under the Projects tab on the main menu. Please keep in mind that there are Federal and state laws in place that are important to consider before moving a bird.
Lawsuit Filed on behalf of Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society – Killing of Native Migratory Birds to Save Nonnative Fish
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.
Hundreds of native migratory birds have been shot at the Hatchery including Ospreys, Great Blue Herons, Double-crested cormorants and Canada Geese. More information can be found under Projects.
Recycle Your Aluminum Cans with “Recycle to Reforest”
A City of Billings Program to Enhance Our Trees
After 14 years of collecting and transporting aluminum cans to the recycler, Larry is retiring. Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society recommends that people take their aluminum cans to one of the City’s three collection sites located around Billings: Stewart Park, Veterans Park or Clevenger Park. The City’s Recycle to Reforest Program will use the refunds to plant and improve the trees in Billings.
Thank you for your volunteer work Larry!