Welcome to Yellowstone Valley
Audubon Society
Visit Us On Facebook
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 November 2026 newsletter, The Flyer.
Visit us on Facebook.
Join a birding trip, 2027 Bird Field Trip Schedule.
Become a Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society member.
The YVAS mailing address is YVAS, PO Box 1075, Billings MT 59103.
Floating Island International
Technologies for Habitat Restoration
Bruce Kania, Speaker
Monday, November 16th at 7:00 PM Mayflower Church Poly and Rehberg Lane
Restored Wetlands
Floating Island International (FII) has developed two nature-based technologies that present numerous benefits to aquatic ecosystems. These are RAM- Reduction of Aquatic Methane, and BioHaven floating islands. The benefits include, but are not limited to:
• Habitat restoration and enhancement
• Reduction in algae blooms, mosquitoes, methane, and hydrogen sulfide
• Prevention of stagnation and fish kills.
RAM’s horizontal aeration treats a much larger area than typical vertical aerators, providing oxygen-breathing species with a much larger habitable zone. Supplying oxygen at the sediment-water interface will support microbial depletion of methane, decreasing overall emissions from the waterbody. This is important because about 50% of all methane emissions originate from impaired waterbodies, and methane is currently responsible for about 30% of the planet’s warming.
Floating Islands International is headquartered in Montana and is led by CEO Bruce Kania. Licensed
Bruce Kania
manufacturers are now constructing and marketing BioHaven products worldwide, with more than 10,000 BioHavens launched to date. FII maintains a strong research and development focus that continues to result in issued and pending patents for environmental restoration.
More information can be found in the November Flyer (above). The program begins at 7 PM, is free and open to the public. A social with coffee and cookies begins at 6:30 PM.
Upcoming YVAS Birding Field Trips 2026
Unless otherwise noted, field trips are open to the public and depart at 8:00 AM by car from the Rocky Mountain College parking lot on Rimrock Road next to Billings Studio Theater.
November 1, Sunday – Yellowtail Dam Afterbay. Meet at 8:00 AM at the Rocky/BST parking lot. Ron Kuhler, trip leader.
November 8, Sunday – Cooney Reservoir. Meet at the Cooney Marshall campground boat dock at 9:00 AM or for car pooling, at the Costco parking, NW corner at 8:00 AM. This trip is weather permitting. Check the website, Facebook or contact Carolyn Jones to be added to the trip notification email list. See below.
December 19, Saturday – Christmas Bird Count. Details can be found in the November 2026 Flyer (see the above Flyer link). Contact Lois Dalton, feeder watch organizer, or Jerry Dalton, Billings CBC organizer/compiler, at 406-656-3656 or daltonlois921@gmail.com.
For the current status of bird trips, check the YVAS website, YVAS Facebook or the Flyer. Links can found above along with the Bird Trip Schedule. 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 to Reforest”
Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society recommends that aluminum cans be recycled through the City of Billings Program, “Recycle to Reforest.” There are three collection sites located around Billings: Stewart Park, Veterans Park or Clevenger Park. The City will use the refunds to plant, enhance and improve the trees in Billings.