“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 April 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.
Monitoring Avian Productivity And Survivorship
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Avian Conservation Biologist, Allison Begley, will be reviewing her work with the MAPS program (Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship). MAPS is a team effort, guided by the Institute for Bird Populations, composed of government agencies, NGOs and individuals to assist with the conservation of birds through standardized monitoring and banding.
Allison will talk about the newest MAPS study location at Spring Meadow State Park in Helena. Coming into their fourth year of operation, they’ve banded over 700 birds of more than 40 different species. With each banded bird, the MAPS program learns more about their vital rates and contributes information to their continental status. Even more importantly, the banding station has taught hundreds of visitors about why bird conservation is important.
Join us for coffee and cookies at 6:30 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. The program is free and the public is invited.
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.
March 30, Sunday – Big Lake. Meet at 8 a.m. at the Rocky parking lot. Migrating swans, sandhills, etc. Mike Weber, trip leader.
April 12, Saturday – Pryor Mountains to search for Sagebrush Sparrows. Meet at 7:30 a.m. in Bridger at the Park on the south end of Bridger. Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, trip leaders.
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. Carolyn Jones, 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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