“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 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 2025 newsletter, The Flyer.
Visit us on Facebook.
Join a birding trip – 2025 Bird Field Trip Schedule.
Become a Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society member.
The YVAS mailing address is YVAS, PO Box 1075, Billings MT 59103.
Program of the Month
Orange-breasted Falcon: Population Dynamics and Species Restoration in Central America
Scott Newbold, Speaker
Monday, November 17th
Scott Newbold Photo by Jonathan Urbina
OFB on eggs Photo by Robert Berry
Robert Berry, falcon breeder, rancher, and conservationist, traveled to Belize in the early 1990s to learn more about a young graduate student’s work on a rare tropical falcon. That experience, and the spectacular acrobatics of Orange-breasted Falcons (Falco deiroleucus) in flight, captured Bob’s imagination… and the Peregrine Fund Orange-breasted Falcon (‘OBF’) Restoration Program was begun. Since then, and for nearly 35 years, Bob has worked tirelessly to better understand the population dynamics and restoration potential of this isolated population of OBF’s in Central America. Scott Newbold joined the OBF program in 2011 and for 3 years witnessed this unique conservation program in action. Scott will share insights from field work in Guatemala and Belize and provide an overview of the 30-year program.
Scott Newbold earned his Ph.D. in Ecology from Utah State University. His research focuses on the community ecology of terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates, particularly lizards, small mammals, birds, and ants, and applications of basic ecological principles to conservation and restoration issues. He has also been involved with large-scale monitoring initiatives through the Long-Term Ecological Research program and the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring program. Scott has taught in the biological sciences at Utah State University and Colorado State University, and is currently serving in his 14th year as an Instructor/Researcher at Sheridan College through a partnership initiated with Bob Berry.
Coffee and cookies are available at 6:30 p.m. The program starts at 7 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church (Rehberg & Poly). The program is free. The public is welcome!
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.
December 20, Saturday – Christmas Bird Count 2025. Meet at Perkins at 7 a.m. More information to follow. Contact Jerry Dalton to sign up.
January 1, Thursday – 2026 Annual New Years Day Bird Trip to Yellowtail Dam Afterbay. Will leave at 8 a.m. from Rocky/BST parking lot. Ron Kuhler trip leader. Sack lunch.
January 4, Sunday – Mid Winter Eagle Count. Will leave at 8 a.m. from Rock/BST parking lot. Mike Weber/Ron Kuhler, trip leaders.
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
YVAS is accepting ALUMINUM CANS ONLY for recycling. 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.
ALUMINUM CANS can be dropped off in secure bags at 918 Avenue C by the garage. Aluminum cans are the only items currently being accepted. If you are uncertain if a can is aluminum, try a magnet. It will not attach to aluminum. Aluminum cans can also be left with a board member at the Chapter Programs from September through May (those details are above). 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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