On the Fly - Area birders share tips on how to get started birdwatching

POLSON — The mist had barely lifted from Flathead Lake on Monday morning and already Jim Rogers was peering through a scope at a red-tailed hawk on the far shore from the parking area at Ducharme Access on the east shore.

Then, the call of a common yellowthroat warbler caught his attention, and Rogers began scanning the tops of cattails for the small, yellow accented bird.

It took years for the retired science and geography teacher to distinguish bird calls. Now, he can tell what kind of bird is calling, even if he can’t see it.

“Just now I’ve heard four species,” he said later, seconds after stepping out of the car partway up Hellroaring Road.

While it took a lot of patience to get to that point, listening for different bird calls and watching is anything but boring.

“They live with an enthusiasm that’s second to none, I think. No matter what a bird’s doing, they’re doing to full hilt,” Rogers said.

Sometimes, birdwatching turns out not to be about birds after all.

“The best part about birding is just being out,” Rogers said, adding he’s seen grizzly bears, black bears and even wolverines while waiting to see birds.

The immensity of bird species numbers may seem daunting, but don’t let their quantity discourage you from beginning to birdwatch.

Be patient, Rogers said. Get a good bird book and some binoculars and try them out.

“Whatever the first bird that you see or hear, check it out,” said Rogers, who’s president of the Mission Mountain Audubon club.

Citizen scientists

Now is a good time to try identifying birds.

Their plumage is brightly colored for mating season and will fade later in the year. Also, birds are active setting up territories and singing to attract mates, Rogers said.

Already, many migratory birds have returned to the area after wintering elsewhere.

For example, the state bird, the Western meadowlark, can be found now in grasslands. Mountain bluebirds have returned, as well, and have taken up residence in bluebird boxes or in burned trees.

More than 200 species of birds call the National Bison Range home alone, said Pat Jamieson, recreation planner for the National Bison Range.

Take your time and focus on one bird at a time, she said, adding robins make for a great beginning bird because they look for bugs on the ground and most people know what they look like.

Like Rogers, Jamieson recommended bringing a large quantity of patience along.

“It’s a time thing,” she said, “which is kind of fun, because this is a lifetime thing.”

People might be surprised by how much they already know about birds, Jamieson said.

For filling in blanks, apps for smart phones will give you bird information as well as songs, or check out CDs.

One of the nice things about birdwatching is the outdoor environment, but exercise isn’t necessary for spotting birds. A variety of birds can been seen without ever leaving your house.

“There are some birds that might be hard to get to, but for the most part, you can just watch in your backyard,” Jamieson said.

For all the personal enjoyment found through birdwatching, there’s a deeper fulfillment people can find from participating in citizen science, Jamieson said.

Yearly Christmas bird counts occur through the Audubon Society and Cornell University’s Ornithology lab is constantly looking for records of bird populations. Other social sites track where birds are and when. Numerous volunteer birding opportunities exist, including raptor count sites and other research projects.

“And then, not only are you enjoying it, but you’re doing something important,” Jamieson said.

Habitat

Another good place to start identifying birds is wetlands.

Most wetland birds, like ducks and geese, are large and easy to spot. Their colors are typically in bold patterns and easy to identify.

This time of year, mallards, red heads and trumpeter swans, among other species, are good to look for, said Janene Lichtenberg, a wildlife biologist with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes’ Natural Resources division.

Lichtenberg spent Monday morning hiking around Kicking Horse Reservoir area, conducting a marsh bird survey.

During the survey, she played calls of several marsh birds and then recorded replies. The work is part of an overarching effort to improve wetlands and bird habitat through Kerr Dam mitigation money.

Projects are paying off, and marsh bird numbers are increasing, Lichtenberg said. Other bird numbers are increasing, too, as native grasses and shrubs are reintroduced, she added.

One of the increasing birds is the trumpeter swan. Last year, nine nests were recorded after the swans were reintroduced about a decade ago, Lichtenberg said.

“I think we’ve just got an incredible diversity [of birds], just because we have so many habitats,” she said.

To help protect that habitat, be responsible when birding. Be respectful of federal, tribal, state and private land designations and regulations. Don’t drive off-road in protected areas and give birds a healthy berth.

“You can tell if birds are starting to get nervous or agitated because you’re getting too close,” Lichtenberg said.

Also, don’t disturb nests, she said.

A good place to look for wetland birds is Kicking Horse Reservoir. Dozens of pothole water sources in the area provide nesting habitat and cover for waterbirds. Nearby, Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge offers similar habitat. Many other places on the Flathead Indian Reservation offer excellent birding opportunities, Lichtenberg said.

“That’s one fun thing about birds, is just they are all over.”

For more information or to learn more about citizen science birdwatching, go to www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478. To learn more about the Mission Mountain chapter of the Audubon Society, go to www.audubon.org/chapters/mission-mountain-audubon-society.