Spring Awakening: A Birding Blitz Around Central Montana
The vernal equinox arrived, heralding the official start of spring, and we celebrated in the best way we know how: with a whirlwind birding adventure! Our goal? To identify 55 bird species across two days of exploration in a month not known for a lot of species depth.
Equinox Excursion: Valley Ventures
Thursday, the equinox itself, saw us make a tour of our valley’s avian hotspots. We traversed the valley from York Bridge in the east, northward to Sieben, Gates of the Mountains, and Chevallier Road, and then a bit further westward to Marysville covering 110 miles (175 kilometers) by car and roughly 5 miles (8 kilometers) on foot.
While Sandhill Cranes only teased us with their calls, remaining unseen, we tallied 47 species, including 10 new additions to our year list. The sight of Tundra Swans, Northern Pintails, Mountain Bluebirds, and Northern Shovelers provided a delightful taste of spring’s arrival. However, we did notice a distinct lack of raptors.
Friday’s Odyssey: Augusta, Freezout, and Great Falls
Friday’s itinerary took us to Augusta, Freezout Lake, and Great Falls, promising a diverse array of birding opportunities. As we departed, a North American Goshawk, soaring low over Ponderosa pines, started to reverse our raptor deficit from the previous day.
In Augusta, our walk at the airstrip was unexpectedly interrupted by curious cattle, who mistook us for food providers. A Prairie Falcon’s flyby was a welcome distraction, but the cows’ approach prompted a hasty retreat. Then, a Bald Eagle carrying a Kit Fox carcass flew in front of us, a truly unique sight.
The journey to Freezout Lake was punctuated by sightings of Sandhill Cranes in flight, finally crossing them off our “seen” list. At Freezout, we were greeted by a spectacle of Bald Eagles and a massive cloud of Snow Geese. Montana FWP estimates 13,000-14,000 light-colored geese in the vicinity; we likely observed half of them.
However, the lake’s low water levels were concerning. A tumbleweed rolling across the shallow, muddy surface highlighted the severity of the drought, a stark contrast to the abundance of waterfowl. The strong wind, carrying salt residue like a desert storm, added to the surreal atmosphere.
Our final stop was Giant Springs State Park in Great Falls, where a three-mile walk revealed hundreds of gulls and Goldeneyes. While the hoped-for Great Horned owl remained elusive, Obsidian enjoyed a dip in the Missouri River.
Friday’s efforts yielded 12 new species, bringing our two-day total to 59. We covered approximately 8.25 miles (13 kilometers) on foot and 280 miles (450 kilometers) by car, spanning three counties.
Weekend Windfall: Snowy Surprises
Saturday’s harsh, windy conditions didn’t deter us. A brief, 30-minute walk in horizontal, wind-driven snow added Grey Partridge and Dark-eyed Junco to our list, extending our “Equinox Effort” to an “Equinox Weekend.”
Final Tally and Reflections
Our weekend birding blitz resulted in an impressive 61 species, bringing our year-to-date total to 80. We achieved 76% of our year list in just two days!
Despite the challenges of weather and unexpected encounters with cattle, the sheer joy of witnessing nature’s spring awakening made it all worthwhile. The diversity of birds and landscapes we encountered reinforced the beauty and richness of Montana’s wildlife.
We’re already looking forward to our next adventure!
Nature, every day. 
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