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FOR THE BIRDS
Avian Walkway now open at Montana WILD
Can a bird look happy? Probably not. But the raptors that recently moved into their new homes at FWP’s Avian Walkway certainly look unruffled. Their new enclosures are similar to an efficiency apartment, with an indoor space and an outdoor space. Visitors can walk by and gawk, while the raptors either mind their own business or look curious at the company.
On a recent sunny and somewhat warm afternoon, the American kestrel sat on its outdoor perch and chased a fly with its eyes. The peregrine falcon bobbed its head up and down as some visitors complimented it on its unique colors. And the ferruginous hawk stretched out its wings to soak up the sun. Meanwhile, other species, such as the nocturnal owls, enjoyed the privacy and shade of their indoor space.
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BEAR AWARE WRAP-UP
FWP collects more that 3,000 cans of expired bear spray during Bear Aware Month
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks celebrated Bear Aware Month in September with many bear awareness events and a one-month opportunity to drop off expired bear spray at 10 locations across the state. Staff provided bear safety information at more than 15 events and reached over 1,000 Montanans.
During the month, FWP collected over 3,000 cans of bear spray. Regions 1 and 2 each collected over 1,000 cans of bear spray. The bear spray collected in this effort will be disposed of safely. The collection opportunity helps keep waste management workers safe by removing bear spray from the household waste stream.
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WATCH: Montana Beaver Transplant Program
Montana’s Beaver Transplant Program is moving beavers from conflict areas to places where they can put their engineering skills to work improving wetland habitat.
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Wayward wagtail woos flocks of birders to Warm Springs
What sent a soccer-ball-colored songbird from Asia thousands of miles off-course to Montana?
As local expert birder Caleb Lashway led a morning field trip at Warm Springs WMA near Deer Lodge in mid-September, he spotted a small white and gray bird foraging on a mudflat.
“I don’t think I believed myself for about thirty seconds,” says Lashway, “It looked like a wagtail…but it couldn’t be a wagtail. Montana’s never had one of those before.” But sure enough, it was a white wagtail. Lashway immediately got the word out to the birding community, posting about it on the Montana Rare Bird Alert.
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Bat Week: Go batty for bats
Bat Week, an international, annual celebration designed to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation, is Oct. 24 to 31.
Bats are amazing creatures that are vital to the health of our natural world and economy. Although we may not always see them, bats are hard at work all around the world each night – eating tons of insects, pollinating flowers and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees.
Many FWP Regions are holding events; check in with your local office to see what's going on in your neck of the woods.
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Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
1420 East Sixth Avenue, P.O. Box 200701
Helena, MT 59620-0701
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