Flathead Audubon plans two outings

Flathead Audubon’s annual trip to witness spectacular numbers of migrating waterfowl at Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area south of Choteau is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 23-24.

Every year, the majority of the Pacific Flyway population of Snow Geese stops at this northern Great Plains wetland complex and the surrounding barley fields to rest and refuel on their trip from central California wintering grounds to Arctic nesting areas.

Hundreds of thousands of Snow Geese, Tundra Swans, Northern Pintails, American Wigeons, and a wide variety of other waterfowl visit the area. Often the first White Pelicans, shorebirds and Franklin’s Gulls of the spring are also seen.

Trip leader Dan Casey will meet participants to arrange a carpool at the west end of the Super 1 parking lot on First Avenue East in downtown Kalispell at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Contact Casey at 857-3143 or Danielcasey55@gmail.com for questions about the trip.

Craig Hohenberger will lead Flathead Audubon and guests on a field trip in the Lower Valley with a focus on birding hot spots on Saturday, March 23.

Participants will meet at the Park ‘n’ Ride at the intersection of Highway 93 and Montana 82 at 8:30 a.m. To sign up, contact Craig at 755-0140 or asoleado2003@yahoo.com.