Owls of the Mission Valley
Saturday, April, 14th, 2012
Instructors: Matt and Jessica Larson From the Owl Research Institute
This course will provide a thorough introduction to the ecology and identification of the Owls of the Mission Valley. Montana boasts the largest number of breeding owl species of any state in the nation. The Mission Valley provides habitat for approximately nine of these species. By the end of the course, you should be able to correctly identify Montana’s owls, understand their adaptations, life histories and overall ecology. In addition, students will have a grasp on some owl research techniques that will help you locate owls on your own.
Meeting Time: Saturday at 9:30 AM
Meeting Place:
Kwa-Nak-Tuk Best Western Hotel in Polson, lobby
Equipment: It can be quite windy in the Mission Valley so prepare with warm layers, jackets, hats, gloves and sturdy shoes or boots. Binoculars and spotting scopes will be helpful if you have them, and don’t forget your favorite field guides. Please plan on bringing only a small daypack for our field days so that we can all fit comfortably into the van.Physical Requirements: Easy hikes. We will be taking short cross-country hikes looking for tree holes, whitewash and other signs of owls and their habitats.
Transportation during the course: We will travel by Glacier Institute vehicle.
Weather: This course will not be cancelled due to weather.
Recommended Reading:
A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors, B.K. Wheeler and W.S. Clark
The Birder’s Guide to Montana, T. McEneaney
Birds of North America, Golden Guide, C. Robins, B. Bryan and R. Zip, 1966.
A Field Guide to Birds of North America, National Geographic Society of America, 1987.
Owls: Whoo Are They! Kila Jarvis, and Denver Holt
Western Birding by Ear (audio recording), Peterson’s Field Guide, R. Walton and R. Lawson, 1990
Tentative Itinerary:
Saturday: We will begin with an introduction to Montana owls and will head out and drive the back roads to search for owls. We will spend time in the field looking and learning about the natural history of Montana’s owls, and other interesting facts.We will have our lunch in the field and may make a visit to the Owl Research Institute/ Ninepipes Wildlife Research Center in the afternoon. The course will wrap-up by 5pm.
Academic Credit: This course may be taken for 8 Office of Public Instruction (OPI) renewal units (for teacher’s license renewal). If you wish to take an Institute course for credit, you will be asked to fill out paperwork and pay a credit fee at the start of your course ($20 for OPI credit).
* Please print out your course packet under product files.