Montana audubon tours
Montana Audubon is known for its birding tours to great destinations, and the upcoming season promises adventures close to home and at exotic locations outside the country. See below for 2012 tour schedule. To pique your interest, see the trip report and photos from our recent tour to The Gambia, led by Jeff Marks. We hope to repeat this trip soon!
All tours are on a first come, first served basis. Complete trip itineraries and bird species lists are available upon request. Total cost includes a tax-deductible donation to Montana Audubon.
THE 2012 tours and DATES
- South Texas Birding: April 22-29, 2012
- Southwest Montana Sage-Grouse Lek Tour: May 4-6, 2012
- Upper Missouri River Float: June 29 - July 1, 2012
- Birds & Wildlife of Peru: September 19-29, 2012
Please call the Montana Audubon office (443-3949) for information about all tours.
Last year we held eight tours, and some of these may come back around. If you are curious, check out our 2011 listings.
South Texas Birding: April 22–29, 2012
Because of its southern latitude, diverse mix of habitats and unique position along a major migration corridor, South Texas offers a nearly unparalleled opportunity to observe birds in North America. Not only are there a suite of resident species with limited North American ranges like Green Jay, Tropical Parula, Ferruginous Pygmy-owl, Great Kiskadee, Altamira Oriole, Olive Sparrow and more, but in late April, a tremendous variety of neotropical migrants sweep through the area.
The first part of this trip will involve birding the spectacular King Ranch (825,000 acres), which encompasses a whole range of habitats from coastal grassland to thorn-scrub brush to stands of live oak that are home to nearly all of the South Texas specialty birds. The second part of the trip will be in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, home to more birds that have slim U.S. ranges.
Throughout the trip we’ll havethe flexibility to take advantageof favorable weather patterns to visit coastal migrant traps where a vast number and diversity of migrating songbirds can be seen at close range. We will likely see between 175 and 200 species on this tour, possibly more if conditions are good. Brian Williams and Steve Hoffman will be your expert guides.
The cost is $1795/person which includes double occupancy lodging (single supplement $350), meals, and transportation from Harlingen, Texas. A $425/person deposit reserves your place.
Download trip itinerary or bird checklist
Photos (right) courtesy Brian Williams
Southwest Montana Sage-Grouse lek tour. may 4-6, 2012
Early May is the best time to view the spectacular dawn displays of male Greater Sage-Grouse at their breeding leks. We will get up early to visit a lek known to host 50 or more booming grouse! The Greater Sage-Grouse is North America's largest native grouse species and is a candidate for federal listing as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. This weekend adventure will also explore the sagebrush hills surrounding Montana’s historic Bannack State Park ghost town, plus the wetlands and grasslands adjacent to Clark Canyon Reservoir and in the Beaverhead Valley near Dillon. In this area we will search for Sage Thrashers, Long-billed Curlews, Ferruginous and Swainson’s Hawks, Burrowing Owls, Prairie & Peregrine Falcons, and various passerines. We plan to view (from a distance) several active raptor nest sites, possibly both Golden and Bald Eagles. Waterbird migration will be in full swing at this time, and we are likely to find good numbers and varieties of diving and dabbling ducks, an array of shorebirds, aswell as loons, pelicans, waders and marsh birds. 
The cost is $445/person which includes double occupancy lodging (single supplement $100), meals, and transportation from Bozeman, Helena, or possibly Missoula. A $100/person deposit reserves your place.
THE WHITE CLIFFS & BIRDS: FLOATING THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER: June 29 - July1, 2012
On this popular trip you will paddle leisurely by canoe (with highly-experienced Upper Missouri River Guides) on smooth water past the scenic White Cliffs, camp in Lewis & Clark campsites, visit tipi rings and petroglyphs, explore old homesteads, hike to spectacular off-river locations, and enjoy the rich, abundant birdlife along the way. We'll enjoy birding among the spectacular cottonwood-willow gallery forests, and we are likely to encounter 70-80 bird species on this trip, including Common & Hooded Mergansers, Wood Duck, American White Pelican, Bald & Golden Eagles, Northern Harrier, Spotted Sandpiper, Common Nighthawk, Willow Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Yellow-breasted Chat, American Redstart, Bullock’s Oriole, and more.
Executive Director Steve Hoffman will serve as your expert birding guide. We will rendezvous in Fort Benton Friday morning, and return by mid-afternoon Sunday. You need only bring a sleeping bag and raingear—Upper Missouri River Guides will supply the rest!
The cost is $650/person which includes all expenses including canoes & equipment, tents, sleeping pads, dry bags, meals and shuttle service. A $175/person deposit reserves your place.
Birds & Wildlife of Peru: September 19–29, 2012
In a setting of exotic geography, Peru is one of the greatest destinations in the world for bird and wildlife viewing. Montana Audubon is partnering with the Environmental Adventure Company (based in Livingston, MT) to lead our group. We will visit Paracas National Reserve, home to the endangered Humboldt penguin, South American fur seal and sea lion, as well as 63 migrant bird species; the Ballestas Islands, hosting the largest and richest concentrations of seabirds to be found anywhere in the world; the Andean cloud forests to see breeding displays of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; and the Manu area to view several species of large parrots and macaws.
The cost is $3995/person (includes double occupancy lodging [single supplement $500], meals, and transportation from Lima, Peru). A $500/person deposit is due upon reservation, with the balance due by July. 15, 2012.
Check out the tour flyer