other hot issues
Montana Audubon works on numerous issues that affect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats such as:
Peregrine Falcons
In March 2008, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) recently adopted regulations that will allow falconers to harvest Peregrine Falcons from the wild to use in their sport. Montana Audubon worked with chapter leaders from around the state to make sure that this proposal gave the maximum protection to wild Peregrines. The following protections are in the regulation:
- Only 3 wild Peregrines will be able to be harvested in 2008;
- All wild birds that are caught must be permanently banded to identify individual birds;
- Wild birds cannot be sold commercially;
- Only in-state falconers will be eligible to harvest wild birds;
- To aid in recovery, most of Eastern Montana will be off- limits to harvest;
- Since Peregrines generally produce several offspring, falconers must always leave at least one young in the nest; and Certain nests will be kept off-limits to harvest.
russian olive and birds
Riparian areas are a small piece of the state, yet they provide Montana’s richest wildlife habitat. Specifically, cottonwood forests in Montana provide habitat for at least 150 of Montana’s bird species all or part of the year. One of the very real threats to this habitat is invasion by exotic plants, with Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia ) near the top of the list.
Russian olive, a plant native to southern Europe and western Asia, has been planted in Montana as an ornamental, for windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife enhancement purposes. This tree is invasive and it is taking over riparian ecosystems, displacing native cottonwoods and willow, on such rivers as the Marias, Missouri, Yellowstone, and Big Horn. If we lose cottonwood habitat along our rivers and streams, an important part of Montana’s wildlife habitat will be lost.
In order to combat this problem, Montana Audubon is working with others to 1) stop the Montana Department of Resource Conservation (DNRC) from selling Russian olive to landowners through the state nursery; and 2) develop a list of alternative plants that can be used instead of Russian olive.
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