Field Trips

Saturday Field Trips | A trips: depart at 6:15 am

Maculey Butte & Fort Missoula

• SatA1 |SunA1
• Easy+
• Bathroom: no

This is a newly accessible birding area on the west edge of Missoula. It includes City and private property along the Bitterroot River, all accessed by leisurely hiking on flat terrain. The City portion includes two deep ponds (former gravel pits) and adjacent trees and shrubs. Early summer birds include nesting waterfowl: Wood Duck, both goldeneyes, and Hooded Merganser. Bank Swallows, Pileated and Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Great Blue Herons, Red-tailed Hawks are also common. This area is part of the Grass Valley Important Bird Area, and is likely to remain an important birding destination in the future.

Alberton Point-of-Rocks Trail

• SatA2 |SunA2
• Mod/Difficult
• Bathroom: no

Located west of Missoula near Alberton, this 3-mile hike on a fairly rough trail has 200 feet of elevation gain/descent, and requires moderate exertion. It follows 1 mile of the historic John Mullan Road, and 1 mile of the old Milwaukee Railroad. Several interpretive signs explain the history of both roads. Habitats include open shrubland, rocky outcrops, and riparian habitat overlooking the Clark Fork River. It is very sunny with little shade, so bring a hat. Birds of interest include nesting Bald Eagles, Osprey, Canyon and Rock Wrens, Western and Dusky Flycatchers, Spotted Towhee, Lewis’s Woodpecker, and perhaps Peregrine Falcon.

Brown’s Lake

• SatA3 |SunA3
• Easy
• Bathroom: Yes

Brown’s Lake is located approximately 60 miles east of Missoula in the Ovando Valley.  The driving route will include prairie potholes, aspen stands, riparian areas, lake habitat, and grasslands. Expect to see up to 5 species of grebes, most duck species, Sandhill Cranes, Long-billed Curlews, Bald and perhaps Golden Eagles, Black Terns, Red-naped Sapsucker, Least Flycatcher, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, Clay-colored Sparrow, and Brewer’s Sparrow. The trip will be mostly driving, with minimal walking.

Cottonwood Creek

• SatA4 | SunA4
• Easy
• Bathroom: Yes

This area in the lower Blackfoot Valley about 35 miles east of Missoula is exceptionally diverse.  The birding will be mostly by car on good gravel roads, with multiple stops in different habitats: native grassland, rich riparian shrub habitats, some aspen and pine woodland, and a beautiful natural lake. Expect to see Long-billed Curlew, Northern Waterthrush, raptors, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, possible Trumpeter Swan, and Sandhill Crane. Guide is resident of Blackfoot Valley, and works with a local conservation group.

Miller Creek

• SatA5 | SunA5
• Moderate
• Bathroom: no

We will explore the Miller Creek drainage South of Missoula with frequent stops to observe migrant and resident breeding birds in riparian and montane forest habitats. We’ll finish on a wildflower-covered ridge with expansive views of the Miller Creek drainage and the Sapphire range. Expect driving on paved and unpaved, single-lane forest service roads. The trip is mostly driving, with short periods spent outside of vehicles to observe birds, and we will take some short walks on steep, uneven terrain.

A highlight of this field trip will be a visit to the site of the lightening-caused Miller Peak fire, which burned over 2,700 acres in 2024, to search for fire-dependent species including American Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers. This seemingly barren post-fire landscape attracts a variety of bird species. When a fire burns through an area, it leaves standing snags. These snags attract many insects, including metallic wood-boring beetles, which use the snags for food and to lay their eggs in. These insects, in turn, attract woodpeckers.

The two particular woodpeckers that truly need fire to create habitat are the American Three-toed Woodpecker and Black-backed Woodpecker. The Black-backed Woodpecker even evolved the black back that helps the bird camouflage itself against the blackened spire of the snags. In addition to food, these snags provide nesting sites for the woodpeckers. After the woodpeckers have created nesting cavities for a couple of years, a second group of birds move into these burned areas. These secondary cavity nesters include such birds as Mountain Chickadee, nuthatches, and Mountain Bluebirds, and they are joined by mammals like the northern flying squirrel.

Big Creek Ranch

• SatA6
• Easy+
• Bathroom: Yes

This trip explores a private ranch under conservation easement in the Bitterroot Valley north of Victor, about 30 miles south of Missoula. The ranch features wet meadows, ponderosa pine forest and various forest edge habitats. We expect to see Wilson’s Snipe, Western Wood Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, with Great Gray Owl unlikely but possible. Forty bird species are possible. This is a walking trip, covering 2.25 miles on mostly flat trails and farm roads. Not geared for children.

Lee Metcalf NWR

• SatA7
• Easy+
• Bathroom: Yes

This Bitterroot Valley birding hotspot is about 25 miles south of downtown Missoula. The trip will include car birding and two mostly flat walks of a half-mile each. The refuge consists of extensive wetland habitat which holds waterfowl and sometimes shorebirds if water levels are right, as well as diverse riparian forest and open land songbirds and raptors. Highlights include Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, and nesting Great Blue Herons, Great Horned Owls, and Osprey.

Bird Banding with UMBEL

• SatA8
• Easy
• Bathroom: no

Join the University of MT Bird Ecology Lab (UMBEL) staff for a unique songbird banding experience. We will see birds up close during capture and learn about species ID, plumage, molt, breeding biology, and survival of songbirds at the Five Valleys Land Trust Confluence Property at Rock Creek. There’s a 15-minute, fairly flat walk along the Clark Fork River to the netting site.

Blackfoot Clearwater WMA

• SatA9
• Easy+
• Bathroom: Yes

Located 37 miles east of Missoula along Hwy 200 (40-minute drive), this trip will visit riparian habitats along the Clearwater and Blackfoot Rivers, including adjacent conifer, juniper, and sage foothills. We’ll begin with an out-and-back walk (about 2.5 miles total) along the Clearwater River, Blanchard Lake, and adjacent foothills. This is mostly flat terrain with a couple small hills. Later in the morning on our return trip toward Missoula, we will caravan and make several stops (no walking) along the Clearwater and Blackfoot Rivers, and visit some sage/grass/pasture lands and lower Elk Creek riparian. With favorable weather we’ll expect to find 60 to 70 species.

Barmeyer Trail

• SatA10
• Moderate/Difficult
• Bathroom: No

Barmeyer Trail, located near the mouth of Pattee Canyon, is a 3.1 mile loop with an elevation gain and loss of 869 feet. Consider sun protection, extra water, and sturdy footwear. Some of the birding will be by ear. The trail offers a rich diversity of species, beginning in dense riparian habitat, then ascending through montane forest and alpine meadow to Glacial Lake Missoula’s high water mark. Expect many migrant breeding birds as well as resident breeders including several warbler species, flycatchers, vireos, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers and sparrows.  Wildflowers will be in bloom and we will experience beautiful views of the Missoula Valley and Pattee Canyon.  Trip limited to 12 participants due to limited parking.

Saturday Field Trips | B trips depart at 6:45 am

Council Grove State Park

• SatB1 | SunB1
• Easy+
• Bathroom: Yes

This beautiful historical park is located 6 miles west of Missoula on Mullan Road.  The walk will be on a flat 1.5-mile dirt trail along a channel of the Clark Fork River.  Vegetation is dominated by old growth ponderosa pines and black cottonwoods.  Expect to see Lewis’s Woodpeckers, nesting Great Horned Owls and American Kestrels, Calliope Hummingbirds and 3 species of nuthatches. You will return by late morning.  An accessible restroom is available.

Clark Fork River Bottomland

• SatB2 | SunB2
  Easy+
  Bathrooms: no

This is a walking tour of about 2 miles out and back along the Clark Fork River in the Clark Fork River-Grass Valley IBA. Most of the hiking will be on a private ranch road through open ponderosa pine and cottonwood forest. Expected birds are Great Blue Heron, Hooded Merganser and other duck species, Spotted Sandpiper, Belted Kingfisher, Willow Flycatcher, Western Wood Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, and nuthatch and woodpecker species. FVAS helped our conservation partner Five Valleys Land Trust to secure this site.

Hayden Ranch

• SatB3 | SunB3
  Easy+
  Bathrooms: no

This is a walking tour on a ranch in the Clark Fork River-Grass Valley IBA. It supports an artesian fed stream (LaValle Creek), pond, cattail marsh, fen and irrigated grass habitats. It will involve a round trip of 1.5 to 2 miles depending on time. Wet footing can be expected in places. A diversity of wetland and upland species can be expected including 10 waterfowl species, Marsh Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Bobolink, and perhaps Virginia Rail and Sandhill Crane. Also observed will be swallow species, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Eastern Kingbird, Savannah Sparrow, and Northern Harrier. FVAS helped our conservation partner Five Valleys Land Trust to secure this site.

Roman Creek

• SatB4 |SunB4
• Easy
• Bathrooms: no

This trip will visit private property owned by Joe Boyer, which is under a conservation easement. FVAS helped conservation partner Five Valleys Land Trust secure this site. Birding will be close to vehicles with short easy hikes. Key habitats will be around a secluded woodland pond and a sedge-cattail marsh along Roman Creek in the Clark Fork River-Grass Valley IBA. We’ll likely see many riparian species, including Gray Catbird, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, Western Tanager, several duck species, Marsh Wren, Sora, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and possibly Sandhill Crane.

Deer Creek & Pattee Canyon

• SatB5 |SunB5
• Easy
• Bathroom: Yes

This mostly driving field trip will explore Deer Creek Road, which is on the east side of East Missoula. We will stop near the Milltown State Park overlook to look for White-throated Swifts and Violet-green Swallows. If time allows, we may walk down a short but steep trail to the valley bottom to see the Milltown restoration site and look for waterfowl, nesting Bald Eagle, and Western Flycatchers. Next, we will drive along a lush riparian area and into mature pine and fir forests. We will make frequent stops and may find Ruffed Grouse, Dusky and Hammond’s Flycatchers, Cassin’s and Warbling Vireos, Pacific Wren, Lazuli Bunting, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and American Redstart. At the top of Pattee Canyon we will look for Williamson’s Sapsucker.

Greenough Park & Rattlesnake Recreation Area

• SatB6 | SunB6
• Easy+/Moderate
• Bathroom: Yes

Greenough Park, located on the north side of downtown, offers terrific birding in mature riparian habitat along Rattlesnake Creek. Resident birds include Pileated Woodpecker, American Dipper, American Redstart, Warbling Vireo and perhaps an owl species or two. If there is time, we will go to the Rattlesnake Recreation area (a few miles north of the park), to continue hiking along the upper portions of the creek and adjacent coniferous forest. We will see or hear a wide variety of western Montana songbirds, such as Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Dusky Flycatcher, and MacGillivray’s Warbler. Easy to moderate hiking up to 4 miles with minimal elevation gain.

Pattee Canyon Braxton Trail

• SatB7 | SunB7
• Moderate
• Bathroom: Yes

Pattee Canyon is located south of the University Golf Course area.  This trip follows a 3-mile loop on a National Recreation trail through ponderosa pine, western larch, and Douglas-fir forests, with an elevation gain of 300 feet.  Possible specialty birds include Clark’s Nutcracker, Steller’s Jay, Canada Jay, Pileated Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Red Crossbill, and Pine Grosbeak.

Kim Williams Trail

• SatB8
• Moderate
• Bathroom: no

This trip involves a 5-6 km (3-4 miles) round-trip walk on an old railroad grade along the Clark Fork River in Hellgate Canyon just east of the University of Montana campus. The tracks have been removed, but the trail is rocky and muddy in some portions. As we head east along the trail, the Clark Fork will be on our left and steep slopes of rock and Douglas fir forest on our right. Bird species we hope to encounter include Calliope Hummingbird, Spotted Sandpiper, Osprey (nesting), Red-naped Sapsucker, Western Flycatcher (nesting), Warbling Vireo, Common Raven (nesting), Northern House Wren, Gray Catbird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Swainson’s Thrush, Bullock’s Oriole, Nashville Warbler, American Redstart, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Lazuli Bunting. We plan to return by noon.

Hellgate Osprey Nest

• SatB9
• Easy
• Bathrooms: no

Iris is one of the oldest-known ospreys in the world – about 30 years old! She was still going strong in 2024, and raised two wonderful chicks. She is the star of the Hellgate Osprey Nest Camera, with millions of viewers all over the world. On this trip, we will visit Iris’ nest, and you will get a chance to see ” behind the curtain” of a nest camera. This special tour will be led by two local raptor researchers who have been studying local Osprey and other raptors for decades.

UM Flight Lab

• SatB10
• Easy
• Bathrooms: yes

Ever wondered how birds fly? The University of Montana is home to the UM Flight Lab – one of the world’s leading research labs studying exactly how birds fly. This is a chance to visit a cutting-edge research lab, and see how scientists study bird flight. You will be able to see birds flying in wind tunnels, high-speed videos of birds doing amazing acrobatic aeronautical maneuvers, and much more. You will come away with a great appreciation of the amazing things birds do every time you see them in flight!

State Arboretum & Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium

• SatB11
• Easy
• Bathrooms: yes
• Extra cost: yes

This trip will visit two locations, both located in Missoula. First, we’ll tour Montana’s State Arboretum (located on the UM campus) with a member of the Native Plant Society, accompanied by a local birder. The Arboretum showcases eight forest regions of North America and has more than 2,000 trees, making it an excellent birding location- we’ll look for warblers, nuthatches, Western Tanagers, woodpeckers, Calliope Hummingbirds, and more.

Next, we’ll carpool over to the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium for a private guided tour at 9 a.m., before normal opening at 10 a.m. You can stay at the Insectarium after the tour for as long as you wish. With a tropical greenhouse filled with butterflies from around the world and an exhibit area featuring a wide array of insects, arachnids, millipedes, centipedes, and crustaceans, the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium provides a truly unique Montana experience. $6.50 per person; admission without tour is $5.

Blue Mountain & Maclay Flat

• SatB12
• Easy+
• Bathroom: Yes

This will trip be primarily driving trip starting only 6 miles from downtown, with an optional flat 2 mile hike at the end of trip. The trip will start will a drive up Blue Mountain Road, where we will visit various forest habitats at different elevations. Expect Cassin’s Vireo, Townsends, Orange-crowned, Nashville, and MacGillivray’s Warblers, flycatchers, possible Williamson’s Sapsucker, and Hermit Thrush. The Maclay Flat Nature Trail includes both riparian and forest habitat, where we may see waterfowl, Bald Eagles, Ruffed Grouse, and Least Flycatcher. It can also be a good spot for owls.

Bass Creek & Bitterroot River

• SatB13
• Moderate
• Bathroom: Yes

Bass Creek is located approximately 25 miles south of Missoula. Traditionally, this trip has featured a well-established breeding colony of Bobolinks that occur in a wet meadow on private land. Due to recent changes in land management, return of the colony this spring is not assured (the earliest the site can be checked is late May). Other species associated with this grassland habitat include Savannah Sparrow, Common Yellowthroat, and Brewer’s Blackbird. After the bobolink site, we will take a gentle hike along the Bitterroot River opposite the Lee Metcalf Refuge. We typically encounter 20-30 species associated with mature riparian habitat, including Spotted Sandpiper, Northern Waterthrush, Willow Flycatcher, American Redstart, and Swainson’s Thrush. Total walking up to 3 miles, generally flat.