Outdoor news

Creel survey

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is conducting an angler use survey this year on the Flathead River from the confluence of the North Fork and Middle Fork at Blankenship Bridge down to Flathead Lake. The creel survey will describe daily and seasonal angler catch and harvest, angler numbers, gear preferences and target fish species. The information will assess how fishing and river use has changed since the last survey was conducted in 2002-2003. FWP personnel will conduct interviews at fishing access points along the Flathead River from now through February 2016. The interviews will be combined with flight surveys of the river to help biologists better understand fish population trends and changes in recreational river use over time. Anglers are encouraged to participate in the voluntary survey to help FWP better understand the status and trends of use in the Flathead River fishery. For more information, contact Amber Steed at 751-4541 or asteed@mt.gov.

Glacier Institute work day

The Glacier Institute will hold its annual volunteer work day at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center, 21 miles north of Columbia Falls, and at Field Camp, just inside the west entrance to Glacier National Park, on Saturday, May 9, starting at 9 a.m. A winter storm left a lot of downed trees at Big Creek that need to be removed. Other projects will include painting, light carpentry, raking, sweeping and cleaning. Volunteers are encouraged to bring tools rakes, brooms, shop vacuums, wheelbarrows and work gloves. Lunch will be provided and a group dinner that evening at Big Creek. RSVP by e-mailing register@glacierinstitute.org or calling 406-755-1211.

Harlequin ducks

The Glacier Institute will host a course on the harlequin ducks of Glacier National Park on Saturday, May 16, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Harlequin ducks migrate seasonally to breed in the Park. The course involves 2-3 miles of walking and will be led by instructor John Ashley. He has worked to conserve harlequin ducks in Montana, Alberta and British Columbia for many years. To register, call 406-755-1211 or visit online at www.glacierinstitute.org. Cost is $65 per person.

Bike and bird

Flathead Land Trust, Flathead Audubon, Flathead River to Lake Initiative, Flathead Lakers, Rails to Trails, and Bike Saturdays will host a biking and birding trip around the Smith Lake Waterfowl Production Area on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to noon. Bird expert and guide Craig Hohenberger will explain about birds that use the 1,600-acre wetland complex and conservation projects that have expanded the protection of important bird habitat in the area. RSVP at 752-8293 or e-mail lkatzman@bigsky.net.

Local geology

The Montana Wilderness Association will host a free class about the geology of Flathead Valley taught by Lex Blood, a geology teacher at Flathead Valley Community College who helped found the Glacier Institute. The 40-minute class followed by a stroll outside will take place at Lone Pine State Park in Kalispell on Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information or to register, visit online at www.wildmontana.org/walks.

Wilderness talk

The Swan View Coalition will host a free talk by Frederick Swanson, author of “Where Roads Will Never Reach: Wilderness and its Visionaries in the Northern Rockies,” at the Swan River Community Hall, across Highway 83 from Swan River School, on Wednesday, May 13, from 7 to 9 p.m. Swanson’s previous book, a study of Montana conservationist G. M. Brandborg, won the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award in 2012. His talk will include historical photographs of wildland areas in the region.

Wild Wings

The Montana Wild Wings Recover Center will hold its third annual “Wildlife Baby Shower” fundraiser at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 1 offices in Kalispell on Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There is no admission charge, but attendees are asked to make a donation or bring items from the center’s wish list onlne at www.wildwingsrecovery.org. The event will feature the center’s raptors, a silent auction and catered food. For more information, call 406-249-7800 or e-mail montanabirdlady@outlook.com.

Fishing regulations

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will host a public open house at the Region 1 offices in Kalispell on Thursday, May 7, from 6-8 p.m. to provide information on the 2016-2019 fishing regulations and gather ideas from the public. Every four years, FWP does a comprehensive review of Montana’s fishing regulations. Proposals for the entire Western Fishing district include increasing the lake trout harvest limit and changing the cutthroat trout harvest limit to include some fish larger than 10 inches. Proposals for Region 1 include changing cutthroat trout regulations in the Flathead River sloughs to agree with those in the Flathead River, changing bass regulations in the Flathead River to match more restrictive regulations in Flathead River sloughs, applying size limits on yellow perch in Flathead, Smith and Lower Stillwater lakes, and increasing the northern pike harvest limit at Smith Lake. For more information and to comment, visit online at http://fwp.mt.gov or contact Region 1 fisheries program manager Mark Deleray at 751-4585.

Forestry Expo

The 26th annual Family Forestry Expo will take place at the Trumbull Creek Educational Forest, midway between Columbia Falls and Whitefish, about two miles north of the U.S. 2 and Highway 40 intersection, on Saturday, May 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosted by F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co., the event will feature educational displays; a free logging camp lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; demonstrations of mule string packing, logging equipment and a portable sawmill at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and hands-on activities all day of cross-cut saws and paper making. For more information, visit online at www.familyforestryexpo.org.

Audubon update

Montana Audubon executive director Steve Hoffman will present information on Montana Audubon’s priority bird conservation efforts during the Flathead Audubon’s annual meeting at the Whitefish Community Center, 121 Second Street in Whitefish, on Monday, May 11. Doors will open at 5 p.m., potluck dinner will be served at 6 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Hoffman will describe the organization’s current program initiatives. Work on rare and declining species inhabiting sage lands, grasslands, wetlands and streamside forests will be emphasized, as well as the Important Bird Area program.

Park volunteers

The Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates will hold their annual work day and meeting starting at the Community Building at Park Headquarters on Saturday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m. The meeting is open to members and the general public interested in volunteer projects in Glacier Park. Following a continental breakfast, volunteers will work on selected short work projects, including at the native plant nursery, Lower McDonald Creek boat launch and Avalanche Campground buildings. Bring a sack lunch. For more information, contact Nancy Barrus at 406-387-4516 or nbarrus1033@gmail.com.