UMBA traveled to Martinsdale, MT to bird at the Bair Ranch. Despite the hot 90 degree temperatures with occasional clouds, UMBA members enjoyed our first trip to the Bair Ranch. We saw 32 species of birds, along with fox, deer and a lumbering raccoon near the museum. The walk was along the South Fork of the Musselshell River, with large trees, meadows, and blooming shrubs. After the mile walk, we enjoyed a tour of the Bair House and Museum. Many thanks to the Bair Museum, Elizabeth Guheen, and Deb Murphy for a wonderful and interesting trip to the Bair Ranch! We hope to return and bird again.
On the way to Martindale and back we stopped at Bair Reservoir and Lake Sutherlin on Highway 12 and returned via Highways 294 & 89. Overall, we identified 44 bird species and saw 236 birds.
Here is the bird count for the field trip:
Bair Ranch near Museum Hiway 294 S. Fork Musselshell July 15, 2017
Eurasian collared-dove1
Robin10
Tree Swallow1
Warbler species1
Goldfinch1
flycatcher species1
Flicker3
Red Wing Blackbird7
Brown headed cowbirds4
Yellow-Rumped Warbler1
Cedar Waxwing3
House Wren1
Night Hawk3
Yellow-Headed Blackbird1
Sandhill Crane5
Mallard1
Meadowlark3
Bobolink1
Turkey Vulture3
Yellow Warbler4
Bullock’s Oriole1
Chickadeemany
Western Wood-Peewee3
Grey Catbird3
Eastern Kingbird1
Kingfisher2
Pelican3
Blue Heron12
Red Tailed Hawk1
Raven1
Canada Geese2
Golden Eagle1
Total Birds at Bair Ranch 85
Number of Species 32
July 15 & 16, 2017 Neihart to Martinsdale, & White Sulphur Springs
White Crowned Sparrow2
Raven2
Meadowlard2
Robin2
Northern Rough-Winged Swallow3
Goldfinch1
Canada Geese6
Magpie3
Red Wing Blackbird1
Ruddy duck4
Eared Grebe6
Pelican1
Common goldeneye4
Avocet26
Killdeer3
Barn Swallow1
Starling75
Sandhill crane1
Red Tail Hawk1
Pine Siskin4
Clark’s Nutcracker3
Total Birds on Road Trip 151
Species Count 21
Total Number of Birds for Bair & Road Trip: 236
Total Species Bair & Road Trip: 44