April 13, 2024
Spring is here!
As April marches on, the snowpack in Greater Yellowstone is shrinking quickly! Bird species like Mountain Bluebirds are arriving and Magpies are starting to collect nesting material. I can see bare ground around the edges of my yard and I must say, as much as I love winter and snow, it’s nice to walk on the dirt.
Birds migrating back to this area are quite a phenomenon. Some of the species that come back for nesting and start to arrive this time of year are large and charismatic! Sandhill Cranes, White Pelicans, Osprey and Great Blue Heron. This last week I’ve seen a large group (50 or more) of White Pelicans flying and circling over Hebgen Lake. Against the Montana-blue sky their cotton-ball white wings tipped with black edges gives them an appearance of dancers on a stage. When they land in unison, the surface of the lake comes alive. Lots of other waterfowl on the lake flutter away with this spectacle.
White Pelicans nest in some of the remote regions of the Madison River Watershed as well as on the Molly Islands in the South Arm of Lake Yellowstone. Pelicans are not a species of concern, but they are shy and highly sensitive to human disturbances at their breeding colonies and readily abandon nests.
Pelicans develop a nob on their bill during breeding season that is thought to be a sign of fertility. This is called a caruncle or a horn. It is formed by a “skin” that grows this time of year and falls off after the birds have mated and laid eggs.
Mountain Bluebirds returning often arrive in large groups before they break away to find nesting grounds for the summer. The brilliant sky-blue males are quite striking and can arrive before the snowmelts. Soon, they are staking out existing cavities to claim as good real estate to attract females!
Another fantastic experience I had this spring was a trip up to Freezeout Lake in north central Montana. This wildlife refuge is located in the Pacific flyway and serves as a staging ground for thousands of Snow Geese migrating back to their nesting grounds in the far north. Here they can refuel and rest before they continue the rest of the migration north. They feed twice a day on waste grain in neighboring fields and return to the lakes/ponds for rest and protection from predators. On average a Snow Goose spends 4 days on this rest stop. It can be over 100,000 birds counted on some days. This year 120,000 birds were counted on one day! At the same time huge numbers of Tundra swans and other waterfowl stop here. Some stay here for nesting.
A traditional Blackfeet phrase: “Sai Yai Ksi Q Tsi tan Toh Pi” translates to “When the Geese Come”. The original 1855 Blackfeet Indian Reservation encompassed most of the northern half of the state of Montana, and Freezeout Lake would have been part of this.
A photo of Chief Mountain (part of what is left of the reservation today) on the east side of Glacier National Park is below. This photo is from the website and it represents the culture of these people. Traditionally and today, it has been called the “Chief” (or the king) of the Mountains.
The seasons continue and it will soon be nesting season. For now I wish you all some time in the natural world that fills up all your senses. My best to all of you, Leslie lesliehstoltz@gmail.com