Distinctly Montana Magazine

W W W. D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA NA . C O M 25 LOST TRAIL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Don't worry if you shout out "Common Loon" when really you've spotted a Common Mer- ganser while scanning the meadow ponds at Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge. Chances are, no one heard you. Tucked away in the northwest corner of the state, Lost Trail is a hidden gem protecting rare Palouse prairie, pine forests, and riparian wetlands. e refuge was established in 1999 primarily to protect the nesting habitats of migratory birds and in recent years the staff has worked hard to restore this former ranch land to its natural state. Take the short interpretive trail from the headquarters parking lot to the edge of the meadow to watch Northern Shovelers skim their bills along the water's surface and Hooded Mergansers drying off their namesake crests after a deep dive. Hike the pine forest opposite the meadow to practice distinguishing the drums of a Hairy Woodpecker versus a Pileated. Red Crossbills with their askew bill are a cinch to identify gathering seeds among the ponderosa pines. A visit during the late spring and early summer provides a chance to spot shorebirds such as Greater Yellowlegs and American Avocet hunting along the water's edge. LOCATION: 21 miles west of Kalispell on Highway 2 then 19 miles from Marion on Pleasant Valley Road RED ROCK LAKES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Take the solitude, range of habitats, size and number of bird species of Lost Trail, multiply it by ten and you get Red Rock Lakes. is land of sagebrush, forested mountain slopes, sand dunes, lakes and marshes sits at the base of the Centennial Mountains in the southwest corner of the state and rises from 6,600 feet to 9,400 feet in elevation. Spring comes late to the refuge so the best time to visit is late May through the summer. Keep in mind the unpaved refuge roads open in mid-May for wheeled vehicles and once inside the refuge you will be at least 45 miles from any services. e hearty few that do choose to make the trek are rewarded with spectacular bird sightings. Long- billed Curlews forage in the refuge's meadows. More than 200 pairs of White-faced Ibis have been recorded in the marshes. Raptors such as Prairie and Peregrine Falcons rule the sky. A big goal for the establishment of this refuge was to increase the population of Trumpeter Swans. Whether expert or novice birder, you will thrill at the sight of these majestic birds flying past, silhouetted by the snow-peaked Centennials. LOCATION: Take I-15 to Monida then turn east for 28 miles on South Valley Road to reach the refuge headquarters. Hooded Merganser Long-billed Curlew RICK SHEREMETA STEVE AKRE CHUCK HANEY CHUCK HANEY Test your knowledge of birdsongs www.distinctlymontana.com/bird183 DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL Pileated Woodpecker Red Rocks Lakes

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