Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S U M M E R 2 0 1 8 24 GIANT SPRINGS STATE PARK If you are looking for a place to bird over winter, this should be your destination. Spring water bubbles up from the rocks along the banks of the Missouri River and stays a tepid 54 degrees year round. A variety of bird species take advantage of this spot to rest and feed free of the ice found on most the bodies of water around the state in the winter. It was near here that members of the Upper Missouri River Breaks chapter of the Audubon Society delighted in the extreme- ly rare sighting of a Yellow-billed Loon during the 2017 Christmas Bird Count. Whatever the season, Giant Springs offers a diverse habitat for numerous species in a relatively small space. Look for Great Horned Owls and Bullock's Oriole in the branches of the trees shading the lawn. e paved walkway dividing the river and the springs gives you a chance to see American White Pelican and Greater Scaup riding the currents and Belted Kingfisher diving for dinner. Fall and spring offer a chance to see migrants such as Common Loon taking advantage of the open water and abundant food. LOCATION: 3 miles east of US 87 on River Drive in Great Falls LEE METCALF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Lee Metcalf receives an average of 13 inches of precipita- tion each year but it is quite fertile ground for the natural world. e river offers a lifeline of support to river front forests. Ponds, marshes, and wet meadows are fed from the runoff of the Sapphire Mountains to the east and the Bitterroots to the west. is diverse environment is a big attraction for an assorted population of both migrating birds and year- round residents. Follow Wildfowl Lane to bird among the many habitats. A path to the Bitterroot River takes you through the forest where you can look and listen for songbirds such as the Pine Siskin and Pygmy Nuthatch. Lucky birders will catch a glimpse of the rare and colorful Lewis's Woodpecker. A large rookery of Great Blue Herons is found in the tall pines lining the fields. No matter your level of birding experience, the sight of these gangly birds perched high in the trees never gets old. Stretch your legs along Kenai Trail following the streams and fields where American Bittern can be seen picking among the cattails and Sandhill Cranes perform their hopping mating dance. LOCATION: Just north of Stevensville off the Eastside Highway Giant Springs State Park Great Blue Heron Swans in the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge STEVE AKRE STEVE AKRE STEVE AKRE STEVE AKRE Crossbill

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