The natural environment and history of Kalispell’s West Valley area
By Linda De Kort
linda@westvalleynaturalists.org
THE SONG SPARROW, MELODIOUS AND HEARTY
As October arrives, many of the songbirds have left our valley. Some stopped for a while and raised a brood or two, some just passed through on their way to or from their breeding grounds.
Continue Reading →by Pat Jaquith
pat@westvalleynaturalists.org
There are at least six species of Calochortus lilies in Montana, and we are lucky to host at least three in our area! Anyone walking in our woodlands and open hilltops in June/July, 2020, had many opportunities to see some of them.
Continue Reading →by Pat Jaquith
pat@westvalleynaturalists.org
by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
The valley is home to two bluebirds: the western bluebird and the mountain bluebird. We usually get at least one pair of western bluebirds in one of our birdboxes each spring due to our close proximity to open fields where they like to feed.
Continue Reading →by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
Click on an image to enlarge it.
West Valley is home for a huge variety of migratory and resident ducks and other waterfowl. While some waterfowl are waders (e.g., sandhill cranes, great blue herons, dowitchers) or skimmers (none around here, although some gulls do this occasionally), ducks can be broadly separated into two groups based on how they obtain food: dabblers and divers.
Continue Reading →by Pat Jaquith
pat@westvalleynaturalists.org
People who look closely at flowers may also see a variety of insects. Pollinators’ visits are self-serving: they are attracted to the flowers for the nectar or pollen they can collect for food. Only incidentally do they provide the service of pollination. Crab Goldenrod Spiders (named for the flower where they are frequently observed) visit flowers to seek nourishment by preying on the pollinators.
Continue Reading → by Pat Jaquith
pat@westvalleynaturalists.org
Bowser Lake is a shallow lake in a bentonite depression in the western part of Pig Farm; with only meltwater or rain to fill it, it evaporates rapidly, but it attracts an interesting variety of birds while it has water.
Continue Reading →by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
What’s the difference between a bug and an insect?
All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. Insects typically have a body segmented into three parts (head, thorax, and abdomen), a hard exoskeleton, six legs, and two antennae. Bees are insects. So are dragonflies, ants, butterflies, beetles, moths, and crickets among many others.
Continue Reading →by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
Many birds and other animals such as foxes depend on berries as food sources, especially in the winter when other food options are limited. The valley has a wide variety of plants that produce berries, some of which are edible by people but many of which range from mildly to severely toxic if eaten. DO NOT consume any berries unless you are completely confident of whether or not they are safe for human consumption.
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by Skip Via
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
A pair of great horned owls nest near my home between West Valley and Farm to Market roads. Each year, we see 1-3 juveniles (and at least one adult) in the ponderosa pines in our yard. From there they can watch for voles and gophers in the agricultural fields next to our property. We find lots of owl pellets and more than a few feathers–especially the downy ones that are dropped as the juveniles mature.
Continue Reading →by Linda De Kort
linda@westvalleynaturalists.org
Thinking about starting a naturalist notebook of your own? Here is an example. Use the arrow keys at the bottom of the window to move back and forth between pages, and use the + button to enlarge or – button to zoom out as needed.
Continue Reading →by Skip Via, with Jeanine Buettner
skip@westvalleynaturalists.org
The Kuhns homestead consists of farmland and several original buildings erected along a small creek across Farm To Market Road from the Pig Farm state land area. It is managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks for the purpose of wildlife protection. The homestead is an important winter wildlife area because old growth Douglas fir provides food as well as tree wells for browsing on Oregon grape for deer and other wildlife. It is also at the perfect elevation–not too high and not in the creek bed, which is where the cold gathers in winter.
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