montana & Yellowstone:
where the mountains meet the plains
June 22 to 27, 2022
(optional Cassia Crossbill extension June 27 to 29)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
(optional Cassia Crossbill extension June 27 to 29)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Greater Sage-Grouse by Dorian Anderson/Audubon Photography Awards
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American Dipper by Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies
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Black Rosy-Finch by Josh Engel
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Georgia Audubon Host: Michelle Hamner, Director of Development
Local Guide: Adam Sell, Red Hill Birding (2nd guide and van will be added for >6 participants)
Group Size: Maximum group size of 13 participants
Georgia Audubon Member Price: $3,050* per person
Non-member Price: $3,100* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$405
Optional Cassia Crossbill Extension (June 27 to 29): +$840* per person (member and non-member price)
Extension Group Size: Minimum 4 participants / Maximum 13 participants
Extension Single Supplement: +$190
*Based on double occupancy
Lodging Note: Depending on group construction, single travelers may be asked to pay a single supplement if we are unable to pair you with another guest. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense, though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Where the Great Plains meet the grandiose peaks of the Rocky Mountains is a place known as Big Sky Country: a land where the beauty of the vistas is surpassed only by the birds that inhabit them. In the expansive grasslands we will look for Baird’s Sparrow, Sprague’s Pipit, Mountain Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Ferruginous Hawk, Lark Bunting, and Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. These grasslands abut grand, snow-capped mountains, with a totally different but equally alluring set of birds, including Black Rosy-Finch, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Dusky Grouse, and Clark’s Nutcracker. We will also visit wetlands that will be crowded with breeding waterbirds and sagebrush flats populated with Sage Thrashers and other sagebrush specialties. We will also pass through Yellowstone National Park, giving us a chance to see some of the West’s iconic mammals.
This trip will find some of North America’s most highly-sought species on their breeding grounds. We also offer a two-night extension to look for the recently described Cassia Crossbill in neighboring Idaho. Bozeman is a great jumping-off point if you would like to visit Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park before or after the birding trip.
Local Guide: Adam Sell, Red Hill Birding (2nd guide and van will be added for >6 participants)
Group Size: Maximum group size of 13 participants
Georgia Audubon Member Price: $3,050* per person
Non-member Price: $3,100* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$405
Optional Cassia Crossbill Extension (June 27 to 29): +$840* per person (member and non-member price)
Extension Group Size: Minimum 4 participants / Maximum 13 participants
Extension Single Supplement: +$190
*Based on double occupancy
Lodging Note: Depending on group construction, single travelers may be asked to pay a single supplement if we are unable to pair you with another guest. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense, though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Where the Great Plains meet the grandiose peaks of the Rocky Mountains is a place known as Big Sky Country: a land where the beauty of the vistas is surpassed only by the birds that inhabit them. In the expansive grasslands we will look for Baird’s Sparrow, Sprague’s Pipit, Mountain Plover, Long-billed Curlew, Ferruginous Hawk, Lark Bunting, and Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspurs. These grasslands abut grand, snow-capped mountains, with a totally different but equally alluring set of birds, including Black Rosy-Finch, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Dusky Grouse, and Clark’s Nutcracker. We will also visit wetlands that will be crowded with breeding waterbirds and sagebrush flats populated with Sage Thrashers and other sagebrush specialties. We will also pass through Yellowstone National Park, giving us a chance to see some of the West’s iconic mammals.
This trip will find some of North America’s most highly-sought species on their breeding grounds. We also offer a two-night extension to look for the recently described Cassia Crossbill in neighboring Idaho. Bozeman is a great jumping-off point if you would like to visit Yellowstone National Park or Grand Teton National Park before or after the birding trip.
Please contact Michelle Hamner by email with any questions.
Please Note: Credit card processing fees are now included in the registration price.
Please Note: Credit card processing fees are now included in the registration price.
trip overview
Click on each day for more information.
day 1: arrive in bozeman
Participants should arrive in Bozeman, MT, no later than 12:30 PM on June 22. We will gather at the Bozeman airport around mid-day (see “Timing” below for arrival details), load the vehicle, and start birding. Our first stop (assuming we still have access at the time of the tour!) will be an impressive local feeder setup. The feeders are usually very active, with birds like Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Cassin’s Finch, Calliope Hummingbird, and perhaps even Evening Grosbeak. The adjacent riparian woods hold American Redstart and “Western” Warbling Vireo. We will also spend some time birding elsewhere around Bozeman, perhaps looking for American Dipper, Gray Partridge, Dusky Grouse, and Swainson’s Hawk.
day 2: bozeman to harlowton
We’ll get an early start to make our way to the Bridger Mountains, en route to the Great Plains grasslands. A campsite and road provide access into the forest and forest edge, where we will search for a couple of uncommon woodpeckers: Williamson’s Sapsucker and American Three-toed Woodpecker. We could also find MacGillivray’s Warbler, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Canada Jay, and other mountain birds here.
We will make another stop at Cottonwood Reservoir, where we will get our first real taste of wetland birding. The lake hosts good numbers of nesting Western and Eared Grebes (and occasionally Clark’s), Wilson’s Phalarope, Willet, American Avocet, and Cinnamon Teal, along with many other waterbirds. Yellow-headed Blackbirds lurk in the cattails and bulrushes at the edge of the lake. A pair of Trumpeter Swans is sometimes present in summer, as are Franklin’s Gulls. The surrounding vegetation hosts Sage Thrasher and Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrow.
We will make it to Harlowton in the afternoon, check in to the hotel, and set out again for our first taste of Great Plains prairie birding. The Judith Gap Grasslands are rich with high quality birds in early summer, many of them singing and displaying. We will look for the full suite of specialty birds: Baird’s Sparrow, Sprague’s Pipit, Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspur, Long-billed Curlew, Lark Bunting, and Ferruginous Hawk. We will try for Mountain Plover and may get lucky with Upland Sandpiper, Golden Eagle, or Short-eared Owl. Marshes in the area are home to Marbled Godwit and Wilson’s Phalarope. Pronghorn are common here, too. Common Nighthawks buzz over the town in the evening.
We will make another stop at Cottonwood Reservoir, where we will get our first real taste of wetland birding. The lake hosts good numbers of nesting Western and Eared Grebes (and occasionally Clark’s), Wilson’s Phalarope, Willet, American Avocet, and Cinnamon Teal, along with many other waterbirds. Yellow-headed Blackbirds lurk in the cattails and bulrushes at the edge of the lake. A pair of Trumpeter Swans is sometimes present in summer, as are Franklin’s Gulls. The surrounding vegetation hosts Sage Thrasher and Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrow.
We will make it to Harlowton in the afternoon, check in to the hotel, and set out again for our first taste of Great Plains prairie birding. The Judith Gap Grasslands are rich with high quality birds in early summer, many of them singing and displaying. We will look for the full suite of specialty birds: Baird’s Sparrow, Sprague’s Pipit, Thick-billed and Chestnut-collared Longspur, Long-billed Curlew, Lark Bunting, and Ferruginous Hawk. We will try for Mountain Plover and may get lucky with Upland Sandpiper, Golden Eagle, or Short-eared Owl. Marshes in the area are home to Marbled Godwit and Wilson’s Phalarope. Pronghorn are common here, too. Common Nighthawks buzz over the town in the evening.
day 3: harlowton to red lodge
If we are still looking for grassland birds, we will spend a little time in the morning around Harlowton trying to track them down. Afterwards we will start making our way east and south, making stops to look for Burrowing Owl and to scan sagebrush habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse. We will also visit wetlands that can hold over a dozen species of waterfowl along with White-faced Ibis, Black Tern, Franklin’s Gull, and Black-crowned Night-Heron.
We will make a stop near Billings at Pictograph Caves State Park, where the cliffs are home to Prairie Falcon, White-throated Swift, and Canyon and Rock Wrens, and the scrub and woods host Bullock’s Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Lazuli Bunting. Eventually we will aim for Red Lodge, at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains. If there is time, we will bird a riparian zone near town where we could find Red-naped Sapsucker, Calliope Hummingbird, Dusky Flycatcher, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and Green-tailed Towhee.
We will make a stop near Billings at Pictograph Caves State Park, where the cliffs are home to Prairie Falcon, White-throated Swift, and Canyon and Rock Wrens, and the scrub and woods host Bullock’s Oriole, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Lazuli Bunting. Eventually we will aim for Red Lodge, at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains. If there is time, we will bird a riparian zone near town where we could find Red-naped Sapsucker, Calliope Hummingbird, Dusky Flycatcher, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and Green-tailed Towhee.
day 4: beartooth and pryor mountains
We will spend the morning in the beautiful Beartooth Mountains. We will focus on finding birds of higher elevations, especially the local Black Rosy-Finch and Clark’s Nutcracker. We could also come across Townsend’s Solitaire and American Pipit, and maybe get lucky with Dusky Grouse. We will pop into some campgrounds lower in the mountains to look for many of the characteristic birds of the mountains, including Hammond’s and Dusky Flycatchers, Red Crossbill, American Dipper, Western Tanager, Mountain Chickadee, Green-tailed Towhee, Violet-green Swallow, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, and “Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler.
After lunch back in Red Lodge, we will continue our birding in the sagebrush grasslands of the Pryor Mountains. The sage here is home to Greater Sage-Grouse, Mountain Plover, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrow, and Sagebrush Sparrow. We will also take a walk along with wide track into a broad canyon where we will look for Gray Flycatcher, the western subspecies of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rock Wren, and, if we’re lucky, Pinyon Jay. It will be a long day, but very rewarding, with lots of great birds and stunning scenery.
After lunch back in Red Lodge, we will continue our birding in the sagebrush grasslands of the Pryor Mountains. The sage here is home to Greater Sage-Grouse, Mountain Plover, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s and Vesper Sparrow, and Sagebrush Sparrow. We will also take a walk along with wide track into a broad canyon where we will look for Gray Flycatcher, the western subspecies of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rock Wren, and, if we’re lucky, Pinyon Jay. It will be a long day, but very rewarding, with lots of great birds and stunning scenery.
day 5: red lodge to gardiner via yellowstone national park
Today we will head back up the Beartooth Mountains, this time crossing the pass into Wyoming and continuing across northern Yellowstone National Park (including passing through the bison-filled Lamar Valley) to Gardiner, Montana. We will be birding and looking for mammals all along the way, especially during our time in the park. As we get farther west, we will look for Williamson’s Sapsucker, Pine Grosbeak, Steller’s Jay, and Cordilleran Flycatcher in the woods and American Dipper, Trumpeter Swan, Barrow’s Goldeneye, and Harlequin Duck in the streams and wetlands. This is the best area of Yellowstone for mammals, too, and we will keep an eye out for Bighorn Sheep, Mountain Goat (introduced here), American Bison, Moose, Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, American Badger, and even Gray Wolf. Before leaving the park, we will stop in to visit the famous Mammoth Hot Springs.
day 6: gardiner to bozeman for departure (or continue to the cassia crossbill extension)
We will have a final morning to bird between Gardiner and Bozeman, before making it to the airport in the late morning. We will take into consideration what birds we still need to see and decide on the best plan of action for the morning’s birding. Those who are departing will be dropped at the Bozeman airport in the late morning, and the rest will continue driving to Twin Falls, Idaho.
It’s a long drive to Twin Falls, but depending on what birds we’ve missed, we may stop to look for Sagebrush Sparrow and other sagebrush birds along the way. After checking in to our hotel and having dinner, those who are still keen will have a chance to look for Western Screech-Owl.
It’s a long drive to Twin Falls, but depending on what birds we’ve missed, we may stop to look for Sagebrush Sparrow and other sagebrush birds along the way. After checking in to our hotel and having dinner, those who are still keen will have a chance to look for Western Screech-Owl.
day 7: south hills, idaho (optional extension)
We will head out after breakfast for the South Hills. Our main target is the recently described Cassia Crossbill, which is only found here. Fortunately, they aren’t too rare. We have to be careful to distinguish them from Red Crossbill, which also occurs here, but we stand a good chance of finding the most recently described bird species in North America. Although Cassia Crossbill will be our primary focus, we will also look for Lewis’s Woodpecker, California Quail, “Slate-colored” Fox Sparrow, and Cordilleran Flycatcher. A stop at hummingbird feeders in the area could help us find Black-chinned, Broad-tailed, and Calliope Hummingbirds.
For those who are interested, we will also spend some time in the South Hills after dark to look for two nocturnal birds that we are unlikely to have seen previously, Common Poorwill and the rare Flammulated Owl. Neither is uncommon here, though actually seeing them can be a challenge!
For those who are interested, we will also spend some time in the South Hills after dark to look for two nocturnal birds that we are unlikely to have seen previously, Common Poorwill and the rare Flammulated Owl. Neither is uncommon here, though actually seeing them can be a challenge!
day 8: departure from twin falls (optional extension)
This morning there may be a bit of time for some last-minute birding around Twin Falls, depending on your flight schedule. You have your choice of airports for you return trip, as the guide will be driving the vehicle back to Bozeman on this day. You can leave in the early morning from Twin Falls, late morning from Idaho Falls, or the following day (Thu, June 30) from Bozeman. Idaho Falls and Twin Falls are regional airports with limited flight schedules. If you choose to depart from Bozeman on June 30, we can provide recommendations for a hotel near the Bozeman Airport on June 29 that will provide transport to the airport the following day for your departure.
additional details
Price Includes:
Price does not include:
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $500 down-payment at the time of registration ($550 for non-members). Payment in full will be due by March 1, 2022. The single supplement(s) and Cassia Crossbill extension will also be billed at this time if either option was selected.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they have received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster. Some people may be eligible to receive two boosters, but a second booster is not required to travel with Georgia Audubon at this time. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by February 22, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). If notice of cancellation is received between February 23, 2022, and March 22, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
- All meals and drinks (excluding alcoholic beverages) from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 6 (or to breakfast on Day 8 if you select the optional extension)
- All ground transportation
- Hotel accommodations for 5 nights (or for 7 nights if you select the optional extension)
- Expert local guide (two guides with more than 6 participants)
- All park entrance fees
- Bound checklist to keep track of sightings during the trip
Price does not include:
- Airfare
- Tips (for the local guide(s), housekeeping, etc.)
- Alcoholic or specialty beverages
- Optional activities
- Snacks
- Laundry
- Travel insurance, recommended
- Medical costs
- Souvenirs
- Other incidentals participants may wish to purchase
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $500 down-payment at the time of registration ($550 for non-members). Payment in full will be due by March 1, 2022. The single supplement(s) and Cassia Crossbill extension will also be billed at this time if either option was selected.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they have received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster. Some people may be eligible to receive two boosters, but a second booster is not required to travel with Georgia Audubon at this time. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by February 22, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). If notice of cancellation is received between February 23, 2022, and March 22, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
travel information
Timing:
The trip will begin at 1:00 PM at the Bozeman Airport on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, and will end at 11:00 AM at the same location on Monday, June 27. Please be sure to arrive to Bozeman by 12:30 PM on June 22 and to depart after 1:00 PM on June 27. If you prefer arriving a night early, there are hotels at the airport that provide free shuttles. We will coordinate with the early arrivers for the start of the tour.
If you are continuing on to the extension, you can depart from Twin Falls on the morning of June 29 (if flights are available), late morning from Idaho Falls, or on June 30 from Bozeman. The guide(s) will be driving the vehicle(s) back to Bozeman on June 29 and can transport you back to Bozeman on that day in order to fly out the following day.
The main trip starts and ends in Bozeman, Montana, which is very convenient for those who would like to visit Yellowstone National Park on their own before or after the trip.
Physical Difficulty:
This trip is physically easy. Much of the birding will be done from the road or from easy trails. Although we will be spending time in the mountains, we will not be taking any steep or long trails (though basically all trails and roads here have some slope to them). We may do some off-trail walking on uneven ground to look for birds as necessary. There are times when we will be on our feet for several hours, but we will be walking at a “birding pace.” We will reach elevations as high as 11,000ft at Beartooth Pass. We may take short walks in this area. The highest elevation for any accommodations is 5,700ft in Red Lodge.
Pace:
The pace of the trip is moderate. The day length is very long in Montana in summer, with almost 16 hours of daylight. We will typically be getting an early start for birding, taking breakfast with us into the field. We will stop for lunch (sometimes a picnic lunch), continue birding in the afternoon, then have a rest before dinner when time allows. Sunrise is around 5:30 AM and sunset around 9:15 PM. We will compile our daily checklist (checklist provided) in the evening. There will be opportunities for night birding on the extension, but probably not on the main trip. The guide will also be keeping eBird lists, which we are happy to share with participants.
Hotels:
We will be staying in simple, comfortable motels in each location. As of 2019, the hotel in Harlowton did not have WiFi, but the others all do.
Photography:
The photographic opportunities are excellent. We will often be birding in open habitat with birds that show themselves well. The light in summer is beautiful in this part of the world. That said, this is primarily a birdwatching tour, so while there will be ample opportunities for photography along the way, we will not be making special considerations for photographers.
Weather:
The weather in June in Montana is usually very nice. The average high temperate at that time of year is about 70-75°F and the average low is about 45-50°F, depending on the location. Rain, high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures are possible, so an umbrella and/or raincoat for rain and a mid-weight jacket for cold and wind are recommended. We’ve even encountered Beartooth Pass being closed due to snow on this tour. Biting insects are generally not a problem, but ticks and mosquitoes can be present, so bringing repellent is recommended as a precaution.
Packing Considerations:
You will generally want to wear comfortable birding clothes, dressing in layers, that you don’t mind getting a little dirty.
In terms of gear, you will generally want the usual binoculars, a field guide, and light-weight field clothing. A jacket (and a hat and gloves if you are prone to feeling cold) for cool mornings and high elevations is important. Many people appreciate having a camera along. A reusable water bottle and, for some people, a travel coffee mug, are useful to have along in the car during the day. A raincoat and/or umbrella is useful in case of wet weather. Comfortable walking shoes are important, as we will be on our feet for extended periods. You will not need rubber boots.
Resources:
Our favorite bird field guides in North America are the Sibley Guides, the larger Sibley Guide to Birds, which covers all of North America, and the more portable Sibley Birds West, which will cover all of the birds on the tour. The Sibley Guide App is an excellent app that covers all North American birds, including with good recordings. We also like the Merlin Bird ID App by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which is essentially a free field guide, featuring photographs, vocalizations, range maps, and identification information. Be sure to download the US and Canada: Continental bird pack.
Tipping:
We encourage participants to tip our local Montana guide(s) for exceptional service. While tipping is never expected, if you feel that your local guide(s) went above and beyond, you are welcome to leave them with a gratuity. Tips at restaurants are included in the cost of the tour.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
The trip will begin at 1:00 PM at the Bozeman Airport on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, and will end at 11:00 AM at the same location on Monday, June 27. Please be sure to arrive to Bozeman by 12:30 PM on June 22 and to depart after 1:00 PM on June 27. If you prefer arriving a night early, there are hotels at the airport that provide free shuttles. We will coordinate with the early arrivers for the start of the tour.
If you are continuing on to the extension, you can depart from Twin Falls on the morning of June 29 (if flights are available), late morning from Idaho Falls, or on June 30 from Bozeman. The guide(s) will be driving the vehicle(s) back to Bozeman on June 29 and can transport you back to Bozeman on that day in order to fly out the following day.
The main trip starts and ends in Bozeman, Montana, which is very convenient for those who would like to visit Yellowstone National Park on their own before or after the trip.
Physical Difficulty:
This trip is physically easy. Much of the birding will be done from the road or from easy trails. Although we will be spending time in the mountains, we will not be taking any steep or long trails (though basically all trails and roads here have some slope to them). We may do some off-trail walking on uneven ground to look for birds as necessary. There are times when we will be on our feet for several hours, but we will be walking at a “birding pace.” We will reach elevations as high as 11,000ft at Beartooth Pass. We may take short walks in this area. The highest elevation for any accommodations is 5,700ft in Red Lodge.
Pace:
The pace of the trip is moderate. The day length is very long in Montana in summer, with almost 16 hours of daylight. We will typically be getting an early start for birding, taking breakfast with us into the field. We will stop for lunch (sometimes a picnic lunch), continue birding in the afternoon, then have a rest before dinner when time allows. Sunrise is around 5:30 AM and sunset around 9:15 PM. We will compile our daily checklist (checklist provided) in the evening. There will be opportunities for night birding on the extension, but probably not on the main trip. The guide will also be keeping eBird lists, which we are happy to share with participants.
Hotels:
We will be staying in simple, comfortable motels in each location. As of 2019, the hotel in Harlowton did not have WiFi, but the others all do.
Photography:
The photographic opportunities are excellent. We will often be birding in open habitat with birds that show themselves well. The light in summer is beautiful in this part of the world. That said, this is primarily a birdwatching tour, so while there will be ample opportunities for photography along the way, we will not be making special considerations for photographers.
Weather:
The weather in June in Montana is usually very nice. The average high temperate at that time of year is about 70-75°F and the average low is about 45-50°F, depending on the location. Rain, high winds, snow, and freezing temperatures are possible, so an umbrella and/or raincoat for rain and a mid-weight jacket for cold and wind are recommended. We’ve even encountered Beartooth Pass being closed due to snow on this tour. Biting insects are generally not a problem, but ticks and mosquitoes can be present, so bringing repellent is recommended as a precaution.
Packing Considerations:
You will generally want to wear comfortable birding clothes, dressing in layers, that you don’t mind getting a little dirty.
In terms of gear, you will generally want the usual binoculars, a field guide, and light-weight field clothing. A jacket (and a hat and gloves if you are prone to feeling cold) for cool mornings and high elevations is important. Many people appreciate having a camera along. A reusable water bottle and, for some people, a travel coffee mug, are useful to have along in the car during the day. A raincoat and/or umbrella is useful in case of wet weather. Comfortable walking shoes are important, as we will be on our feet for extended periods. You will not need rubber boots.
Resources:
Our favorite bird field guides in North America are the Sibley Guides, the larger Sibley Guide to Birds, which covers all of North America, and the more portable Sibley Birds West, which will cover all of the birds on the tour. The Sibley Guide App is an excellent app that covers all North American birds, including with good recordings. We also like the Merlin Bird ID App by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which is essentially a free field guide, featuring photographs, vocalizations, range maps, and identification information. Be sure to download the US and Canada: Continental bird pack.
Tipping:
We encourage participants to tip our local Montana guide(s) for exceptional service. While tipping is never expected, if you feel that your local guide(s) went above and beyond, you are welcome to leave them with a gratuity. Tips at restaurants are included in the cost of the tour.
Travel Insurance:
We do not require travel insurance. However, we highly recommend buying it, as it is relatively inexpensive and can protect you from unforeseen costs associated with missed, delayed, or canceled flights, sudden illness, medical evacuation, damaged equipment, or other unexpected issues. Note that in some circumstances, such as if you have preexisting medical conditions, travel insurance must be purchased within 1-2 weeks of paying the trip deposit.
Trumpeter Swans by Josh Engel
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Bighorn Sheep by Josh Engel
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Wilson's Phalarope by Josh Engel
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