Call made for Montana Junior Duck Stamp 2021 entries
https://www.fws.gov/birds/education/junior-duck-stamp-conservation-program
A wood duck drawn by Madison Grimm of South Dakota is featured on the 2020-2021 Junior Duck Stamp. The 2021 Montana Junior Duck Stamp Contest is accepting entries now until March 19
Press release A call has gone out to student artists, art educators and mentors announcing that the 2021 Montana Junior Duck Stamp Contest is accepting entries now until March 19. Entries can be mailed or hand delivered to Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge at 4567 Wildfowl Lane, Stevensville, MT 59870. People can call the refuge at 406-777-5552. The art image should be of a live, native North American waterfowl species that measures 9 by 12 in a horizontal layout. Artwork can be drawn using ink, paint, pastel, crayon or pencil. Entries should not be matted, drawn with a border, sig.
This week s Bitterroot Outdoor Journal suggests looking at power poles. That s a favorite perch for hawks in the valley, as they survey the nearby fields for scurrying rodents. Bob Danley reported three main species of hawks - American Kestrel, Merlin and Prairie Falcon (photos below). In early afternoon, you can see them along roads in the open country. Some possible locations are the East Highway between Stevensville and Corvallis, Tammany Lane east of Hamilton, and of course, the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. When you look at the photos, notice the general shape of the bird for easier identification.
By the way, results from the Christmas Bird Count in Missoula resulted in 15 species of waterfowl, 4 species of owls, 10 species of finches and 9 species of hawks. Some top counts were 658 Red Crossbill birds and 61 Bald Eagles. The eagles are often seen soaring in the mid-day in the valley. And always, you can see many, many Canada Geese in the fields and ponds of the Bitter