Welcome to Yellowstone Valley
Audubon Society
Visit Us On Facebook
Education, Activism, and
Conservation
Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society is a local chapter of the National Audubon Society located from the Beartooth Mountains to the prairies of eastern Montana. YVAS hosts monthly Programs with a featured speaker September through May on the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church (Billings). Members and the general public are invited to join us. YVAS sponsors birding field trips, ornithology classes, the Christmas Bird Count, a monthly newsletter, and various conservation and educational projects. Feel free to contact any Board or Committee member for more information.
For the latest news and updates, see the May 2026 newsletter, The Flyer.
Visit us on Facebook.
Join a birding trip – 2026 Bird Field Trip Schedule.
Become a Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society member.
The YVAS mailing address is YVAS, PO Box 1075, Billings MT 59103.
Migration of Western Burrowing Owls Across North America
Andrea Orabona, Speaker
Thursday, July 16th, at 7 p.m.
The Burrowing Owl is classified as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Wyoming and Montana. The public is invited to come and learn how biologists are using satellite transmitters to study the full life-cycle of these unique owls as well as the project objectives, the methods used and the currant results of the study thus far.
Andrea Orabona
Photo by Mark Gocke
Andrea Orabona, retired Nongame Bird Biologist for the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, will be discussing the work she and other biologists are doing to trap and track Burrowing Owls as they study the owl’s migration routes and wintering areas.
Andrea is collaborating on this project with Dr. Courtney Conway from the USGS/University of Idaho and his research partners from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. She is the President of Red Desert Audubon.
Join us for cookies and refreshments at 6:30 p.m. The program begins at 7 p.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church on the corner of Poly and Rehberg. It is free and open to the public.
Upcoming YVAS Birding Field Trips 2026
Unless otherwise noted, field trips are open to the public and depart at 8:00 a.m. by car from the Rocky Mountain College parking lot on Rimrock Road next to Billings Studio Theater.
May 23, Saturday – Stillwater River/Woodbine area. Meet at 8 AM at Itch-Kep-Pe Park, Columbus, near restrooms. Trip leader, Carolyn Jones.
May 26, Tuesday – Riverfront Evening Stroll. Meet at 5 PM at the parking area with restrooms near the entrance and to the right. Bring mosquito repellant. Cathy Breeding, trip leader.
June 6, Saturday – Bridger Creek loop. Meet at 8 AM at Itch-Kep-Pe Park, Columbus, near restrooms. Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, trip leaders.
June 9, Tuesday – Red Lodge area. Meet at 8:30 AM at the Red Lodge Town Pump. Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, trip leaders.
June 13, Saturday – Bear Canyon in the Pryor Mountains. Meet at 7:30 AM at Bridger Park on US-310, south end of Bridger (statue of Jim Bridger). Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, trip leaders.
June 16, Tuesday – Yellowstone Wildlife Management Area near Pompey’s Pillar. Meet at 8 AM Bundy Bridge FA. Megan O’Reilly and Daniel Johnson, trip leaders.
June 20, Saturday – Grant’s Marsh, Hardin. Meet at 8 AM at Love’s Truck stop (Hardin), Hwy 47 just off 190. Megan O’Reilly and Daniel Johnson, trip leaders.
June 27, Saturday – Sage Creek in the Pryor Mountains. Meet at 8:30 AM at Bridger Park on US-310, south end of Bridger (statue of Jim Bridger). Stan Heath and Susan Hovde, trip leaders.
For the current status of bird trips, check the YVAS website, YVAS Facebook or the Flyer. Links to these and the 2026 Bird Trip Schedule can be found above. To be added to the Bird Trip Notification List, contact Carolyn Jones at carolyn684@gmail.com.
Great Horned Owl found near Joliet MT on highway. Photo – MRCC
Help for Injured Raptors and Other Birds Including Waterfowl
In eastern Montana, there are several resources you can contact for an injured or entangled bird including raptors, waterfowl or other species. The type of bird that may need assistance will determine the best person to call for assistance. For detailed information and recommendations from Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society see the guidelines that can be found under the Projects tab on the main menu. Please keep in mind that there are Federal and state laws in place that are important to consider before moving a bird.
Lawsuit Filed on behalf of Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society – Killing of Native Migratory Birds to Save Nonnative Fish
On behalf of Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society, Earthjustice filed a complaint against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) for
allowing the State of Montana to shoot and kill migratory birds in order to protect nonnative fish species. The November 14, 2024 press release, “Conservation Group Sues Feds Over Fish Hatchery Shooting Migratory Birds” can be found on the Earthjustice website.
Hundreds of native migratory birds have been shot at the Hatchery including Ospreys, Great Blue Herons, Double-crested cormorants and Canada Geese. More information can be found under Projects.
Recycle Your Aluminum Cans with “Recycle to Reforest”
A City of Billings Program to Enhance Our Trees
After 14 years of collecting and transporting aluminum cans to the recycler, Larry is retiring. Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society recommends that people take their aluminum cans to one of the City’s three collection sites located around Billings: Stewart Park, Veterans Park or Clevenger Park. The City’s Recycle to Reforest Program will use the refunds to plant and improve the trees in Billings.
Thank you for your volunteer work Larry!