BLUEBIRD NESTING BOX CONSTRUCTION
Each year Flathead Wildlife members build and sell 400 to 500 Bluebird Nesting Boxes to provide nesting habitat and to raise money for projects. Mike Valler has been responsible for doling out lumber to members to pre-cut nest box parts. Mike and Shelly Bortisser coordinate members on a “Build Day” to assemble completed nesting boxes. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has assisted by providing shop space for construction. Shelly and Tony Anderson have been responsible for lining up retail sites and delivering boxes to retailers as inventory sells out.
The lumber is supplied by F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber. These nesting boxes are sold at a variety of Flathead Valley outlets in time to greet returning Western & Mountain Bluebirds when they arrive with the spring. Among retailers are Murdochs Ranch and Home Supply (Kalispell & Columbia Falls), Sliters Lumber and Building Supply in Bigfork, Somers and Lakeside and Hanson Hardware in Columbia Falls. Other potential retail outlets are being investigated.
Income from these nesting boxes is the major source of funds for FWI. Dollars are used to support habitat & access improvement projects in the Flathead Valley area.
Projects:
Corporate Timberlands—Plum Creek Timberlands had owned over 800,000 acres in northwest Montana for decades, allowing free public access for hunting, fishing and camping. In 2016 Weyerhauser purchased those lands, still allowing public access but the writing was on the wall. In 2020 Southern Pines Plantation (SPP) purchased 630,000 acres. While still allowing public access, SPP is more of a timber realty company, confirmed by the announcement in 2021 that SPP had sold 417,000 acres to two buyers. Green Diamond Resources purchased 291,000 acres including the Thompson-Fisher drainages. See Flathead Beacon Article by clicking HERE Green Diamond is family owned business and is in the timber business. Green Diamond is negotiating to allow continued public access and looking at conservation easements (CE) for a revenue stream. Robyn and Mark Jones of Texas purchased 126,000 acres of SPP stretching from Lake Mary Ronan to McGregor Lake, including Hubbart Reservoir and Red Gate Road. At this point Flathead Ridge Ranch will remain open to the public but it is incumbent on all of us to recreate respectfully. See Flathead Beacon Article by clicking HERE FWP, USFWS, and Trust For Public Lands are trying to secure conservation easements on some of the remaining SPP lands including property around Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge. The first CE was completed in December, 2021 on 7,000 acres immediately south of Lost Trail. The site, known as Dredger Ridge, more than doubles the effectiveness of Lost Trail plus it offers walk-in hunting. FWI strongly supported this CE and hope there are more in the future. See Flathead Beacon Article by clicking HERE
Flathead Wildlife has lobbied in support of the Stimson Phase I and II CEs, Thompson River Connectivity CE, Lazy Creek CE and the Great Montana Outdoors CE north west of Kalispell to retain the lands as working forest lands, wildlife habitat and to ensure public access.
Bad Rock —WMA Glencore is the parent company for the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company (CFAC). The CFAC plant site included about 800 acres across the Flathead River. About 10 years ago FWP negotiated a Block Management Agreement with Glencore to allow hunting by youth and hunters with disabilities by reservation. Glencore offered the land for sale and the Flathead Land Trust took the lead in successfully raising the $6.2 million purchase price with FWP assuming ownership as a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in 2021. Bad Rock is essentially undisturbed property that sustains elk, deer, grizzly bears, countless waterfowl and birds. The property offers 1.6 miles of river frontage, 80 acres of wetlands and a spring creek. Bad Rock is a migratory corridor connecting the Swan Mountains with the North Fork. The Flathead Wildlife Board donated $2500 towards the purchase in memory of Scott Johnson and Tim Dilworth. Hearing that, FWI Life member Bob Cole donated an additional $300 towards Bad Rock WMA. Read more about Bad Rock WMA by clicking HERE
Danford Reed’s Slough—is another Flathead Land Trust project on North Somers Road just south of Lower Valley Meats. This conservation easement protects this important wetland as well as provide a public viewing area usable by the public and school groups. This ties in to about 1300 protected acres nearby. Flathead Wildlife donated $250 to help develop the viewing area.
Owen Sowerwine Natural Area— 405 acre OSNA is State Land, managed by DNRC. The property lies due east of Kalispell bordering on the Flathead and Stillwater Rivers. The area supports a rich biodiversity of wildlife including designation as an “Important Bird Area”. OSNA serves as a classroom for a variety of groups and as a popular hiking area. Under DNRC OSNA has to return income to the State School Trust. Flathead Audubon leased and managed the area for decades but a more permanent solution was needed. The Flathead Land Trust took on the job of raising $970,000 for a permanent conservation easement. Flathead Wildlife donated $1,000 towards the effort. The easement was completed in 2024 to permanently protect the area in its natural state.