CHARLO — With summer approaching, scores of bird species are making their long-awaited return to the Mission Valley and veritable flocks of dedicated birdwatchers are hot on their tail-feathers.

On Sunday morning, a group of about 15-20 diehards braved the steady rain and 45-degree temperatures for a birdwatching excursion to the Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and nearby pothole lakes. Similar outings were taking place throughout Northwestern Montana this weekend, as part of the Montana Audubon Society’s “Wings Across the Big Sky” Annual Bird Festival.

The weather was far from ideal, but those in attendance soaked up a heightened appreciation for the avian inhabitants of the Mission Valley in addition to their fair share of cold rain. The poor conditions confined the birders to their vehicles for many stops along the tour, though at a few points of exceptional interest the group would huddle together around a mounted telescope for a close look at a winged wonder, and to hear commentary from tour guide Jim Rogers of Polson.

Rogers, who had formerly been a longtime science and geography teacher at Polson High School, now serves as president of the local Audubon chapter. He has been leading school birdwatching outings in the area since 1984, and his intimate knowledge of local bird species was readily apparent as he prowled the length of the tour’s caravan, providing detailed car-side narratives of the birds and landscapes spread out before him.

Rogers was hardly the only expert on hand, as most people along for the ride had considerable birding experience. Josh Covill of Columbia Falls distinguished himself within the group, not only for his keen ornithological expertise, but also for his uncharacteristically young age. Despite his youth, the 19-year-old Covill possesses a wealth of information on birds, and is able to hold his own with – and even educate – fellow birdwatchers many years his senior. Covill has always been interested in wildlife, and said that his passion for birding took flight simply because birds are the most conveniently observed fauna on a day-to-day basis.

When asked what makes the Mission Valley such a hotspot for birding, Rogers simply answered with one word: “Habitat.” With lots of woodlands, prairie and wetlands intact, the region’s ecosystems support tremendous biodiversity.

“I can’t think of a place in Montana with more of a variety of species,” Rogers said.

Even with the rain, those who stuck it out on the tour found birding in the area to be as good as advertised. In total, the group observed well over 20 different species by lunchtime. When prodded for the identity of their favorite bird from the outing, Rogers and Covill agreed that it’s almost impossible for most birdwatching enthusiasts – themselves included – to single out a favorite species.

Although they refrained from playing favorites, it’s safe to say that one of the morning’s biggest crowd-pleasers was the trumpeter swan, the largest species of waterfowl that North America has to offer. Reintroduced by local tribes in the 1990s, “trumpeter swans have been quite a success story,” Rogers said. Another highlight from the outing was the abundance of short-eared owls that could be seen perched along the fenceposts of Duck Road, approaching Charlo.

According to Rogers, the Mission Valley is important wintering ground for a lot of species. Migratory species such as snowy owls and rough-legged hawks come from as far as the Arctic. In total, a dozen owl species call the valley home, and every species of falcon in North America can be found here at some point in the year. However, in the past 10-15 years, Rogers has noticed some changes that may be attributed to climate change. There has been a marked decline in the local occurrence of once regular visitors such as rough-legged hawks and evening grosbeaks. In fact, for years grosbeaks disappeared altogether before only recently returning to the area.

Judy Tureck of Coffee Creek, Mont. was another central figure in the group. As a board member for the Montana Audubon Society, Tureck said that her administrative responsibilities and organizing the annual festival require lots of work, but field trips like Sunday’s are “when we have fun.” Along with having a good time, Tureck said the ultimate goal of the group outings is to “generate attention about birds and habitat.”

Tureck also enlightened me with the little-known fact that birdwatching is actually the nation’s most popular recreational pursuit.

“It’s a great hobby, because you can take it anywhere,” she explained. “It attracts a lot of people from all over.”

This tendency for avid birders to take their passion far and wide was reflected in the geographic diversity of those on the Ninepipe outing. Members of the group had come from all over Montana, and the unit even included individuals from Arizona and California.

They prove that not only is the area good for birders, but birders are good for the area, as tourism associated with birdwatching has been shown to provide a substantial boon to local economies. Given this mutually beneficial relationship, let’s hope they’re one migratory species that continues to roost in the Mission Valley for many years to come.