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Birding in Winter Wonderland

Birding in Winter Wonderland

$399
Dates:
Dec 12 - 14
Location:
Gardiner, Montana
Meals Included?:
No
Instructors:
Elena Ulev
Audience Type:
Adult, Families
Program Type:
Field Seminars
Program Subject:
Wildlife
(Activity Scale)
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Many birds fly south for the winter but many interesting species stay in Yellowstone making it an enjoyable time of year for bird watching. Some of the species that you can expect to see include flocks of red crossbills, Clark’s nutcrackers, northern shrikes and rough-legged hawks.

This course will be a combination of an interactive classroom presentation to learn the basics of birding by sight and sound followed by time in the field. You will leave this field seminar with a greater understanding of how to watch and listen to birds and how they utilize the amazing winter landscape to survive.

About the instructor

Elena Ulev is a naturalist guide and environmental educator based out of Missoula, Montana. She has a B.S. degree in Wildlife Biology and has spent the last 23 years working in western Montana as a field biologist and writer for the U.S. Forest Service and as an educator for the Montana Natural History Center and the Lifelong Learning Center. She has seen over 200 species of birds in Montana so far, and her favorite is the short-eared owl. Elena loves sharing her curiosity and enthusiasm about nature with all ages and backgrounds.

Download Program Information:

Birding in Winter Wonderland Course Letter

More Information:

Lodging | Audience Descriptions

We are continually updating and refining our COVID-19 mitigation measures to ensure the health and safety our guests, staff and volunteers. Read our COVID-19 guidelines for program participants.

SUMMER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

  • Be prepared to hike up to 1 mile per day, comfortably, through relatively flat terrain on maintained trails.
  • Be prepared to hike up to 3 miles per day, comfortably, with elevation gains up to 600 feet. Some off-trail hiking possible.
  • Be prepared to hike up to 5 miles per day, comfortably, with occasional elevation gains up to 1000 feet in undulating terrain.
  • Be prepared to hike up to 8 miles per day, at a brisk pace, comfortably, with climbs up to 1500 feet on dirt trails. Loose rocks, uneven footing, and off-trail hiking are possible. Good coordination is recommended.
  • Be prepared for brisk aerobic, destination-oriented hiking up to 12 miles a day. You should be physically conditioned to do these hikes comfortably. Elevation changes up to 2000 feet on dirt trails or off-trail. Loose rock, uneven footing, steep hillside traverses, and stream crossings are possible. Good coordination is required.

WINTER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

  • Leisurely hikes up to 1 mile per day through relatively flat terrain on maintained or snow-packed trails.
  • Hikes on snow-packed trails, or snowshoe or ski trips, up to 3 miles per day with climbs up to 250 feet.
  • Brisk hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing up to 5 miles per day with climbs up to 500 feet, including some trail-breaking in snow.
  • Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 8 miles per day with climbs up to 1000 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.
  • Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 12 miles per day with climbs up to 1500 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.