Conservation easement would protect bird refuge near Kalispell city limits

KALISPELL, Mont. — Migrating birds have been taking refuge in a stretch of riparian forest along the Flathead River and Stillwater River near Kalispell for millennia.

For years, the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area has been managed through leases and licenses to maintain its natural habitat.

Now, conservationists and the Flathead community are working to place a permanent conservation easement on the land to ensure its protection in perpetuity.

Flathead Audubon Conservation Educator, Denny Olson, Flathead Audubon Society President, Darcy Thomas, and Flathead Land Trust Land Protection Specialist, Laura Katzman recently took NBC Montana on a tour of the refuge.

Under a canopy of native Montana trees, we hiked a trail of lush green.

This is bird territory.

The Owen Sowerwine Natural Area is a 405-acre refuge for as many as 170 species of birds.

It’s near the confluence of the Flathead River and Stillwater River.

“It’s a huge drainage,” said Denny, ” and it’s part of a migration superhighway for birds.”

That superhighway passes over a massive water system.

It’s river bottom land that’s prized habitat for birds.

“River bottom is less than one percent of the total land area of this state,” said Denny. “A lot of the river bottom has been developed because people like to live on it. So, wild areas with river are really quite rare.”

All of it lies in the middle of the Rocky Mountain Trench.

That’s a valley between two stretches of the Rockies.

It attracts migrating birds that like lower elevation travel.

“They have used this forever and ever,” said Denny. “Before the Native Americans got here, they were probably using this as a resting spot, and gassing up for the trip north in the spring, and the trip south in the fall.”

Owen Sowerwine is managed as state-school trust land.

School kids visit here all the time.

For years, Flathead Audubon and Montana Audubon have leased the land from the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to protect its natural habitat.

“That isn’t a good long-term solution,” said Laura, (Because) “lease fees are skyrocketing.”

That’s why conservation groups and the community are fundraising to place a permanent purchased conservation easement on Owen Sowerwine.

Money from the purchase would provide significant funding for Montana schools.

“It is a good option because it protects the natural habitat and public access to enjoy it in perpetuity,” said Laura. “Future generations will appreciate this so much. It’s just a community gem.”

If you live or work in Kalispell the refuge is easily accessible.

“It’s right on the edge of Kalispell,” said Laura. “This area is next to some of the city limits of Kalispell.”

“It’s a real contrast to city life and to suburb life,” said Denny.

Darcy has been exploring Owen Sowerwine for years.

She said it isn’t just a bird refuge.

It’s diverse habitat for myriad plants and wildlife.

“It’s a wildlife corridor,” said Darcy, ” that runs from Bedrock Canyon down to Flathead Lake.”

She said a conservation easement wouldn’t just protect Owen Sowerwine.

It would connect to other protected land.

“This area also protects the waters in the area from the Flathead River to the Stillwater River down to the Flathead Lake,” she said.

It is wet country.

“A lot of water, a lot of flooding in the springtime,” said Denny. “It’s basically classic old Cottonwood river bottom.”

Laura kayaks the rivers here.

“I did a kayak tour on the Flathead River a couple years ago,” she said, “and we saw probably a dozen eagles and osprey and Red-tailed hawks.”

“We get literally thousands, and thousands of ducks, geese and swans, and shore birds that come through here in the springtime,” said Denny.

On our walk, Darcy pointed out a snag.

It might surprise you to learn how rich in resources that snag is.

“It’s probably hollow in the middle or at least partially hollow,” she said. “The bark will be full of insects for woodpeckers, nuthatches and brown creepers. We had a Canada goose nesting on top of that snag.”

It appears that everything is a life force at the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area.

NBC Montana would like to thank BJ Worth of Wings in Nature for his video of birds.