Birding is a terrific way to get outdoors and actively enjoy nature. Being in nature feels good and it is good for us. Birding, and its somewhat less active counterpart, birdwatching, both increased in popularity during the pandemic.
They are still growing.
The Helena Valley, with grasslands, rocky cliffs, decently high elevation around the edges, forests, lakes, ponds, streams, and the Missouri River just a stone’s throw away, offers up more than 250 species during the course of the year. Lewis and Clark County has over 300 species recorded.
NatureMT, our partner site, has an image library of over 100 Montana birds (and growing), a page with the birds you are most likely to see in the greater Helena area, and a Rapid Raptor Resource.
Enjoy!
See bottom of page for printable list of bird species that have been recorded in L&C County
The selected locations below provide five quick, easy places to begin to see birds without dedicating a large amount of time or effort. Just to get a taste and see if birding is for you.
The K-Mart Wetlands
Location: ///hope.oasis.studio
These ponds are stormwater runoff ponds, but the birds don’t seem to mind. The walking ‘loop’ is about a mile (1.6k). Unless it is all frozen, the top pond (in the image to the left) always has water, the two below it usually have water. The marshy area to the left of the three main ponds has a stream of water coming in, but is rarely full.
Montana eBird indicates that more than 190 species of birds have been recorded here. There is highway and airport noise, but, again, the birds don’t seem to mind.
Regulating Reservoir
Locations: ///listeners.allow.solved and ///extracting.combines.exclude
You can see lots of birds from the causeway, or you can walk any number of short trails to the shoreline. There is also a trail that circumnavigates the entire reservoir. During the fall and early winter, the Reservoir gets its share of accidental rarities. Jaegers, and a few species of gulls and loons not typically found inland sometimes end up at the reservoir.
Montana eBird indicates that more than 220 species of birds have been recorded here.
Spring Meadow State Park
Location: ///fateful.floats.noticed
Spring Meadow State Park is a great place to find birds. Early in the day there are often a a dozen folks wandering the trail with binoculars or cameras. This roughly 1 mile (1.6k) trail is easy to navigate and offers good views of the water in several areas.
Montana eBird indicates that more than 185 species of birds have been recorded here.
Upper Prickly Pear Fishing Access Site
Location: ///assemble.turtle.smelter
This mile long (1.6k) path follows a section of the Little Prickly Pear Creek. You will need a state issued recreation permit, also called a Montana Conservation License, to use this site. This is a popular flyfishing and dog walking area. Sandhill Cranes are often found here in the springtime, and lots of ducks, geese, warblers, and sparrows populate the farther reaches of the trail.
Montana eBird indicates that over 130 species of birds have been recorded here.
Nature Park
Location: ///swing.hook.sunk
Considering the trains, nearby residential area, golf course, and other industrial aspects of the area surrounding Nature Park, it seems as though it should not be as productive as it is. However, over 150 species of birds have been recorded on Montana eBird in Nature Park.
This is a great, quick, easy place to start birding in Helena. Binoculars, a couple of apps on your phone, and a willingness to slow down and immerse in your surroundings is all you really need to get started.
This printable pdf file lists all of he birds seen in Lewis and Clark County ovef the years. Feel free to download it and keep track of what you see.
“The best thing that one can do when it is raining is to let it rain.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
