International Migratory Bird Day is tomorrow and there are a few events around Montana organized to educate, celebrate and bring attention to bird migration, one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas. IMBD began in 1993 and is now hosted at more than 600 sites from Canada to Argentina. Although the official day is the second Saturday of May, some events are scheduled for later in the month. Here are a few going on in our part of the world:

• Yellowstone National Park and the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center staff will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day on May 17 with free programs and a field trip that are open to the public. For more information, call 307-344-2296. Read details here.
•  National Bison Range will have events taking place for National Migratory Bird Day, May 10, and as part of the celebration, the 19-mile Red Sleep Mountain Drive is opened for the summer season. Events for the day include guided bird walks (registration required), demonstrations and small talks about backyard bird feeding, nest boxes and bird identification. There will be trivia contests and free posters. Call 406-644-2211 for details and registration.
• Livingston, MT – Join the Yellowstone Ranger District and Livingston Adult Community Education, May 10 from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. for a free field trip celebrating the 11th annual International Migratory Bird Day event. This year’s theme is: Why Birds Matter, The Benefits of Birds to Humans and Nature.Field trip meets at Yellowstone Ranger District, Livingston Office (5242 Hwy 89 South) at 7:30 a.m. For more information contact: Rachel Feigley, Yellowstone Ranger District Wildlife Biologist at 406-222-1892 or click here.
• The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes host a Community Bird Day Festival to celebrate avian cycles and migrations, May 22 from 5-8 PM at the Salish Kootenai College’s Joe McDonald Health and Fitness Center in Pablo. Free. 406-275-4800