The birds that you'll see in March in the Bitterroot are usually huge. A few have "wintered over" in the valley, but others are passing through on their way back north, after a winter vacation south of here. Photographer Mike Daniels saw the bald eagle (above) alongside a county road.

The blue herons are back and getting their nests ready at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge. You can count quite a few in the next two photos.

blue herons in the trees
Herons at the Metcalf nests. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)
loading...
Herons at water
Herons by the pond. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)
loading...

And the trumpeter swans and tundra swans are stopping by at the Metcalf. The large birds are easy to spot in the sky and in the water.

Mike Daniels
Trumpeter Swan. (Mike Daniels, Townsquare Media)
loading...

More From Alt 95.7