Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge

The camera looks across the wetlands of Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge near Charlo, Montana. A broad reservoir sits among open grassland and scattered trees, with the Mission Mountains often visible on the horizon. Waterfowl, herons and other birds move across the water and shorelines, and the flat valley setting makes the refuge easy to recognise.

Early morning and late afternoon tend to bring the most activity, when birds feed and move between the water and the fields. Spring and autumn are the liveliest seasons as migrating waterfowl pass through. Summer offers long daylight and calm water, while winter can bring ice and snow that change the look of the whole basin.

Ninepipes Refuge protects wetlands in the Flathead Valley of western Montana, a landscape shaped by glaciers and long used by people and wildlife alike. The reservoir and surrounding grasslands support waterfowl, raptors and other animals. Visitors come for birdwatching, walking and photography, and the area is also known for its nearby wildlife management and tribal lands.