Friends From Finland

Carrie Hunt is the founder and director of Wind River Tails and Trails here in Florence, dog boarding and training. She is perhaps better known for the Wind River Bear Institute, hazing problem black and grizzly bears using Karelian Bear Dogs. She began this endeavor with some friends in Finland and we were happy to host four of them yesterday, here for a way-too brief hunting and fishing expedition to the Big Sky. Starting next to Carrie, they are a professor, journalist, first response doctor, and policeman in Helsinki. THEY'LL BE BACK!

Couple More

Buddies Rebecca Lessard, Wings of Wonder in Michigan, me, then HMANA Director Jane Ferreyra, and Laurie Goodrich of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary fame. Plus my plug for MTPR in the Powerpoint. 

What a Weekend

I returned from a whirlwind Detroit round trip, despite numerous airline nightmares including de-icing in Denver yesterday, and so glad to be home. I was the first keynote for the HMANA Conference, held every three and what a roster. I got to hang with so many pals and here is the highly esteemed Dr. David Bird's last image in his keynote on kestrels, photo of Owen Manning with his award-winning taxidermy mount, plus me with Sonora on MTPR Pea Green Boat three years ago! I blushed.

Off To Motown

Off to the Hawk Migration Association of North America Conference in Detroit, and delivering the opening Keynote tomorrow morning. Then I can be a tourist, and thanks Tom for feeding the birds.

Ospreys Galore

On Monday, not one, not two, but three Ospreys down at the beach. Two flew by joined by a third way downstream, soaring in dark clouds. They're on their way south to Mexico and Central America, these two youngsters on their first trip. They'll remain on the wintering grounds their first year, unusual for migrants, sometimes for two years. Then back to Big Sky, if they survive. Odds are against it, the tough life of an Osprey.

Wood!

Firewood for the year, thanks Pat Johnson! And living trees planted in the front yard about 15 years ago, Western Larch in their peak colors.  With a penguin and a pheasant sculpture, rusting nicely.

New Print

Voila, "Osprey" hot off the printing press. A drypoint monoprint, colored with gouache paint, edition of eight, 12" x 9 ". I will see if it's accepted in the upcoming Missoula Art Museum Auction, stiff competition, and if so 100% for the MAM. Next print, a kestrel in flight....

Old and New

A few photos, the first sent from our friend Annalisa from 2003 when Sibley and she and best friend Jessica Knoll were kids. Annalasa Rose will be performing her Americana repertoire of music at the Blacksmith Brewery in October 27th, we'll be there.
Then a shot from a week ago at the library in Stevensville, and everyone hooting 'em up with Simon the Great Horned Owl. A peek at the clock proves that I had been talking for well over an hour and not done yet, what a fun program!

Bear-Proof Cans?

I don't think so. Our pal Barry Gordon displays a garbage can ripped open by a Grizzly Bear up the Blackfoot, my sister Betsy agreeing.

Yesterday

Nico's first fire in the wood stove and some more Trumpeter Swans. Perhaps someone installed the  collar on the one in the center upside-down, numbers and letters, I don't know.

Trumpeter Swans Today

Opening day of waterfowl hunting season, and hope these swans are safe at Upsata Lake up the Blackfoot. Thanks host Barry Gordon!

Nico the Dog

 Man, that program last night in Stevi was a Top Five of all time. Our host forbade little children and many of the attendees said that’s a main reason they came, too funny. Packed house, I mean library.
And friends Molly and Kerr at MPG Ranch yesterday. Leaves they are a'turning.

Program Today

See you at the Stevensville Library at 5 pm for a fun program of PowerPoint plus birds, including Sibley, Simone, Simon, and Owen the Saw-whet pictured here. 5 pm and lots of my books. Hey, it's a library! Free and open to everyone.
And a young Peregrine on the beach, chased away by magpies.

Flying Fish

Last night as I was photographing the dogs on the beach with Tom, a brown trout flew by. And look, it's an adult Osprey, no doubt from far north of here heading to the non-breeding grounds of who-

knows-where.