Ospreys Are Back!

 

Top Story

Front page in the Ravalli Republic newspaper today and great story by Perry Backus, who has been covering the Raptor Ranch news for over a dozen years. Always a treat and coming up in the Missoulian as well! 

Ice On the River

 Jay Sumner and I spent a day in the field looking for Peregrines, and this bit of the North Fork of there Blackfoot River, ice abounds. Two out of three cliffs occupied.

Dumb Old Eagles

My laziness did not go unrewarded. I watched the female eagle get up and move around the nest from the house with binoculars for an hour, and finally grabbed the Big Camera for a walk. For one hour, 30 minutes at the beach, nothing. I said, 7 pm I'm done, so put the camera back in the bag, JUST as all heck broke loose. Missed most of it and one shot before I dejectedly returned home. Oh well. Four more months to go. Let's see...incubation began on March 15th...35 days and hatching...fledging on the 4th of July....hanging around a begging forever...okay, five months.

Webex!

 How 21st Century, and after some glitches on my end, Nick Dunlop began, I finished up - a killer program on photography and our new book. 147 folks registered and Kirsten Elliot reported: "Thank you for the incredible opportunity you provided to the HawkWatch International community yesterday! We even had one woman who attended—and ordered the book—all the way from Australia! She's willing to pay an extra $30 just to have it shipped to her!" My brother Jonathan was watching from New Jersey and sent these screen shots. What FUN and Sib and Sonora were stars! During the second hour of "Meet and Greet" we got the idea to produce updated posters for the schools. Next project, now at the tail end of the pandemic.

What an April Fools Day Party We Are Having!

Hawkwatch International presents: "Intro to Raptor Photography with Kate Davis & Nick Dunlop!" Thursday April 1st at noon MST. An hour of instruction and discussion from the folks that brought you the book Falcons of North America. Fun in the virtual world and free! Just need to register click HERE. 

Nest Rest

 The female was in the big nest yesterday, just the top of her head showing then she stood up, "Oh, you again!" I think she was just having a little rest, perhaps early for eggs, but who knows with these two.

Big Day

Friday and first, Mom got her second COVID vaccine shot, hurray! We met some friends that were there three weeks ago, and one was Raptor Backer Fran Coover. Here's our first book sale, right there in the Lucky's parking lot. A fine beginning and order forms on line (and FaceBook) soon. Act now and get a free bookmark!

Rockin Rudy's CARDS!

Our absolute favorite business in Missoula is Rockin Rudy's and here is our favorite model Erin displaying our notecards today, a bunch of new ones. All proceeds to benefit the education program, and I buy all my jazz CD's from Luke and Jesse. Thanks owner Bruce for helping us out all these years, and surprise- a Falcons book signing soon in the park across the street! WOW!

Sandhill Cranes in the Front Yard

What a Red Tail!

 

Hawks

Same birds and tree, same time of day, different outcome as instead of mating this time she flew off, perhaps startled. To be honest, scared the heck out of me as I saw a dot coming from the sky in a stoop and there he was one second later, "Honey, I'm home." You know how it is.

Omnipresent Hawks

These two are just downstream at our friend Dan's property, their third year and a big ole nest. After mating, he perched on her back for about a minute, watching other hawks high above. AND the Bald Eagles are on eggs, nest at the river, whew! Projects galore. I'm sure my Mom will ask if I "have enough film."

 

Spring!

Western Bluebirds and spiders, spring is here. Bring it on!