Easter Bunny!

Today

Some new, brief friends after the program today in Missoula, wondering what was perched in that parked car watching them out the window. Our tallest friend shouted, "Peregrine Falcon! My uncle breeds those."

Rooster Fight

Two Ring-necked Pheasants had a brawl in the front yard. The one on the right is Ole Hopalong, a constant fixture near the bird feeders, recognized by his bad left leg limp, here for years!

Peregrine Surveys

Got two birds up the Blackfoot with Jay Sumner at Chamberlin Creek yesterday, within minutes. Then today he got two Peregrines in One Horse Creek, COOL!

Bitterroot Nest

The pair at the north end of Metcalf Refuge is back. Looks like the male has a lightly barred upper breast, the guy on the right.

Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey has got me on the run.

Yep!

Occupied!

These Canada Geese have been frequenting the Bald Eagle nest that we watch from the living room. And just now one is "nestled" down just above the Kate, one watching from the right side, and one eagle above that doesn't seem to care much. Oh well, another spring without baby eagles to photograph, and no shortage of geese.

They're Baaaack

Swallows flying high all week and just now a Red-naped Sapsucker pounding on the telephone pole in the driveway. "TapTapTapTap...Tap....Tap.......Tap..." slowing down, and announcing he's back!

Downtown Nigel

Our host Beau Larkin and I had a walk down Front Street on our way to the Florence Building, program for the Kiwanis Club upstairs. Oh, we had Nigel on a glove. "That's something you don't see every day," was one comment we heard.

First Osprey of the Season

First Osprey?! Never seen one before April Fools Day, this one day today in the Bitterroot, Huckleberry Lane nest nearby! Good boy.

Nico is Queen of the Hill

Nigel at the University

We just had a return program for the Forestry Mini-College, 150 landowners from around the state at the University of Montana UC Ballroom, fun. Thanks sister Betsy for these photos of Nigel the Golden Eagle on his way to and from the venue, second in the elevator! He and iPod the Pygmy-owl joined us for a great visit. And I corrected the statement from last year that I saw Bootsy Collins of Parliament play in that same room in 1978 - it was in 1994 so I was 16 years off, oh well. It's the thought that counts.

Eagles In the Back Yard Today

Young Bald on her nest box, and Golden in a fly-by.