"We're Outa Here!"

No eagles in the nest Tuesday afternoon and one flew over to the pine trees by the pigeon building at 5 pm. So the earliest fledging since I started watching that nest by the house, 2011. This is my favorite shot of the youngsters, taken in 2017!

The Little Babies...

...at the nest today, ready to fledge in July. Hey, that's coming up!
 

GBH

I love herons, and this one was hunting mammals right next to the road at Metcalf NWRefuge, lucked out. But she didn't and no mice/voles/gophers/ground squirrels for breakfast.

Battle of the Stick

 Mose almost always beats Nico, our daily walk to the river.

So Flattering!

What a nice eagle flight portrait, just kidding. Over the river today and I must say I would much rather butcher chickens for two hours than transplant little trees from the yard to the front of the Falconhouse for shade. Some shade that might work in 10 or 20 years. So unnecessary, neighbor.

Summer-izing

With the new neighbor's 80-foot warehouse built up against our fence/enclosures we were forced to move half the birds, including the two Peregrines. The new Falconhouse is cooking in these summer temperatures so forced to make some modifications. First, thermometers, shade cloth, then insulation across the inner roof, fans running all day and even planting relocated trees in the front for shade. Shade? So difficult.

Painting Away

It is always a treat trying to figure out how to color that first run print, and what you can't hear here is the jazz on the stereo! 

New Print

 Just made this drypoint etching, and on the "new" printing press upstairs. "Rough-leg" and printing inks, gouache, pencils     11" x 13". Tried a little background texture with steel brushes, always want to experiment.

Raptors And Art Camp

Raptors And Art week, our 22nd at the Missoula Art Museum, me and Bev Beck Glueckert. Sib, Sonora and Wes falcons posing day one, then owls Simon, Portia and Little Billie on Tuesday, sketching sessions. Now, life-size paper mache sculptures, including 5 Great Horned, 3 Barred, 1 Saw-whet, 2 eagles, 1 kestrel, and 1 flamingo (that counts!) Plus 1 Zombie and 1 Elephant Owl.

2005 and 2025!

Marilyn and Sibley in 2005, Marilyn and Bob 2025! Bob Ehrhart and Marilyn MacGregor, long-time best Raptor Backer Pals and now in Oregon!

Tonight!

 

Dog and Falcon

 In the living room! My welded steel Peregrine sculpture and Nico heading for the kitchen.

"New" Printing Press

Thanks Cindy Knutsen for the big printing press, now installed upstairs and my trial run of a Rough-legged Hawk drypoint etching.  Donated by Cindy and bought some parts, now ready to rock and roll, 19 inches across instead of the little one for 30 years, 12 inches!

Cards

 A hundred or so, 20 new ones and all at Rockin Rudy's!