It's Official

"Our" Bald Eagle nest that we watch through a scope in the living room is housing Canada Geese, again. The eagles successfully fledged between one and three young for six consecutive years, me and the dogs on the beach photographing away. Then an empty nest in 2018 with geese the last two years. Eagles should be incubating by mid March, instead a twisting up goose head right now. Oh well, and a photo from last year:

Near-by Nest

In this photo from 2017 I actually/happily got a photo of one of the three chicks fledging. Bye-bye and good luck!

They're Back!

Our friend Kathy Price reported that two Ospreys were standing on this nearby nest as of 5:30 pm, March 25th, about a week earlier than our imaginary arrival date of April 1st. I got a few crummy snapshots yesterday, and look - the male has a leg band. We've never had a banded bird at that platform, and I'll try to read the numbers through a scope.

Resident Flock

These turkeys live on our little road, and yesterday the hens were treated to some fine displays by four Toms. I had to shoe them out of the middle of the street right next to East Side Highway, a bit distracted I think.

COVID-19 Rule Number 3

Do Not Touch Your Face

Raptor Round Up #58!

I finally cranked out a new newsletter and it just takes sitting down for a two or three days with a positive attitude, some nice stories and about 50 photos - looks great in color! Here it is,  on the website. 

First Day of Spring

Nothing says Spring like a pair of Western Bluebirds perched on your Penguin sculpture in the front yard.

Eagle Nest Update

Bummer, I don't think the eagles are breeding across the river for a third spring in a row. They started building the nest in 2011, six years with fledglings, and incubation beginning as early as March 5, 2017. Three of those years they had three offspring. Famous birds! This morning a Canada goose was perched in the tree (terrible photo) and one was in the nest. There you have it.

Bret Tobalske Audubon Program

I hate to admit it, but I hadn't been to a monthly Five Valleys Audubon meeting in a while. Monday I was delighted to be in the audience for Dr. Bret Tobalske's talk on Hummingbird Flight, amazing. He is THE flight expert, and had our Peregrine fly in the Tower of Power, super-high speed cameras and on our web site. 
Bret discussed biomechanics, aerodynamics with wonderful illustrations, plus thermal balance and touched briefly on migration.  I almost offered this insight (and wished I had) from our neighbor back when we lived in Clinton:

“Migration? Hummingbirds use Canadian Gooses, and they hang on to their fur with their teeth. Drop off wherever they are going.”

Bret wrote back, "Riding a goose - indeed! I had someone ask me about that in earnest, at a seminar years ago." HA!

Sunday Swans, Sib Today

Peregrines RETURN!

The first Peregrines of the year, at the Bonner cliff with my Mom Sally yesterday, her 86th birthday a week ago! Jay Sumner also came just as the male flew by, female called from the cliff. Hurray, the season begins.

Canada Geese at the Refuge

Simon the Poser

Back to the MAM

We held another Raptors And Art for Grown-ups Workshop on Saturday at the Missoula Art Museum, fun for all and what great birds. I had a revised PowerPoint, Nigel the eagle, Sibley the Peregrine and Simon the Owl, all posing perfectly for three hours. The real fun was monotype printmaking with Bev Glueckert and some masterpieces.  We'll be back.