End of May Already?

New Cards!

Our friends at Pyramid Printing in Missoula just finished our second batch of folding cards, available from us at raptors@montana.com and at Rockin Rudy's. All my photos and some old ones (Golden Retrievers) and brand new (Raven and Bald Eagle.)

Kevin's Kids

The weather cooperated, the raptors were on their best behaviors, and the bird refuge was packed with avian life. We enjoyed a wonderful field trip with Kevin Cashman's 4th graders from Chief Charlo School on Monday. Starting out with a tour of the Raptor Ranch and Sonora the Aplomado Falcon, the kids took notes and made sketches in their journals. Then we had a picnic at Lee Metcalf NWRefuge and a great chat by director Tom Reed, spotting scopes, binoculars and field guides galore. Kevin kept track of species and writing projects when they all get back to the classroom. Now this is the way to learn! Lucky youngsters, and thanks to you Kevin.

First Osprey in Days

The Ospreys have been very scarce at the beach, despite record numbers of nests in the vicinity. I know of at least two brand new ones near-by, maybe more. Anyway, just as I set of the camera one came swooping in. It scares the bejesus out these eagles.

Saturday Night On the Beach

Every few years I try to upgrade my camera set-up and just bought the Nikon D810. Lots of different settings from the D800, and actually had to read the instruction manual. I should have done it sooner as I missed a killer heron/fishing sequence which turned out a total blur! Here the male is landing just before dark.

Nest Last Night

A ground squirrel delivery to the two chicks.

May 17th?!

But it's a wet cold.

Updates

It's a very soggy walk but made it to the river last night for the latest glimpse of the eagle chicks. He was feeding them some yummy ground squirrel and either they were scurrying about quite a bit, or they may three in there. That happened two years ago and freaked me out.
And the Golden Eagle "nest" was removed from the building when I caught Nigel incubating that egg. That was last Friday in a rain storm and hopefully our two genius eagles are giving up.

Max the Genius

Our big bully Golden Eagle Max is 28 years old and has a new trick this spring - nest duties on the ground. He's been laying down in the dirt for hours a day, a few weeks now, and wish he would knock it off. At first I thought he was mortally ill, as he'd let me touch and hand feed him which is quite a stretch from his big bullydom. Keeping a careful watch on the three eagles, I am sure now that Max is incubating a nice rock. Gives him a sense of purpose, I suppose and I don't think it will hatch.

Floodwaters

We have a slough that runs through the back, east of the house and then the river beyond that. When we moved in back in 2001 Tom built a bridge that we installed and he has repaired after the neighbor rode her horse across, and some kids had a jumping contest. It is cabled to a stake in the bank and every year or two the floodwaters rise and bridge floats. Once again, our friend Mike DeNeve to the rescue and he pulled the bridge out with his skid steerer (Bobcat) and it's safely on land until the high waters recede. Here's a species digging the water, Spotted Sandpipers everywhere.

Eagle Action

May 2nd, then delivery of a muskrat (check out that tail.)

Nice Field Trip, Mr. Fett

We made the exception to the rule "kindergarten through 5th grade only" big time and spent two days with seniors at Hamilton High School, science with teacher Birch Fett. First was a classroom Powerpoint and bird program then this week a visit to a nearby Bald Eagle nest. The kids proved that you really don't need a camera setup that costs more than your car when you have an iPhone. Amazing pictures through the spotting scope! Really roughing it on the lawn of the Daly Mansion, nice field trip. Nest is circled in white, two chicks, how scenic.

Painted Turtle Romance

A shot from the bridge over the slough. Awwww.