I'm 60 Years Old

In 2 hours and 45 minutes!

Our Favorite Little Mammal

This native Red Squirrel has apparently run off two evil Eastern Fox Squirrels in the front yard. LOVE him (her!)

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Solstice Sibley

Montana Public Radio Fun

We had this trip to MTPR Pea Green Boat Show scheduled before the loss of Ansel, and planned a show on Gyrfalcons. Thanks to Glenn Marengelo of the Missoula Insectarium and Butterfly House, we filled the hour with birds and insects. Simone the Red-tail started the show, talking about insect-eating hawks, then Sib the Peregrine and salmonfly feasting, and hooted with Jillian the Great Horned Owl at the end. The best show ever, thanks Glenn and host Annie.
You can listen in the archives for two weeks    https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kufm-1https://www.radiofreeamerica.com/schedule/kufm-1
Click on Tuesday the 19th, then Pea Green Boat (piano for a minute or two) then kick back for an hour.

Poor Ansel, Farewell

Our beloved Ansel died last evening despite some heroics from Dr. Scott Bovard at Missoula Veterinary. He quit eating on Friday and I brought him indoors on a heating pad in a kennel. A few bright moments on Saturday, but his system finally shut down. We sure loved him.

Ansel joined the team in 2004 and was a program professional from the start.This falcon is a hybrid from a male black Gyrfalcon and female Peale's Peregrine, and unfortunately has a vision problem in his right eye so can't judge distance. These birds are prized by falconers because they often display the best qualities of each species, Gyr and Peregrine. Our friend Kenny Sterner in Sheridan, Wyoming offered us the three week old bird, and off we were on a road trip. On the way back my Mom came up with the name Ansel, because he was black and white. Ansel Adams the photographer was a hero to my Dad, who had a darkroom in the basement the whole time I was growing up. The debut was on public radio, and he is the star of a video made during the International Wildlife Film Festival Young Filmmakers Workshop. Ansel is very playful and has a tennis ball and knotted ropes that he carries around clenched in one falcon foot. He rides to programs in a kennel, and steps out when the door is opened and hops up on a perch to astonish the audience. We are very lucky to have this handsome and mellow teaching team bird.

Snowday

Cottonwoods

Metcalf Refuge and our yard.

Firewood Stack

I got the last of the split firewood stacked yesterday, five half pick-up loads, and four layers deep here. Like I said, money in the bank! Plus new tires for the new-ish Subaru and we are set. Bring it on now so we can all head up to SnowBowl.

Downey on the Mullein

Red-tail and Prey

Look at what this Red-tail stooped on, twice! She pulled up both times way over the cat, who didn't freak out at all and just meandered back to the house through the grass. HA!

Sib Today

Split and Stack, Day 1

Thanks Pat Johnson! Tom and sister Betsy! Money in the bank, sort of.

Red Squirrel and Firewood

Sussex School Assembly

Yesterday we were delighted to present a big PowerPoint and three birds to the kids at Sussex. This was at the invitation of our buddy Kim Peterson, 1st-2nd grade and she shares her teaching duties with a man that saw a Raptors program when he was a kid - at Sussex School, probably in that very same room. Pretty cool and thanks Sibley, iPod and Jillian, pros.

Doug Fir Firewood Galore

Thanks to pal Pat Johnson, we are well on the way to stocking up and filling the firewood shed. Splitting and stacking next!

Lenticulars To the North

Flying Sib at One Horse Creek yesterday, we enjoyed these "lens" clouds - lenticular!

My Clay Sculptures

And Sonora the Aplomado in the house today. Sure hope to make another little one with my clay from last weekend - in the kiln soon.

Clay Studio of Missoula Gig

A first yesterday, and definitely not last - we spent the afternoon with clay creators and lots of fun. We started with a big PowerPoint showing our Raptors program and my art over the ages, then had models Sibley, Simon and Owen, the stars. We'll be back and I even took home some clay of my own!

 

Today

Merlin in Colorado

A falcon photo taken with Rob Palmer's mirrorless Sony camera last Wednesday as she was hunting sparrows over thousands of cattle in a stockyard in Colorado. I had no idea what I was doing with that 22-frames-a-second outfit, but noticed the moon. Thanks, Rob!      (oops, forgot to include the photo!)

Got Firewood?

We do! Thanks pal John for delivery, Mom as a Christmas present - out by the pigeon loft and sawed up, split and stacked soon...gradually, and thanks Pat.

Conference and Sib Today

Nick and Michelle Dunlop with Dan Varland at the RRF Conference. Plus - after languishing in her building for a week with no flights, poor Sib today....HA!

HOME From the Conference

Raptor Research Foundation Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. Home safe and sound after a 4 hour workshop Wednesday on Raptor Photography with Nick Dunlop and Rob Palmer. Now we work on our New! and Revised! Falcons of North America book. Great fun!

November Two

Flying Sib today and a little break as I head to the Raptor Research Foundation Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado next week. And what it takes to line out the food for that time I'm gone, Tom taking good care of the birds. Mice, quail, meat.

Sunday Duck Hunt with Sibley

Snowy Saturday

My favorite Aspen grove just now and bet they won't turn red this year.

CALENDARS!

The 2020 calendars are available, and thanks to Pyramid Printing for the fine work! 13-months on heavy buff paper, and nearly every photo taken right here around the Raptor Ranch. 100% of proceeds goes to our program and the old-fashioned way - checks in the mail, or I can drop some off for you. Always have some in my car!
$20 + $5 shipping     checks to Raptors of the Rockies,  P.O. Box 250, Florence, MT 59833

Favorite Aspen Grove

I have hundreds of photos of these trees taken over the years on my way back from flying Sibley the Peregrine every day. They usually turn bright red, but some years this is it - freezing weather and leaves blow off in the wind. We'll see.

Sunday's Hunt

Nice little hunt on Sunday. All you need is one duck - Mookie, Nico and Sib.

Larch Trees

By the Penguin sculpture, and Pheasant in the background. We planted these about 18 or so years ago, as little babies.

Near-by Owl Chillin'

And Today

Donate Today!

Make a pledge today to Montana Public Radio, Fall Fundraiser for our favorite radio station, essential to life!

Seeing Double?

A snapshot in the garage, Sibley on a poster, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Calendar.
By the way, our 2020 Raptors of the Rockies Calendar will be ready to order/purchase next week, news on the way.

Sunday Hunt

Opening day duck hunt for Sib and what? 95 Sandhill Cranes in the Bitterroot! No birds were harmed in the making of this day.