Tuesday

Incoming

Lucked out and in falconry, the main reason they come back when we exercise these birds is that they are hungry and will be fed, and in the case of Sibley, she knows the routine and is an imprint/loves me. I have never done this in my lifetime of falconry but simply forgot the food. Around and around she went, and happily I had a dried up pheasant wing in my vest, tucked in a pocket. So back she came when I tricked her- "Look Sib, feathers," wiggling a wingtip behind the glove. On the car and in the back of the Subaru she went, to be handsomely rewarded with a nice quail at home, whew.

Missoula Harley Davidson Club

What fun today!

Back Slough

Always an eagle somewhere, and last night right in the back yard.

CARDS!

Just folded 720 cards, made by Pyramid Printing in Missoula, available from us, Rockin Rudy's and the Good Food Store! Some new ones and 87 images total. Hey, check out the photography web https://raptorsoftherockies.net

MAM Auction

This is the one time a year you will see price tags on the wonderful variety of artwork in the Missoula Art Museum. The 47th Annual Benefit Art Auction is coming up, Saturday, February 2nd at the UC Ballroom. Top photo shows our Raptors Board Member Bev Beck Glueckert's monoprint, "Vulture with Corn Moon" and next features my etching, "Osprey." See you there, and bid 'em up!

Sonora's Perch Today

In front of a Burrowing Owl Family.

Saturday Night Swans

Tundra Swans, young birds are gray, right behind the house just before dark. NEWS ALERT: They are Trumpeter Swans, correctly identified by friends on Facebook. Even Better!

Birdwatching

Sonora the Aplomado Falcon was just watching the bird feeder in the front yard, resident rooster pheasant and nuisance Eastern Fox Squirrel that showed up, today's target. These non-resident rats were introduced in Greenough Park in Missoula so that someone would be reminded of their roots in Michigan. Something like that.

Social Media

The other posts:

Mookie Today!

My Favorite Songbird

We have an infrequent and unpredictable driveway denizen now, a Northern Shrike - the falcon of the songbirds. I have been "chumming" for House Sparrows, tossing whatever seed the pigeons don't eat in a spot outside the living room window. I had hoped to attract predators to photograph, namely Merlins and Sharp-shinned Hawks. This year a shrike showed up, migrant from the far north. And for some reason terrible, out-of-focus photos taken from inside through an open window. These guys and eat birds and mammals all winter, cool.  More pictures and news on the way, promise - this is my latest obsession!

Chick A Dee Dee

This Black-capped Chickadee in the front yard had a bent tail, probably from roosting in a nearby cavity at night, to straighten out during the day in the (brief) sun. Love these birds, feeders stocked with black oil sunflower seed.

BAEA

Score!

Imagine my pride at this catch by Sib the Peregrine, a Vagrant Shrew.  Only the second time she has done this, once with a vole and both at One Horse Creek across the road. Couldn't resist I guess. Ha!

BlaBlaBla With Simon

I am so proud of our Teaching Team Birds and Raptor Backers, finishing our 31st year and 45 programs in 2018. Heroes all, with totals of 1715 programs and 133,390 audience members since 1988 - young and old alike, and counted lots of you a dozen times, like Erick Greene and family here with this photo of Simon. Let's keep going, Raptors of the Rockies Rocks.