Hot Off the Printing Press

My new print was inspired by a trip through the bird refuge with Tom, who suggested  that I stop for a little flock of Wild Turkeys in the deep snow. My painter friend Hans Peeters thought that one of the photos was "my finest work," mistaking it for an etching! So here goes, colored with gouache paint, iridescent watercolors, and finishing up with Arteza Real Brush Pens. Think I'll do an addition of 8, and picking out a frame at Burnich Frame and Moulding today.

Coupla Falcons

Every year Ansel the Gyrfalcon/Peregrine hybrid's next door neighbor Sibley lays a pile of eggs, as many as 15 in a spring. Ansel e-chups all day in courtship, and laying that many eggs is not healthy. At the suggestion of Dr. Julia Ponder at The Raptor Center in Minnesota, we moved Ansel out of sight and mostly earshot to an empty hawk building and amazingly, it's working! So far. No eggs, Ansel has calmed down, and wished I thought of this ten years ago.
And Sonora was helping me paint the new Turkey Etching just now.

Back Yard

Mom and I saw both Peregrines up at the Bonner cliffs (!) then as I arrived home, two Ospreys were hunting over the slough in the yard, cool. The river is way up and our bridge across slough will be floating soon, attached to a big metal stake. Then we have to drag it out with the pick-up, high and dry for a month or more, bummer.

Back in 2003, with Peanut and Mookie, and Tom doing the tugging.

Chickens and Tulips

Some friends from Hamilton just brought over chickens for the birds, donation for the program, and tulips for the kitchen! Brightens up the whole house, thanks.

Easter Bunny!

Today

Some new, brief friends after the program today in Missoula, wondering what was perched in that parked car watching them out the window. Our tallest friend shouted, "Peregrine Falcon! My uncle breeds those."

Rooster Fight

Two Ring-necked Pheasants had a brawl in the front yard. The one on the right is Ole Hopalong, a constant fixture near the bird feeders, recognized by his bad left leg limp, here for years!

Peregrine Surveys

Got two birds up the Blackfoot with Jay Sumner at Chamberlin Creek yesterday, within minutes. Then today he got two Peregrines in One Horse Creek, COOL!

Bitterroot Nest

The pair at the north end of Metcalf Refuge is back. Looks like the male has a lightly barred upper breast, the guy on the right.

Cold Turkey

Cold Turkey has got me on the run.

Yep!

Occupied!

These Canada Geese have been frequenting the Bald Eagle nest that we watch from the living room. And just now one is "nestled" down just above the Kate, one watching from the right side, and one eagle above that doesn't seem to care much. Oh well, another spring without baby eagles to photograph, and no shortage of geese.

They're Baaaack

Swallows flying high all week and just now a Red-naped Sapsucker pounding on the telephone pole in the driveway. "TapTapTapTap...Tap....Tap.......Tap..." slowing down, and announcing he's back!

Downtown Nigel

Our host Beau Larkin and I had a walk down Front Street on our way to the Florence Building, program for the Kiwanis Club upstairs. Oh, we had Nigel on a glove. "That's something you don't see every day," was one comment we heard.