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.