Favorite Fun

 Flying the birds even though this one lands a lot!

My Christmas Bird Count

 Across the street with Sibley and Nico the dog

My Favorite Card

Thanks to pal Barb Smith in Clinton, what a card! See the bunnies (hares?)

 

Yardbird, as in Charlie Parker!

 

Monday Morning Maizee

 In the yard in the snow.

Rough-legged Hawks Now!

 

BAEA

 

Quill Pig & Perchingbird

I didn't need a fast shutter speed for either if these yesterday!

Another Trumpeter...and Mallard

We got our first sort-of snow yesterday and took me 2 hours and 20 minutes to drive home from Mom's, 23 miles. Listened to two and a half jazz CD's - Freddy Hubbard, Joe Zawinul, and half of an Ahmad Jamal before I pulled in the driveway. Thank goodness for CD's, a little sanity on the trip.

Today's Trumpeter

 

Raptor Ranch Yesterday

 I was up on the rooftop (click-click-click) cleaning out the wood stove chimney, and had to get some snapshots. Top is the whole facility from the Simon/Aplomado building on the far left to the eagle enclosure by the river on the right, taken right over my office. Also featured are a bunch of my metal sculptures, and we planted all those trees, a dozen fitting in my car 20 years ago. The other shot is the pigeon loft with some impressive weather cruising by. The Raptor Ranch!

Sweet Bitterroot Red-tail

 

KPAX Story

Here is a link to the KPAX News web site, and a spot we had on TV with host Jill Valley Allard and the birds. Great fun.

 

Sibley's Skill

She is great at landing this season. Getting better and a few good flights yesterday, punctuated by spells of perching. I'll take it!

PGBoat

Yesterday's trip on Montana Public Radio's Pea Green Boat, host Sam and guests Kate, Joan and Simon the Owl on his best behavior. We ran out of time and will be back the Wednesday before Christmas next, to play some owl recordings I made, discuss Merlins in the winter, and jingle some (falconry) bells.

Turkey Day

 

Wednesday - Pea Green Boat!

Our first visit to Montana Public Radio Childrens' programming show Pea Green Boat since skipper Annie retired. Tomorrow we'll be there with host Sam Manno, our pal for 30 years- formally Sam the Reptile Man when we would share the stage in education programs. See you tomorrow at 4 pm on MTPR and a discussion of Turkeys and Bald Eagles, plus Merlins and guest Simon the Great Horned Owl with some nice snippets of owl recordings made here years ago. See you on the radio!

Quill-Pig

Yesterday I spotted this porcupine scooting through a plowed field on private land in Corvallis. I know you don't believe me but I was JUST thinking of porcupines, and how we never see them any more.

 

Today

 

Sib On Monday

 

KPAX Pal

Jill Valley Allard was over today for an excellent visit, filming a story for KPAX television news, broadcasting on Thanksgiving. More news on the way... News.

Annual Shower Curtain Day

The festivities have just begun, Nico sharing in the excitement. I will cut up the whole shower curtain liner and install the pieces on the raptor enclosures, ideal windbreaks for the winter. Last year I tried to do the kestrel building in below zero temperatures and high winds, and the plastic was shattering. And my tears were freezing on my cheeks, a nightmare.

Happy Veterans Day

I just spent two days addressing, stamping, taping and adding my little drawn hawk face to 210 Newsletters, and no mail today, I forgot, oh well.  A sincere thank you veterans for your service.

https://www.raptorsoftherockies.org/pdf/newsletter/newsletter60.pdf

Raptor Round-Up #60

https://www.raptorsoftherockies.org/main.asp?id=newsletter

 

Sibley's 19th Season

She and I were tired, but Nico the dog was "hunting 'em up!"

 

Great Horned on the Way Back From the Beach

 

Jillian Yesterday

 

Jillian's First Program

She was star of the assembly, then a model in a drawing class for a cool elementary school in Hamilton, Halloween October 2003.

What a Bird

 I think this is one of "our" parent birds, standing over the nest a lot lately. I never noticed how much white he/she has on her back, much more anterior to the white tail and upper-tail coverts, know what I mean?

 

Last O the Aspens

Fun-Day

Here was a fun one yesterday, for old friend Bart and his mom Bonnie, plus Jenny, Steve and Bev Glueckert with Tom in between.  A big tour just before the rains hit, and thanks Bart for my 200th Falcons book purchase from my big pallet and box in the Subaru! 

Edition Printing Time

Dashed off a few "Burrowing Owl Family" etchings yesterday afternoon, taking advantage of the warm temperatures. Maizee was helping, mostly looking out the window. I have picked a great mat board for these, selecting frames at Burnich Frame and Moulding with excellent advice from Becky and Gary. 

Aspens 2021

I drove by this little aspen grove every day for 20 years, taking birds for a fly. A terrible turn of events, and the property sold, no more access. It's so unfortunate, as it was a quick trip, exercise for the birds, dogs  and me, no harm done and my daily routine - it was often the highlight of my day. So sort of at a loss as to what to do these days, but at least can still watch the leaves turn here at my favorite aspens.

Firewood Day

 Our truckload in the yard is dwindling -  sawed, split and stacked by pals Pat Johnson, Ryan Hollensworth, John "Hoeman" and Tom. THANKS best buddies, what fun.

Brand New Dry-Point Etching

"Burrowing Owl Family" and the last one of the year, as I can only print in the studio over over the garage when the weather is warm. These water-base inks don't work when it's freezing, and I have a different plan for the winter - stay tuned. I actually inked up a few in the house when it was chilly earlier this week, using Sibley/Maizee's glass table, their perch on the floor.  It works! The composition is taken from a bunch of different owl photos and some sketches from 2018, the youngster on the left. The white on the middle of the wings are feathers worn down from going back and forth out of their "burrow" or nest.

Sharpie

A Sharp-shinned Hawk on the fence in the yard just now, cool. Two years ago we released three of these youngsters from an enclosure just twenty yards away, and perhaps this is one of them as I could practically touch him! Tom always asks why I feed the House Sparrows, and it is to feed these guys. And Cooper's Hawks and Merlins, welcome one and all.

Friends

In my little speech (by phone) for the RRF Award and I said that my first conference changed my life. The  Raptor Research Foundation held a joint meeting with the California Hawking Club in Bakersfield in 2004, and at the hotel the desk clerk asked if I would be checking in with a bird. That's Nick, me, and Rob on the Washington Coast, photo by our host Dan Varland.  The rest is history, as they say...HA!

WOW Award!

 I won the President's Award last night at the Raptor Research Foundation Conference in Boise (virtual) and WOW! I said that my introduction to the society was my first conference, paper presentation, and hooked - Bakersfield, CA 2004. There I met Rob Palmer and Nick Dunlop, photographers and book partners, plus pals Dan Varland and Jeep Pagel. Jeep also won the Presidents award, great news and what an honor.

Nigel In the Fall

 

Annie's Gift

 I presented Annie with the new etching of Owen! Sibley checks it out. A great program and like we always say, "The best one ever!"
 

More Annie's