WOW, Sib

We just had a tour/program here in the snow, and turns out that was number 1600 for Sibley the Peregrine since she started here as a downy chick, nearly 20 years ago!

Full House

Five birds in the house, mostly behaving, and I am waiting until about 5 degrees to put most of them back outside. Emergency treatment for a freezing Ella the Kestrel, and a rehab Barred Owl since last Friday,  plus two Peregrines and an Aplomado. Wow are we going through the newspaper under their perches....HA!

Twenty Below

Our yard with steam coming off the Bitterroot River. 20 below zero, 4 birds in the house, all resting comfortably, nice quail (and a few mice for one) for breakfast. They will all be in until tomorrow when it finally tops zero, up in the teens.

Run Away!

 There was a third Raven that chased the Red-tail out of a popular Poplar perch yesterday.

What a Week

Bracing for the bitter, bitter cold in the Bitterroots (and everywhere!) Right now snow and about 20 degrees and  Nico plus the Red-tail sculpture with icicles. But check out the NOAA forecast, 30 below! Birds inside for a while, for certain.

Happy Happy, Tom!

 

MAM Auction

My drypoint etching "Turkey In the Snow" was accepted for the Missoula Art Museum Auction. For some reason (!!!) I didn't have a spare minute to work on my printmaking this year, and all that about to change as I shift gears. Mom's house is emptied/sold, finances finishing up, and then ... ART time for me. News on the way.      MAM Benefit Art Auction is Saturday, Feb 4th back at the University Ballroom, FUN!

Later in 2014!

 

Helmville, 2014!

 

Sib and Mose

Sibley noticed a new participant in her flying today, as Mose the puppy joined us for the first time. A little swoop or two, and Mose had no idea. No blood was spilled in the making of the day, including the one duck in the slough.

A Great Day to Stay Home

 

F-F-F-F-Freezing!

I have this imaginary cut-off temperature of 5 degrees for Sonora the Aplomado Falcon to spend the night indoors - spare bedroom, zero for Sibley the Peregrine - just to play it safe. Sonora has two 100 watt red bulbs and a heated perch in her building and all of our birds are out of the wind with clear shower curtains stapled up up. Last night they both joined us inside with negative 6 degrees, brrrr. They have been in the house for about a half dozen nights this season...and it's not even winter yet!

Go Cameroon!

FIFA World Cup tomorrow at noon, Cameroon vs. Brazil! Go Cameroon, my host country in the Peace Corps, a photo from 1983 or '84 as I was in fisheries on the equator. 

Team USA!

 Mose crashed by the wood stove, and soccer (football) on the teli.

And THANKS so much to our pal, Raptor Backer Jake Plummer/Shawn Richman!

Terrible Loss

Sadly, Owen our Northern Saw-whet Owl has passed, just as I was mailing out newsletters. He was a Hero/Superstar/ and Favorite during his newly 11 years with us, living at another center that closed before that so age unknown. In his time as a Raptor of the Rockies, Owen thrilled and inspired thousands in 677 formal programs and tours. He often made his little vocalizations for school assemblies and Montana Public Radio, no fear of a Peregrine on a perch near-by, brave! He is so missed and the perfect friend forever.

Falcon Saturday

Sibley and Mischa

 

Today

Two young raccoons in the front yard!

 

Sib Sunday

 

Eagle Building

 With the Bitterroot River, MPG Ranch, snow galore.

Happy Veterans Day

 

Snow Birds - Kestrels and Magpie

 

Sibley's 20th Season!

 

Musicians Alert

 Mom's piano has to go in the next week and a half and Dotz Pianos will do the moving.

It's a BEAUT!   raptors@montana.com and I'll meet you over there.

Aspens November 1st

 

Raptor Round-Up #61

 https://www.raptorsoftherockies.org/pdf/newsletter/newsletter61.pdf

Sewer Dye!

We didn't know if Mom's septic was hooked to the sewer, problems with the paperwork. So we had the Missoula Water System come over for a Septic Dye Test! I imagined a big fat guy with a flashlight, my drawing. Instead some cool folks poured bright red dye in her toilet several times with flushes, and the nice guy down the street with a mirror pointed to see the color announced, "Yes. Sewer." Great idea with the mirror! Never Say Dye.

Clearing Out Mom's House

Anyone want a 1914 baby grand piano?  

How about a 6 foot china hutch.

Or some neck ties?

raptors@montana.com

MAM Auction

I broke out the gouache paint, iridescent watercolor medium, and Arteza brush pens for my submission to the Missoula Art Museum Auction this year. "Turkey in the Snow" drypoint etching. Hope it is accepted. I have not had much time to be artistic this year...for some reason(!)  but plan to finish one Osprey etching very soon. Here I am using my first painted etching as a reference, trying to remember how I did it in 2019.

Firewood Day

Saw, split, stack, repeat. Thanks to ur best buds Pat Johnson (at the splitter on the right) with John "Hoeman" Witzen and Ryan Hollingsworth with Tom loading the pick-up truck. Hard to believe we will have run a whole log-truck load of fir in the yard through the little wood stove!

Seasons Change

 Taking down the shade cloth at the eagle building. Takes an hour to install, 10 minutes to remove. And just started writing the Raptor Round-Up Newsletter #61, out in November - takes weeks to write, minutes to read! 

Clay Raptors

 What a great day at Missoula's Clay Studio, fine artist's all. There is an arrow pointing to Sib in the background center, and Simon in the sun on the right. Drum roll please...this was Sibley the Peregrine's 700th program!

Sunday at the Clay Studio, Missoula

 Sign up of you can make it!  Kelly @ (406) 543-0509

Larch Dog

Nico the poser patiently sits by my metal Pheasant sculpture in the front yard for a photo, Western Larch a-turnin'. We planted these 20 years ago and one even had a magpie nest in the top this spring. They sure add bright colors as the needles turn yellow and drop (deciduous conifers, to impress your friends.)

Opening

 Thanks to those that joined us last night at the Artists' Shop, Glenn Parks and Marlies Borchers and family here. I would have posted another reminder yesterday but our internet was out for a few days, courtesy SpeedConnect. Unbelievable. Anyway, up all month!

Artists' Shop Opening

Back to Missoula's finest, the Artists' Shop on N. Higgins downtown! Bev Beck Glueckert displays her printmaking masterpieces, Marlies Borchers her unique ceramic wallhangings, and I have 8 etchings, plus one 6 foot Peregrine sculpture. In the past I have displayed bird photos, and now drypoint prints with the opening reception this "First Friday" from 5 until 8. Up all October.

Mose! Mischa!