Portia the Barred Owl had her first program, and Mischa the Peregrine her first off-site - Chief Charlo Elementary and favorite teacher Kevin Cashman. Both birds were stars! I was so proud and they were on their best behaviors. Her name comes from a suggestion by Board Member John Heffernan to honor the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare. Portia from the Merchant of Venice came to me on as the answer to a question on Jeopardy. Lofty stuff...
Yesterday's Florence Osprey pair, watched closely by Kathy Price, 50 yards from her house. We wish them better luck after the clutch failed last year with the high water and the male disappeared for several days when the chicks were very young. Here is is assisting in incubation, eggs laid around April 19th, and the female takes a break.
Beginning with Cincinnati, and three programs at the zoo including the Biggie on Wednesday evening. The best one ever. Then the International Wildlife Film Festival on Sunday afternoon- thanks Wes, Sib and Jillian on their best behaviors. Yesterday was a trip to Seeley Lake with Pyramid Mountain Lumber's annual get-together "Contract Logger / Landowner / Log Seller Meeting," fun group and think I kind of took them by storm. Then Thursday, Chief Charlo Elementary and our favorite teacher Kevin Cashman. When it rains it pours.
A whirlwind three days back at the old stomping' grounds, the Cincinnati Zoo! I was the guest speaker for the Barrows Conservation Lecture Series (and several other presentations as well) and too quick. I did have a few hours on my own to explore the zoo, and my first stop was to get a map. Then tours by the experts, and I think my favorite animals were the Keas (parrots from New Zealand) and sloth. And giraffes and Colobus Monkeys...oh all of them. Best was seeing all of my old pals from FIFTY years ago. We all look the same, HA!
Thanks Director Thane Maynard and excellent staff for the trip of a lifetime.
The Cincinnati Zoo that is. My program Wednesday called "Fifty Years as a Junior Zoologist 1973-2023" and mentors and heroes. Especially Barry Wakeman, education director back then. Much love to Barry and our pals at the zoo, 50 years with OTHER Junior Zoologists!
Two nests going now in the pigeon loft, and these guys are minutes old! Cute, huh? Just kidding.
Top is the 1st Raptor Ranch, a rental on the Clark Fork River in Clinton east of Missoula. The bird buildings were roughly remodeled stalls and barns, a hundred year old ranch. We lived there for 13 years, then moved to Florence in 2001, banks of the Bitterroot River. There we built real bird enclosures thanks to a grant and great deals from Boyce Lumber, Grizzly Fence, Cenex and trees and shrubs from Bitterroot Restoration and all over the place. This is a slide in my PowerPoint for the Cincinnati Zoo on Wednesday.
A fun tour and visit with the Garden Club, and they had a heart chuckle at my "garden." A work in progress, and sort of gave up last year. Flowers in 2023, the plan anyway.
Just now and "our" neighborhood Osprey pair. Last year the nest failed when the male (left side) disappeared for several days after the chicks hatched, very high water. Fingers crossed for this spring -Kathy Price, Osprey devotee/observer/fanatic!
The last two days we have heard a metallic rattle and I knew it was a woodpecker on the eaves or roof or somewhere. It's a Flicker hammering away on my pheasant sculpture in the front yard, proudly announcing his territory. Yes, It's snowing out....enough already.
Posts
All Comments
