And a Raccoon, Daily River Walks

 

Gotta Love a Muskrat

 

Just Now!

 Okay, a few hours ago.

Here's Another Old Favorite

 

Next One

The next etching is an Osprey, probably this bird at Flathead Lake but a different pose. Love reviewing these old "shots."

New Etching

After days of experiments, and the new etching, "Pacific Peale's Peregrine" from a much-loved bird on the Washington Coast. This falcon was banded in 2007 by Dan Varland of Coastal Raptors as a first-year male. Wearing visual ID band W/Z, he was exceptionally approachable which, for years, made him a favorite falcon of the Coastal Raptors research group and photographers alike. Sadly, W/Z died at age eight after striking a powerline on the beach. (To the relief of those of us who knew him, several years after the tragedy the line was removed.).   Drypoint etching with gouache, 12" x 16"

Just One This Day

"Get Back Here, You Big Baby"

 

Happy Turkey Day!

 

MAM Auction Piece

This is my etching in the Missoula Art Museum Auction in February, Yay! And on Friday afternoon I had a Raptors program for Clark Fork School, 60 little kids. I had my etching in the car to drop off at MAM afterward. We thought to bring it inside and at the very end I held it up, asked the kids what these animals were, flipped it over and they all shouted:   “Pelicans!"    Junior Zoologists, all. So proud.

On and On!

 

Tonight

 

Rough-legged Hawk

I was chasing this hawk yesterday, got this shot. Back from the far north for the winter, they sport little feet feathered to the toes for a "rough leg." Often perching on little tiny limbs, they are identifiable at a distance. Red-tails are still here for the winter, and they tend to choose bigger limbs. Subtle field marks.

Safety

"Think I'll stand here until after dark on November 30th." Across the river!

 

Christmas Cactus

What a big bloom in the window, a gift from Lindi Vishoot in 1996 when Tom had a logging accident and hospital stay. It was great gift and look at this nice plant so many years later. Unbelievable Christmas Cactus!

Mail - Day 3

A Raptor Round-Up Newsletter takes almost a week to write, then print 300 in living color (thanks Minuteman Press!) then fold 200, stick on addresses, draw a little hawk face on each, print and add a little color card for many, then tape shut. Stamp. Easy. Day 3 and Sonora the Aplomado Falcon helping me today. How 20th Century, I am told.

Our Heron

 In a little stretch before a flight. Falconers call this a "warble" for some reason. Not a warbler here!

Mose Today!

 

Missoula Art Museum

Raptors and Art for Grown-ups on Saturday, packed 'em in the classroom, the best one yet and some real artists. Fun with Sonora the Aplomado, Simon and Little Billie the owls, and Nigel the Golden Eagle on his best behavior. Thanks Cathy Scholtens for giving me a hand and taking this photo. Birds, anatomy, drawing, painting and printmaking - Bev Beck Glueckert at the helm! Another one of these soon.

THE Eagles

 

Flying Up the Slough Today

 

Today My Favorite Bird

 

Ali Wins

My photo of Tim Cavey's beloved dog made the cover of the calendar,  crossing our little bridge!  

Warmth

The rest of the wood cut from the pile by pal Ryan, then tucked the splitter away...for now! Unfortunately a bunch of spruce hidden under the fir and larch, oh well. Works for now.

 

Today's Eagles, Clouds and Mose

 

Sibley's Last Program

 Just a week before her death Sibley the Peregrine was invited to a gathering at long-time Raptor Backer Ken Siebel's home in Stevensville. She and Wes the kestrel, Portia the Barred and Billie the Saw-whet Owls had a great visit with his guests, including Henry Kerst and his mom Stephanie, Ken's secretary. I received this card in the mail with a note from  8 year-old Henry: "I am sorry about Sibley, but glad I got to see her."💙💙💙 And glad to meet the Kerst family. Ken was staring at Sibley wide-eyed and remembering her flying at his ranch 20 years ago, one time chasing a heron in play.  R.I.P. Sib.

Firewood Today!

Thanks Ryan Hollingsworth, John Hoeman and Tom!

 

Mose and Nico

 

Our Heron Today

 

Ravalli Republic

And all the newspapers across the state. Thank Jessica Abell for the story!

Red-tail Today

GREAT Five Valleys Audubon program on Monday night, glad I did't cry and thanks friends.  Ravalli Republic reporters with Jessica Abell over today so a big story in all the papers in the state, "Sibley's Legacy." David Sibley of field guide fame for whom she was named wrote a nice email saying, "She was a great bird and I was honored to share her name." And a Red-tail today.

Fall Colors Heron, Today

 

Powerpoint

Sonora the Aplomado was giving me advice on my Powerpoint for Monday's Audubon meeting. Just for a second on that perch, as she has a favored spot on the book cabinet (with newspaper below.) Boy, this "slideshow" is loaded with past birds, programs, books and art. And the recent dramatic changes at the Raptor Ranch, including bird behavior - poor Mischa the Peregrine is terrified to leave her new enclosure. I'm working on Plan B and have a Plan C and D....

My Heron Gal

 

Five Valleys Audubon Program, Monday

Monday, Oct 13th, 7 pm, U not M,   Interdisciplinary Sciences Building

Almost Forty Years of Raptor Programs (and Other Projects)     

    Raptors of the Rockies Director Kate Davis will present a retrospective look at a life with birds and the remarkable education program that began in 1988. Through an action-packed PowerPoint, we’ll learn how she got started and has inspired adults and children by sharing her stories and captive raptors, meet the birds through the years, explore the facilities, and discuss the new ranch transformation and challenges for 2025. We’ll also discuss her other projects like photography, writing and illustrating seven books, and creating artwork from welded sculptures to etchings. The All-Bird Channel. Kate will have raptors stars along, Peregrine and Golden Eagle that were here last Raptors of the Rockies Five Valleys Audubon meeting 14 years ago, plus owl favorites. We’ll try to fit all this in an hour, folks.

    Years ago Kate remembers someone at her 1000^th education program shouting, “See you at number 2000!” That seemed inconceivable, at the time, but she is getting close. Kate acquired the proper federal and state permits back in 1988 when located at a rental property in Clinton. The Raptor Ranch in Florence is on the banks of the Bitterroot, purchased in 2001. She designed and carpenters built all new enclosures for the non-releasable and falconry birds - falcons, hawks, eagles and owls. This “Teaching Team” accompanies her all over the state for schools and the public, over 140,000 participants and 145 schools, plus PowerPoints across the country. And after the Audubon talk, as in every single program, we’ll all hoot up an owl as a finale.

 

 

    

Sibley Tribute

On the KPAX Television News  website.   https://www.kpax.com/news/western-montana-news/montana-morning-headlines-monday-october-6-2025

 

Projects

 One last grass mow, now taking down the shade cloth for the eagles, sure easier than putting it up. Then wind up the hoses, butcher 30 chickens and write a grant. I remember a woman years ago informing me, "All you do is feed your birds." HA!

Great Blue Heron

I love this bird and missed a shot of her catching a big fish because I didn't have my camera, an image that plagues me! Finally a photo after a few weeks of practically nothing. My friend Star commented, "Everything is so shaggy!"

New Art

Thanks to everyone for the Sibley the Peregrine condolences. I actually finished this drypoint etching that night after she passed, a late night, and for Sib. "Thistle Heron" Drypoint etching with gouache, pastels, pencils. 12" x 16" I hammered various round metal objects into the plastic background for the flowers. Experiment, as always.
                                        

Mose and Nico

Daily trip to the river and I remind them: You are Labrador RETRIEVERS. 

David Sibley

Sibley meets her namesake, hero David Sibley, at Pine Butte Guest Ranch where we were so lucky to have had 8 years of programs together for The Nature Conservancy. Added it up and our Peregrine Pal had 764 formal education programs, 962 tours over here, for 72,258 children and adults, not including the 4 TV shows. And thanks for all the beauteous posts friends, so miss you Sib. And a KPAX News television show on Sunday, will remind you.

Cover Girl, Sib

 

Keith Photos

My pal photographer Keith Fialcowitz accompanied us a few times, and check out the shots. That's Sib's shadow, flying right over his head.

Hunt 'Em Up

Sibley sure caught a lot of game. Not enough to keep us fed (an old joke by John Craighead) but  kept me on my toes. Mostly ducks, mallards preferred, and we have the same season a gun hunters, with a week tossed in mid- January for good measure. Here she caught a rooster Ring-necked Pheasant at Teller Wildlife Refuge, yummy. We let them pluck away, eat some neck meat, and then offer a formally frozen quail and they step off the warm kill that we keep/eat. 4000 year old sport.