Tonight

New One

 Brand new and "Northern Goshawk." Just finished this one today, from some photos of my visit to the Big Hole with Jack Kirkley who installed me in a blind at the nest. It’s when the female knew something was up and gave me that look. HA ! A drypoint etching with acrylic and gouache paint, plus pastels. 10" x 13”.

Happy Birthday Mose

Four years old today!

 

Nigel at the Library

What fun at the Missoula Public Library yesterday and turns out our "host" Xavier saw us at a program at Florence school when in 1st grade. Teacher Byron Weber had the kids vote on one bird to adopt. Peregrine? All hands went up. Great Horned Owl? All hands as well. Byron turned to me and said, "We will learn democracy tomorrow." HA! Fun at then schools and libraries all over the place. Nigel the Golden Eagle here.

Missoula Public Library

Join us tomorrow (Saturday) for a Raptor program at the "new" Missoula Public Library downtown at 1 pm. Free and school-aged kids please, up on the 4th floor in the big Cooper Room. A PowerPoint and Teaching Team Birds, Little Billie the Northern Saw-whet Owl, Sonora the Aplomado Falcon, Jillian the Great Horned Owl and TED Talk star, and one BIG surprise!

MCAT Returns, Again

Missoula Community Access Television's Young Filmmakers' Camp, every year! Yesterday we had a great one and actually started doing these with the International Wildlife Film Festival and Ron Scholl back in Clinton in 1989, if you can believe it. Five films featuring our resident raptors, then a trip to the river. Thanks Scott and Neil and young film enthusiasts. MCAT!

Eagles Friends?

 Man O Man, the female fledgling Bald Eagle wanted some food from our eagles today, Nigel the Golden Eagle did not care bit, a few feet apart. And still there, this shot.

Owen the Owl

Here's a fun one of Owen the Northern Saw-whet Owl "caching" (actually hiding and storing) his half-eaten mice in his building in 2012, maybe to finish eating later. Doubt it. Cracks me up.

The Resident Almighty!

 I would never have spotted "our" heron if I hadn't seen her land by our little slough bridge today. Blending in. And probably a male...oh well.

Cleaning Day

I brought Mischa the Peregrine inside, protesting galore on the trip but okay on her perch, mostly. This bums me out beyond description, as she was the sweetest bird I have ever met until we had to move her away from the new warehouse by her enclosure. Then cleaned her building and the dogs may have found some quail treats in the old pine needles.

GBH

The beautiful, melodic song of the Great Blue Heron, Beth. SQUAWKKKK! 

Sonora

Sonora our Aplomado Falcon Pal comes inside most days of the week, spends cold winter nights on a perch in the spare bedroom, and here is a shot taken from outside the front window. She has a bunch of programs in the next few weeks, taking over for the late Sibley the Peregrine. Too bad Mischa the Peregrine, her cousin, refuses any form of travel, like leaving her building. A shame and not getting any better.

 

Wow!

What an image, and a new friend set me this: "Owl taken near Darby, Montana. Once in a lifetime." She approached this Great Horned Owl in the dark and snapped this shot with her smart phone, one eye lighting up with the flash!

Kids- Great Blue Herons

Another fledgling pair last week, this time Great Blue Herons and snapshots from a shoulder-high thistle patch, eaten alive my mosquitoes, but got 'em.

 

Our Boy

Poser!

 

Two More

 

Fish Today

 The male brought a fish in but I missed it by 20 seconds, oh well. 

A little sibling rivalry and the nearby one wanted that!

Wabbit At the Woodpile!

Totally safe and loved (and dogs wonder where she goes.) In the woodpile! 

Fledglings

Five times since the nest was built in 2011, the backyard Bald Eagles have fledged three youngsters, eggs started on March 5th. The lovely perch has since washed away. July 14th, 2017.

Red-tail

We survived the neighborhood artillery fire last evening. Sonora spent the night inside and Sonny the Bald Eagle was totally freaked. I was afraid he would have a heart attack, his roommate Nigel the Golden Eagle was unperturbed. Safe for another year and a newly fledged Red-tailed Hawk flew by, immaculate plumage.

Have A Good One!

 

Fledgling

Right out of the camera, full frame, yesterday afternoon. He was standing right where I have been sitting lately! 

Run Away!

Bald Eagle Fledgling

 

Spotted Sandpiper

 Dozens of these birds flying at the beach for weeks, so COOL!

Brand New

A drypoint etching of my favorite birds this spring, Sandhill Cranes and on the big printing press at 12" x 16", acrylic and gouache paint, pastels and pencils. Just printed a few more listening to Cannonball Adderley on the old CD player, what fun!

On Your Mark....

...Get Set...FLEDGE! Seems like twice as many tree swallows flying around the yard on Thursday and lots of those were newly-fledged, chasing their parents. Here is the youngster in brown, mother, and dad on the fence in the light and soon to be heavy rain.

                                

Black Bear Today

Wow, this bear just started swimming our way when pal Dave Plummer and I were looking at the eagle nest, then he swam right by! Black Bear yearling and some shedding of hair. Thanks dogs for not freaking out!

Taxidermy Days

I was just reminded of my former job as a taxidermist, and this rooster that I mounted for Hugh at Spencer's Hackles in Plains. Hackles are chicken feathers (necks and saddles) highly prized by fly fishermen and fly tiers, died different colors. So we pretended that the chickens themselves were bright blue, green, yellow, red and pink! Bet we fooled someone out there.

Goslings

 

Roof Weekend

Dave Plummer built all the bird enclosures here 25 years ago with Mike Hupe, and he just spent two days on top of our new Falconhouse with a product designed to cut the summertime heat inside. His idea and temperature gauges were installed. On Saturday he scrubbed and one coat with a roller, Sunday a thick brush coat and fingers crossed. I had to bring Sibley inside every day last summer despite insulation, shade cloth and a fan. No shade and 102 degrees. This white reflective product should do the trick, we hope. Look at how white Dave looks up there as he finishes up!

Heron Time

 

Kids And Sculptures!

 

Bird Sculptures Today!

 

MAM Camp

That time of year, Missoula Art Museum Raptors And Art Camp, our 23rd year in a row. Bev Beck Glueckert and I started this in 2003, had a few more camps for the Montana Natural History Center before that. Day 1: Falcons, Day 2: Owls. Now paper mache birds and photos tomorrow, can hardly wait

Heron Today

 

Red-tail In the Wilderness

Top of an irrigation set-up, actually. 

Heron Pal

Beth the Great Blue Heron here for years and back on a favorite perch today. So recognizable with the missing back toe and split in her upper beak, surviver and Friend!

Backyard Rainbow

Chicks

 Both young Bald Eagles and seems like they always fledge on the 4th of July or thereabouts.

Hooded Mergansers

 In the slough (creek) by the house and I love that reflection.