Here we go again, Chief Charlo 4th graders annual visit then trip to Metcalf Bird Refuge, thanks Mr. Cashman! Wish I asked if anyone wanted to mow that front lawn but knew they would decline as it's a push-mower. And $5 an hour. I've tried that before, oh well.
Miles Davis would be 100 years old today, my first jazz hero. So much so I named this owl Miles and he was a wonderful program bird for many years. When I said to a group of middle school kids that this bird is Miles and my last name is Davis, the teachers chuckled. One boy stood up and said, "I know who Miles Davis is - he was my gym teacher in 4th grade!"
Photo by the metal Penguin, and Women In the Wilderness club yesterday. Never had so many laughs!~
Finished this last night, 11 x 15” drypoint etching with gouache and acrylic paint, pastels. "Kestrel Pair." These acrylic experiments are fun - and I don't have to etch in a background in the plastic or smash in sandpaper with a mallet. Just paint.
House Sparrows building nests in our garage ceiling, and this one just chased out with a downy morsel.
Last evening I spotted both Sandhill Cranes, reunited with just the male circling around earlier that day. Then I spotted movement in the grass - two babies! And still down there an hour ago today. Wow! I wish them luck and we'll have a different dog walk for a while
Right behind the house and fearless Sandhills yesterday. They were so close I backed all the way off the telephoto and snapped away! Even then I cut off their feet on several cool shots!
Tom built this bridge for the slough (we call it) but actually Child's Creek, behind the house. Some years we luck out and the high spring water spares it, other years it floats while tethered to the bank. Then we have to pull it up with the truck and find someone to help reinstall it in a month. That is the real trick! "Hey, while you're here checking out the birds, want to do us a favor?" HA!
Finally a snapshot showing two youngsters in the nest, but from a distance. The river is WAY up and a rushing-water creek prevents me from getting closer. Once I scooted along a log over the top, but not that brave anymore. HA!
We've been visiting Chief Charlo Elementary for more than 20 years, even made a film for MCAT there once, on owls. Our favorite teacher Mr. (Kevin) Cashman invites us every year, 4th grade, and we invite them to the Raptor Ranch. Here is yesterday, and spot an Aplomado Falcon on the right? So now they knew a Spanish word, aplomado or "lead-colored." Then I told them the story of the Japanese exchange class at the university, and when they saw the Saw-whet Owl they exclaimed iiieeeee. That's how they say aawww in Japanese. Now tri-ligual 4th graders.
Tree Swallows at most every box - Tom built and we installed 18 or 20 nest boxes 25 years ago and here a banded one at the slough bridge. Maybe that leg ID was installed the MPG ranch across the river and downstream a bit. Scienceland!
I'll be guesting on KFGM radio tomorrow, Monday at noon to 1, MCAT radio. Hosts Scott and Neil and I will discuss the years and years of Raptors hosting young filmmakers workshops, even back in the Clinton days of the '90's. I will be on after some announcements at the beginning and should be a hoot. And some Cinnamon Teal in the back yard yesterday.
https://s4.radio.co/s136b8d11e/listen
Finally a photo of a baby eagle two days ago and I think I saw a smaller one yesterday. They would be three weeks old, and in 15 years of the nest, two birds fledged 5 times. three birds 5 times, and empty three years in a row starting 2018. Okay, Canada Geese in there! Very soon the leaves will block all of my views, and tricky to see.
We have had up to a dozen Wood Ducks in the front yard, along with some Mallards and Ring-necked Pheasants. Little seeds from the pigeon supply under the bird feeder.
I still haven't seen any little heads popping up, not quite three weeks old and always a surprise to count the offspring. And a big nest now! One year I was convinced they had two chicks and a nearly fully-grown third bird peered over the edge. Ooops.
Everyone complains about the weather and no one does anything about it. 80 degrees here on Tuesday, currently snowing.
By my calculations (guesswork) the chicks in the eagle nest hatched two weeks ago today. It becomes nearly impossible to see in there when the cottonwoods leaf out. As best as I could do yesterday, and I watched the male bring in a squirrel(?) first thing in the morning, through the spotting some in the living room.
Our friend Dave Plummer spotted this amphibian down by the river, maybe a Western Toad and just over an inch in size. Wow.
Three young Bald Eagles in the yard, I swear right overhead by the garage, and the two may be last year's siblings from the nest across the river. Playing.
Hamilton High seniors science class last month, a ton of tours over the years thanks to teacher extraordinaire, Vanessa Haflich. These were the best ever, and when I asked who is a zoologist, artist, dog fan...all hands went up. Some tears when they met Billie and Portia, and all the birds. We just got the greatest thank-you card today, including "the highlight of my year." Good luck, seniors!
A male Northern Harrier flew right over my head as I was watching the eagle nest, a first!
My other favorite ducks, these Hooded Mergansers in the slough and at the river, yesterday!
Brand New One, drypoint etching, acrylic background and gouache paint birds, pastels and an experiment that almost ended up on the "burn pile." 14" x 9" and our favorite front yard ducks. I love painting these listening to Terry Conrad on MTPRadio, Jazz Sessions!
I think the eagles hatched yesterday, the female taking a break across the Bitterroot, male filling in. This will be fun, year 15.
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