What A Day

We started the day with a 6:40 am spot on Montana Today, NBC Television and check it out: interview with Monte Turner. Sibley was a "Rock Star,'" his words but see for yourself. Then she had a nice flight at MPG Ranch with photographer pal Keith Fialcowitz, and funny to think that two hours before she was in a television studio under the lights. I was so proud on both counts. Then, the icing on the gravy - the Bald Eagles in the Backyard shot of a lifetime, and even located their nest, with a little help and more news on the way. This is so exciting...

Monte Turner Show

Sibley will spend the night inside, bells off and both of us up at 5 am for a trip to Missoula and KECI Television. We are the guests on Montana Today with host and long-time friend Monte Turner. We both agreed, "This will be fun" and he added the :) So check it out first thing on NBC and a big plug for the new Raptors of the West Captured in Photographs book, and awards including Montana Book Award. This photo of Sib was taken on Sunday behind the house, a view of the Bitterroots and at least 5 drainages that will have wild Peregrines returning from wintering grounds very soon. Break out the spotting scope and lawn chair!

They're BACK!

Jay and I were lucky as heck to see both Peregrines at a Blackfoot eyrie today, and what a view on top of a hill across the river a quarter mile away. Time to start looking at those cliffs, and thanks Jay who spotted both of them before me, so he has won lunch at the River City Grill, and a six pack of choice canned goods. This is the female, who teamed up with her mate to harass a young Golden and Bald Eagle, escorting them from the cliff site. YES!

Montana Public Radio Program

We are so happy to be invited every two months for an hour on the radio, "Pea Green Boat" children's programming with host Annie Garde and lately, human guests too. This week Oliver and Noah joined us and read a few book captions when Degas the Long-eared Owl was on display for the listening audience. Annie said he looked like a puppet, something we have been accused of having in the studio instead of bringing live birds to a radio show! There was no mistaking Ansel, the Gyrfalcon/Peregrine hybrid, who was quite vocal the whole time. Ansel was raised in a play-pen in the living room, a word I could not think of at the time, and could only think of kennel. "Were you raised in a kennel, Noah?" He replied,"No, that would be inhumane." HA!

Shot Of The Season

Falconry season is winding down, and we anticipate another season starting soon - that of watching wild falcons returning to their cliffs across the state. Jay and I will begin surveying on March 1st, wish us luck and maybe too early. In the mean time, I got this photo of Sibley yesterday, cattails and nice light.

Go Florence Falcons!

An assembly for the hometown kids at Florence, 380 to be exact, and Sib listens intently to principal Chrissy Hulla as she explains that the students will learn something. I had a "Go Florence Falcons" poster in with Ansel the gyrfalcon, and his new roommate Alisa the Red-tail pulled it off the wall, put it in her water bath, and stood on it for hours. True story.

Another Big Award!

Raptors of the West Captured in Photographs just won the Montana Book Award! The judges called me on Saturday from Chico Hot Springs on the speaker phone when I heard the news. A quick look at my watch said it was too early to celebrate, so instead flew Sibley across the river with Jay. A reception at Big Sky is on the calendar for April, so better start shopping for a nice dress. This Barred Owl photo is one of 430 images in the book, 45 species of birds of prey, and it also won the National Outdoor Book Award. Yippee, in the words of book photographer Nick Dunlop!

Shot O the Day

Sibley missed 'em once again, out of position when a little flock of Hungarian Partridges were flushed by the dogs (Peanut the Golden Retriever, to be exact.) Here she soaked in the sun and checked out her surroundings before a nice flight in the Bitterroot Valley. When I see such a beautiful backdrop, I am reminded of a line from my favorite (Top 1o) movie, "Rancho Deluxe." Cora overlooks the white Rocky Mountain peaks by Livingstone from her trophy home and asks her husband, "Darlin', are you ever sorry we got out of the beauty parlor business? Gee, I miss Schenectady sometimes." Rent that movie today! One of the reasons I moved to Montana in a funny way.

My Hero, Bill Harley

Singer, songwriter, author, artist Bill Harley filled the University Theater for a show yesterday. The packed house was about half kids, all enthralled for two hours and nearly 900 voices singing along. Today, the luckiest students on earth were at Bonner School enjoying two assemblies plus workshops all day, thanks to an arrangement from principal Mrs. Parks. Living in Massachusetts, Bill Harley has been a Missoula favorite for more than 20 years, with heavy airplay on Montana Public Radio's children's programming and a Grammy winning recording here in 2007. He told me he has visited over 2500 schools across the U.S. and yes, he is my hero. Here he is the Skunk Chief of Police telling Charlene the Skunk in the Middle that she has to set the table. The entire school was singing, "you're not the boss of me" in the cafeteria line afterwards. My sister Betsy was cracking up next to me in the bleachers, because she used to say that all the time as a kid. Check out his web site. We Love Bill!

Letter from A Friend

The Bald Eagle book is done (!), so it was time to clean up the desk and office. I came across this classic letter from a young student at Lowell School in Missoula after an assembly last year. Translation: "I saw a Golden Eagle pooping. Nigel was shot." An observant young man, and something he will never forget, I'm sure. Along with the eagle portrait, I especially like the depiction of my reaction, artistically rendered with just a few simple lines. I doubt I was frowning, though, and instead bet I was trying to direct the attention of the entire audience to the clock or basketball hoop when I saw what Nigel was about to do. You never know what will happen, so that's kept it fun for 24 years!

Stuck!

The last few days of snow have been heaven for skiers, and it's just a matter of getting up there for some of us. We are stuck in our collective driveways around here, the powder turning to heavy mush after light rain all day. At least we have enough pet food, bird food and human food. And a great excuse to finish up the eagle book, almost there! That's the penguin sculpture under all that snow. Later I'll take a walk up to the Post Office to mail my annual permit reports. And pick up a movie.

UPDATE at 4 pm: Book is finished! And plowed out, thanks to our pal Bob Tabke, with Tyler on the tractor! Life is so good.

Current Conditions Across the Country

Well, across the west at least, and 8 inches of snow since this morning with no break in sight. Chesty the Harris's Hawk didn't seem to mind at first, then went back to her building to wait for some nice mice and part of a quail. Heated by the wood stove. Spoiled? Unbelievably, all the hype and predictions are coming true, and a great excuse to finsh the new book and veg out to some neglected Netflixes. "Missouri Breaks," anyone?

Saturday's Flight

Taking a break from writing, Sibley and the dogs had a fun half hour of exercise at the MPG Ranch. Here she is signaling me that it's time to put the camera away and get the food on the glove. I shoot a Nikon D700 and switch lenses, using a 80-400 mm zoom when traipsing about with a bird in the sky.

Go Hellgate Hawks!

Want to see what 480 kids, kindergarten, first and second graders looks like? These are the students at Hellgate Elementary School on the west side of Missoula yesterday afternoon. Principal Candy Johnson was a wonderful host, and the four birds including Max the Golden Eagle were "awesome!" Looking back in the records, our first program at Hellgate was in 1989, a generation ago and Candy was the principal. I think the school has at least doubled in student numbers, though, and all on their best behaviors for the birds. I'll print them a nice portrait of Alisa, the Hellgate Hawk, for the office.