Photography First Friday

Join everyone in Western Montana for First Friday events this week. Seems like all that are cool will be there, downtown Missoula for me with a photography show at The Artists Shop on Higgins, just off Broadway, for "BirdFest 2012." I'll have about 20 new photos on display, and the other artists at this co-op are truly amazing, everything under the sun to stun and amaze. Fantastic artists! See you Friday the 4th, from 5 until 8 pm.

Kestrel-land

We have dodged the flood from the Bitterroot River in the back yard so far, with water dropping and the pumps in the crawl space slowing down, whew. Unfortunately, I can't access the Bald Eagle nest there, and looks like babies hatched just as predicted, on April 19th! We are watching them through the scope in the house, non-stop. In the meantime, I have a bee-in-my-bonnet about photographing kestrels in the Bitterroot, and found a great nest yesterday. We love these little falcons and this female chased a huge Red-tailed Hawk off her snag, then was joined by her mate (the one on top after a little mating activity.) Off to the Big Hole Valley tomorrow bright and early, and will listen to a David Sedaris CD for the 5 hour drive there and back. Four birds including Sibley the Peregrine will join me for a program in Wisdom for three new schools, what fun.

Squirrels As Friends...and Food

In two days of photographing the Bald Eagle nest on the Clark Fork, I see a pattern developing. Squirrels! First, the adult Eastern Fox Squirrel that raised young in the nest last year was back, the female eagle alert that some mammal was climbing about below. Then I got this shot days later of the raptor babies, fox squirrel tail in the nest, and I doubt it was sleeping, just a meal. Everyone wonders how prey could live right with it's predator species, but it happens all the time. Those eagles would have a hard time catching squirrels in the nest right next to them, but somehow they are able to grab them across the valley. These eagles are expert predators and scavengers, and lots more photos on the way.

Coyote Choir Rocks Our World

What a DAY-starting with Lewis and Clark Elementary and Amy Martin (Rock Star) with the Coyote Choir (Rock Stars) for our first tour of the year. Then Clark Fork School and finishing in the afternoon with Paxson Elementary. Woo- hooo kids and almost 1000 attendees at these schools today and they "Dig Your Feathers!"

Nest 2012

I was back at the Bald Eagle nest on the Clark Fork yesterday, and saw lots of action in an hour, but just a brief glimpse of the nestlings. The adults paid no attention to me, perhaps remembering our 200 hours plus together last year! Sue across the road has verified that they have three young, and who knows, maybe another clutch of four if we are lucky. That last baby to hatch would still be tiny. I first started photographing these guys on April 30th in 2011, so a bit early this year. And by my calculations, the nest in the back yard should have some hatching action starting tomorrow! I'm heading down there when the light gets a little better, or at Eagle Happy Hour.

Yellowstone Eagle

On the way back from the award ceremony in Big Sky, Mom and I opted for the slow route back to Missoula by Ennis, and got this photo on the way. The Bald Eagle was perched off the road near Yellowstone National Park and after a mile of driving, on and off the brakes, I decided to turn around. Still perched, we got this shot as she launched into the sky, full frame with the Nikon. This is now hanging on the wall in our home, and will be featured in the upcoming show at The Artists Shop downtown Missoula starting first week of May, along with 15 other new photos including Snowy Owls and Peregrines on the coast of Washington.

Big Sky Awards!

Mom and I put some miles on the Subaru starting Thursday, and drove to Big Sky to accept the Montana Book Award for Raptors of the West at the Huntley Lodge. What a surprise, as the award was a framed poster from a favorite movie of mine, Rancho Deluxe, signed by its author Tom McGuane. He wrote, "With admiration for all you do for our hawks," and a brilliant gift! Barbara Theroux pondered what art to give an artist and our friend Anne Iverson suggested anything Rancho Deluxe. It hangs proudly in my living room, to treasure forever, and thanks to the awards committee and Mountain Press Publishing!

Number Forty!

Catch the newsletter here first before it gets mailed out! All color and more photos than ever before. In This Issue: More awards for "Raptors of the West", a trip to the Washington coast, the Coastal Raptors program, yet another book at the publishers, the Bayern celebration, and more...click Raptor Round-Up April 2012.

One Horse Creek

I took a break from the computer yesterday and hiked up One Horse Creek in search of Peregrines. Lots of other raptors, and the dogs Peanut and Mookie had a fine time, so we'll be back later in the week. Peregrines have been seen way up the drainage in the past, Prairie Falcons lower by the creek, and we'll see... In the meantime, I just posted this new little film on YouTube: Raptors of the Rockies Programs Part1. It's a slideshow of facilities, birds, and programs with my favorite song, so check it out. Part 2 on the way: The BOOKS!

ps: Update- YES! Both falcons spotted right away on Tuesday, so occupied! Just about the quickest survey I have ever had the pleasure of conducting.

Bayern Bash a Ball!

Thanks to the raptors board and Jeurgen Knoller, owner of Bayern Brewing in Missoula, our 5th annual Raptor Backer Party was a ball. This year we had a silent auction and here, John Heffernan is holding up a gorgeous mounted California Quail, donated by board member and best taxidermist in the world, Dale Manning. Photographer and pal Keith Fialcowitz was there to capture the fun, and win the bid on the New York Cheese Cake to die for, from Deborah Richie. Other items were a trip to the Rocky Mountain Front to trap eagles with Rob Domenech, and an Osprey banding day with Erick Greene, who amused us all by recounting some odd items discovered in Osprey nests over the years. Next time, first Saturday of Spring, will be our 25th Anniversary Party! Hard to even imagine, isn't it?

Coastal Raptors of Washington

Check out a Peale's Peregrine on a "root wad"on the beach, a better term than "driftwood" according to our host Dan Varland. My new Bald Eagle book includes several new images from that trip, and all the final edits to the publishers on Monday, whew! Today was a special program at Missoula Community School for 80 attendees, and 4 birds that included iPod, Alisa, Sibley, and Graham. The children were drawing our birds as we left, one youngster with a huge sketch of the Bird Lady holding an owl, me with a big belly and lots of circles inside. He told me that those squiggles were my breakfast that I had eaten before I came! We love these kids.

Press and Print, Big Time

First, a cover story in the Ravalli Republic Sunday detailed the influences I have had over the years, from Barry Wakeman and John Craighead, to Bill Harley and Bill Ohrmann. Read "Tales of Talons," a wonderful new angle on this raptor program by Perry Backus. Then today a cover story in the Outdoor Section of the Missoulian "Raptor Snaps,"about the books, awards and "shooting" birds in general, brilliant work by Bob Chaney. I love his lesson in Latin, rapture and inertia! You guys are fantastic and I owe you each lunch and a beverage. In the meantime, been going through the Washington Coast photos and have you ever seen a Snowy Owl take a drink out a little puddle of water on some drift wood on the beach? Well, you have now.

Back From The Left Coast

A bunch of bird people celebrated March Madness of the raptor variety this weekend, guests of Dan Varland and Coastal Raptors. Photographer pals Nick Dunlop, Rob Palmer and his girlfriend Fi and I met up in Portland, rented 4-wheel drive Jeeps, and headed north to Ocean Shores and Long Beach, WA. Wind and rain were near constant companions, but we still shot thousands of images, and here is a favorite. Bad timing in a way, as it was the big Razor Clam Festival with thousands on the beach digging away, but we managed to luck out with eagles, Peregrines, and even eight Snowy Owls, who were especially cooperative. Still going through the photos, and more on the way. THANKS Dan!

Happy Birthday, Mom

Mom insisted that we check out the Bonner Peregrine eyrie on her birthday, so here are the Phillips girls and our favorite person! I'll be on a photography trip to the Washington Coast until Monday, and news soon. We also just got a giant pack of thank-you letters from elementary students at Florence for our last assembly. I told the kids that Pygmy-owls like our iPod make a sweet whistling call, an repeated toot-toot-toot that is reminiscent of the sound a truck makes while backing up. The letters from students said they learned that "the Golden Eagle can live up to 40 years," "the Peregrine Falcon can fly 200 miles per hour," and "the little owl got hit by a garbage truck." You never know what these youngsters will remember, and always a hoot.