Heron Flees in Terror

Last evening this Great Blue Heron landed in the eagle nest tree, curious about one of the adults perched nearby. Then in came the male, perturbed to find his favorite perch occupied. Bet that heron won't perch there again. And thanks for the great story on MT Public Radio today, Cherie Newman!

New Hang-Out

Every year the fledgling Bald Eagles hang out on top of the eagle building, other enclosures, fences, roof, swallow boxes, etc. Okay just four years now since they started nesting behind the house. This was moments ago, and look at the size difference - huge female and our smaller male Golden Eagles. Size is no way to judge the species of eagles, just the sexes. AND check out Montana Public Radio tomorrow at 7:45 a.m. and 6:44 p.m. for a story about the Raptor Ranch Executive Director, courtesy our pal at MTPR Cherie Newman. She's had quite the editing job as I babbled on and on...hard to believe.

You Go, Girl!

Blackfoot Peregrines

We had a full day of visiting Peregrine territories this week, Jay Sumner and his volunteers - me, Tyler Roady and his nephew from Minnesota, Vince. Our 12-year-old researcher diligently kept track of numbers, ages and sexes of the falcons. The grand total was 12 birds, and this nest at Chamberlain Creek had three downy chicks racing around the ledge at a different part of the cliff than past years. These Peregrines will keep you on your toes. This cliff is always a little later for fledging, but Jay reports that in general they are about two weeks early. And he has found 16 NEW territories, the latest at a minor cliff near the majestic Chief Mountain on the west side of Flathead Lake, cool! My total for the day was 13 Peregrines as one stooped on a duck at the river that evening. Saw it with my eyes and not my camera. Way too fast.

Big Night

Again, nothing for an hour and by the time I left in the dark, all three chicks and the adult male were in the same tree, the other one near the nest. Kestrel attacks, fishing, and more kestrel attacks...man o man. Where I was standing would normally be about the middle of the river, the water is so low.

Almost Too Close

The big boy was standing almost too close tonight for photography, 30 yards from our hangout spot on the bank, perched in a cottonwood limb over the river for 20 minutes. Then both dogs underneath before he left for a little fly downsteam. THIS far away! Absolutely not afraid of us.

Patience...

An hour of nothing then everything at once. The female flew in and was immediately attacked by that crazy female kestrel. The look of terror in the eagle's eyes, man. Then she was joined by the male and she tried to bite his tail. Off he went swooping right in front of me at a fish that I think may have washed up in the shallows. Geez, the whole Bitterroot River is shallows already. I could hear the young begging in the foliage, one appearing after dark and perhaps the same one that was standing on the garage roof Saturday night! Back today at 6:30 pm. and can hardly wait.

Fourth of July Photos

First one of the females is attacked repeatedly by an angry female kestrel, and this was over and over. She might have even made contact, crazy falcon. Then the same fledgling regards a fledgling Great Blue Heron, finely barred plumage and gray crown means it's a youngster. This GBH was a first for the beach, as they usually just keep going flying by over the river. Not this curious one, and safe from harm from this big baby. Might have to blow this one up for the living room.

Family

My latest project is trying to figure out how to work a Panasonic Lumix camera, and not as easy as I thought. I've been hauling around nearly 7 pounds of gear when out flying the birds, so thought I'd lighten the load to 1.8 lbs. I tested it with this photo of a robin nest just outside the door of the office. One of the chicks was on the ground so I put her back. I took some fireworks shots from our Florence display using the "handheld night shot" mode and looks like I need to read the directions more thoroughly...

Kestrel Attack

Non-stop action last night with kestrel attacks, fish delivery, general begging by all three chicks.

Happy 4th!

Listen Today!

A photo of the Salish Kootenai College Upward Bound kids on the deck after a big morning of raptors. A fine group of high schoolers, next they are headed west to look at some colleges then a visit to The Peregrine Fund in Boise - The Mecca.

Check out Montana Public Radio from 4:00-5:00 pm today and The Pea Green Boat with skipper Annie Garde. Bev Glueckert and I are sketching Miles the owl...on the air! It will be fun. Left of the FM dial across the west, or hit the Listen Live button on the MTPR web site.

Flying Out the Door

Even though above is wide open to the skies!

Crazy Place for a Nest

Three or four Great Horned Owl chicks were raised in this old building foundation, discovered by a friend that was changing irrigation pipe. They startled him as they flew out, and me too on Monday. Yesterday I crept up so that they wouldn't fly, it being so hot out. I didn't even see the second bird on the right at the time. This is very close to one of my kestrel nests in the book, and ironically, not far from a coyote den that "fledged" 6 young that same year!