RRU #38 - The Photo Issue

Raptor Round-Up Newsletters were mailed out Tuesday, and check it out in color on our web site, raptorsoftherockies.org. I call it the Photo Issue, with over 50 images, mostly our big Bald Eagle nest and favorite Ospreys on the Clark Fork. It's been a busy four months with the trusty Nikon D700, and now a new (used) 500 mm lens. Can hardly wait for next years breeding season and see what we can find!

Three's a Crowd

Three back at the nest Monday! Looks like the last photo with all four Bald Eagle young was on June 25th, and after that, one has stayed elusive. The most frustrating experience of my photographic life has been capturing all four at once. One would always duck down as the fourth stood up. Always. Or one was looking the other way. I must admit that out of irritation I might have shouted, "Hey, look over here!" which never worked. They have locomotives and a highway speeding by, so a puny human standing 100 yards away is nothing.

What? Bald Eagles Still Lingering!

Today's visit was number 40-something to our favorite nest on the Clark Fork River, and three Bald Eagle fledglings were at the nest, begging away. One was laying down and our friend Carmen Bassin pointed out that it really is the only place they can do that, good point. Return to the sticks to "pop a squat." In the mean time they might be hunting on their own, but kind of doubtful, as both parents keep returning with all they need. We did observe one youngster crash to the ground to retrieve a pinecone, which was treasured and plucked. Not off the hook yet, photographing these birds, a month and a half after they fledged and still a joy to see them all.

Osprey Young Returns

For those of you still watching the Riverside Osprey web cam, a lucky hit would be to see the family return to the nest, since the baby fledged on August 7th. I lucked out five days later when driving by the spot and saw an adult plunge to the river so pulled into the parking lot by the nest to grab this shot. This is the youngster hoping for a free meal, and the female also returned, looking up and down river, after which she split. Young Ospreys can hunt on their own after leaving the nest but must figure out that crazy light refraction of observing a fish under the water and scoring a meal. Parents will be heading back to Central or South America in the next month, with youngsters soon to follow. The babies remain in that "wintering ground" until they are old enough to breed for perhaps three years, which is atypical for any migrant, the only raptors to do this that I can think of (aside from one Hawk-eagle) and another reason to love the Ospreys!

Fifty Years Later

Jay Sumner climbed down this cliff in 1961 and collected his first Peregrine Falcon fifty years ago, before all of you kids were born, and today we re-lived the experience over breakfast. Formally called the "Tasty Freeze Eyrie," Jay and John Craighead and daughter Karen hitched a rope over a tree at the top, and Jay got his first falcon for the sport that would dominate his life. Falconry is hunting wild game with a captive bird, and in this case a baby that was flown for many years. On Saturday we met with fellow falconers at our annual state picnic in Livingston, then Jay showed me a bunch of cliffs that he had been checking nearby since a teenager. We brought our binoculars into the restaurant, and were treated to the pair of Peregrines flying across the cliff, chasing swifts while we were eating breakfast. The waitress was un-astounded, but that's fine because we both were!

Big Weekend of Birds

Carmen Bassin and I made the trek to Bannack State Park near Dillon on Saturday for a program with iPod, Alisa and Nigel, all heroes. We were told that it was the biggest crowd they had ever had for their Saturday speakers and we sold a box of books, yippee. Then Sunday we were joined by KUFM public radio aficionados Annie and Larry Garde for a day in the field. Starting at Riverside Health Care we spotted the just-fledged Osprey across the river on a cliff, mother near-by. Then off to the Bald Eagle nest and a treat with both adults and all four young, begging and begging. Three fledglings returned to the nest, and the male delivered a small fish that must have been swallowed in one gulp. Join us this Thursday on the Pea Green Boat MT Public Radio 4 to 5 pm and we'll talk about the nest, and other goings-on.

Clinton Gravel Pit Peregrines

Yesterday Jay and were treated to some hunting forays by the Peregrines at McQuarry, otherwise known as the Clinton gravel pit. Looks like they fledged at least one young, a female that joined her father in a stoop on a swallow. Then he returned to the rocks and some shade, when the adult female appeared. She caught two swallows in ten minutes, and all in the heat of the day at 3 pm. I would never think this spot would be parked in front of this eyesore with a scope, but Jay always said, "Some day..." Maybe a mayor tourist destination for ecotours, headquarters at Poor Henry's Bar? Probably not.

Clever Little Girl

Chesty the 21 year-old Harris's Hawk was smart enough to come in out of the rain during her daily flight around the Raptor Ranch today. Obviously the photographer was not so clever. Chest was hanging out in the eves of the back porch, ironic as it is a common spot for humans to take refuge when she's flying around the yard! So far four years plus, every day, an enriching cruise.

August Already?

What has happened to this summer? July has come and gone, and August arrived with a rain and wind storm. Seems like everything is about a month off. This is yesterday's photo of one of the fledgling Bald Eagles chasing a parent and begging which makes three months of photographing the family. Two youngsters were in hot pursuit over the river, across the train tracks and highway, to disappear somewhere over by Mount Jumbo. I'll bet they haven't hunted on their own yet and wait until the parents just SNAP and say, "Get a job!"

Shot 'O the Day

Another Osprey and today with pal, photographer John Salisbury, just back from a fantastic trip to the Arctic in Alaska. We had a great visit, plus got to shoot some Fish Hawks in the Bitterroot. He told tales of his northern canoe trip with tens of thousands of caribou, Gyrfalcons on the hunt, and grizzly bears perhaps way too close for comfort. John has an intriguing and colorful web site and we know you have seen his fine photos around town. http://salisburyimages.com/

Eagle Eyes

The most acute vision in the world is often credited to eagles, as in the saying "eagle eyes." Today, Carmen and I witnessed the male Bald Eagle staring at a horse fly just off the front of his beak, distracted for a second or two. Raptors have as a many as five times more visual cells (cones, versus rods which are those for night vision) packed into their retina which is where the picture is formed on the back of the eye. We know that these birds can see detail at great distances, but how are they at viewing objects close up? Obviously just fine with this look of curiosity at the bug. Many owls have a slightly different perspective and poor vision up close (Great Horned, for example). Just be glad we can see the text messages on our cell phones! Well, for those that know how to do that texting thing...

Lydia's Favorite Birds

An Osprey wins, getting attacked by an Eastern Kingbird at Lee Metcalf today. My 6 3/4 year old friend Lydia noticed this bird out hunting for fish and said, "Shoot, Kate!" Unfortunately she and her parents, Gretchen and Jeremy Puckett are leaving tomorrow, but we wish they would stay and move back here!

Peregrines in the Bitterroot

A day in the field with biologist Mac Donofrio was productive and fun, searching for fledgling Peregrines across the road at One Horse Creek. Just as we were packing up to change locations we heard the telltale whine of a begging youngster and were thrilled to find that two had flown in to perch nearby. We followed them downhill for a noisy feeding bout and three falcons headed south. Mac reports that nearly all of the dozen or so nests in the Bitterroot have fledged young, much better odds that the overall picture in Montana. The cold and wet spring more resembled winter, and many nests failed, or didn't produce young at all. Just an off year and we'll hope for better luck in 2012.

Attack Continues...

The next eagle to land on the snag was similarly attacked by the orioles, and this was the unexperienced youngest bird, still perfecting flight skills. They know how to fly but just have to perfect that tough landing part. This was enough for him to concentrate on, but while under attack from two pesky Bullock's Orioles, he finally gave up to flee in frustration, smacking the top of a cottonwood on the way. The female oriole is in fast pursuit and no kidding, a real photo with no gimmicks. The young eagle had accidentally almost swallowed a tree limb, and then transferred it to his feet and dropped it on the beach. It all happened so fast that we almost feared that what fell from the sky was one of the orioles, but no. I really think that these young birds will be at the mercy of their parents for some time to come before they hunt on their own. And orioles are not on the menu.