My Heron Gal

 

Five Valleys Audubon Program, Monday

Monday, Oct 13th, 7 pm, U not M,   Interdisciplinary Sciences Building

Almost Forty Years of Raptor Programs (and Other Projects)     

    Raptors of the Rockies Director Kate Davis will present a retrospective look at a life with birds and the remarkable education program that began in 1988. Through an action-packed PowerPoint, we’ll learn how she got started and has inspired adults and children by sharing her stories and captive raptors, meet the birds through the years, explore the facilities, and discuss the new ranch transformation and challenges for 2025. We’ll also discuss her other projects like photography, writing and illustrating seven books, and creating artwork from welded sculptures to etchings. The All-Bird Channel. Kate will have raptors stars along, Peregrine and Golden Eagle that were here last Raptors of the Rockies Five Valleys Audubon meeting 14 years ago, plus owl favorites. We’ll try to fit all this in an hour, folks.

    Years ago Kate remembers someone at her 1000^th education program shouting, “See you at number 2000!” That seemed inconceivable, at the time, but she is getting close. Kate acquired the proper federal and state permits back in 1988 when located at a rental property in Clinton. The Raptor Ranch in Florence is on the banks of the Bitterroot, purchased in 2001. She designed and carpenters built all new enclosures for the non-releasable and falconry birds - falcons, hawks, eagles and owls. This “Teaching Team” accompanies her all over the state for schools and the public, over 140,000 participants and 145 schools, plus PowerPoints across the country. And after the Audubon talk, as in every single program, we’ll all hoot up an owl as a finale.

 

 

    

Sibley Tribute

On the KPAX Television News  website.   https://www.kpax.com/news/western-montana-news/montana-morning-headlines-monday-october-6-2025

 

Projects

 One last grass mow, now taking down the shade cloth for the eagles, sure easier than putting it up. Then wind up the hoses, butcher 30 chickens and write a grant. I remember a woman years ago informing me, "All you do is feed your birds." HA!

Great Blue Heron

I love this bird and missed a shot of her catching a big fish because I didn't have my camera, an image that plagues me! Finally a photo after a few weeks of practically nothing. My friend Star commented, "Everything is so shaggy!"

New Art

Thanks to everyone for the Sibley the Peregrine condolences. I actually finished this drypoint etching that night after she passed, a late night, and for Sib. "Thistle Heron" Drypoint etching with gouache, pastels, pencils. 12" x 16" I hammered various round metal objects into the plastic background for the flowers. Experiment, as always.
                                        

Mose and Nico

Daily trip to the river and I remind them: You are Labrador RETRIEVERS. 

David Sibley

Sibley meets her namesake, hero David Sibley, at Pine Butte Guest Ranch where we were so lucky to have had 8 years of programs together for The Nature Conservancy. Added it up and our Peregrine Pal had 764 formal education programs, 962 tours over here, for 72,258 children and adults, not including the 4 TV shows. And thanks for all the beauteous posts friends, so miss you Sib. And a KPAX News television show on Sunday, will remind you.

Cover Girl, Sib

 

Keith Photos

My pal photographer Keith Fialcowitz accompanied us a few times, and check out the shots. That's Sib's shadow, flying right over his head.

Hunt 'Em Up

Sibley sure caught a lot of game. Not enough to keep us fed (an old joke by John Craighead) but  kept me on my toes. Mostly ducks, mallards preferred, and we have the same season a gun hunters, with a week tossed in mid- January for good measure. Here she caught a rooster Ring-necked Pheasant at Teller Wildlife Refuge, yummy. We let them pluck away, eat some neck meat, and then offer a formally frozen quail and they step off the warm kill that we keep/eat. 4000 year old sport.

Yard With Dogs

Mourning Sibley's passing and our yard the morning after.

 

Sib Favorite

 

The Day After

Major reflections today on Sib.  Every morning since we got the Falconhouse I would walk over there first thing and see if she was still with us. Half the time barefoot on the gravel in the driveway. Then I’d make the coffee. This is a major blow over here. But all night I recounted her hunts and programs, and figured she flew about 2500 times (most days, 7 months a year, 20 years.)  Only spent one night out. Now THAT was a night I didn’t sleep. Got her back at Metcalf after I followed the beep signal all the way to Stevensville and it was a kennel full of mountain lion hunting dogs with transmitters on their collars, same frequency. The owner turned them all off and silence. Then found her standing on a fence at the refuge…whew.