Dec
19
2011
I needed some nature time today, so I went quickly down to the Lee Metcalf NWR for a little birding walk. I went along one of the trails that loops from the parking lot to the Bitterroot River. Once among the big ponderosa pines, Red-breasted, White-breasted, and Pygmy Natchatches along with 4 species of woodpecker …
Dec
15
2011
Finally, i got away from the business of everyday life and got a chance to going old with an old friend. That old friend is the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville, MT. It was incredible to be back at Lee Metcalf. Along the river, I enjoyed several Bald Eagles, and at the open …
Nov
17
2011
Yesterday, I needed a little nature time and swung out to Central Park Pond, between Belgrade and Manhattan, MT. The ice-free portion of the pond was filled with 100s of Canada Geese, ~1000 Mallards, gadwalls, American Wigeons, 50 or so Tundra Swans, 2 Trumpeter Swans, but real highlight was a lone Snow Goose on the …
Oct
31
2011
Today, Andrew Guttenberg and I made the trip from Bozeman to Silver Lake (near Georgetown Lake) for some scoters, which we did see a number of Surf Scoters and a couple of White-winged Scoters. Several Red-breasted Mergansers were also actively feeding on the lake. As we left the Silver Lake area, we spotted a small shorebird in a small …
Sep
16
2011
Let creatures all, all things that live, All beings of whatever kind, See nothing that will bode them ill! May no evil come to them! – Cullavagga A brilliant green feather dangles beneath the out-stretched, bryophyte-clad branch of a wild avocado tree, and my heart pounds in my ears. Sound becomes meaningless; the sweat stinging …
May
23
2011
For the second summer in a row, we here in the Gallatin Valley have been treated to a visit from a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. A highly vocal male, he successfully bred with a Black-headed Grosbeak female last year. On Saturday morning, I was treated to great views of this vagrant songster and comparative Black-headed Grosbeak males. …
Mar
21
2011
Every spring a horde of Gray-crowned Rosy-finches descends on the foothills of the Bridger Mountains. Thousands of the beautiful finches crowd around any food source, and this is often a feeder. I was lucky enough to hear of such a feeder, and when I arrived on Friday morning, several thousands Gray-crowned Rosy-finches were draping off …
Mar
06
2011
John Parks led his annual Raptor-viewing trip to the Springhill area north of Bozeman for Sacajawea Audubon. We had ever increasing clouds throughout the day, and the birds didn’t seem to be all that active. As for raptors, we ended up with 27 Bald Eagles, 1 Golden Eagle, and handfuls of Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks. …
Jan
19
2011
Terror Birds, a title meant to strike fear in the hearts of those who hear it. In most cases of grandiose names, the true nature of the creature is somewhat less pronounced than its name. However, in this instance, the name Terror Birds is absolutely descriptive of these giant, fearsome terrestrial predators of the order …
Jan
17
2011
Together since 2007, their courtship proceeded slowly on Eastern Island in the Midway Atoll. During that year, they were seldom seen in each other’s company. The subsequent year, the pair spent more and more time courting. By 2009, the relationship had progressed to the point of building a nest, but alas, no egg was to …
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