Finding, Harvesting, and Eating the Oyster Mushroom
Every year at this time, oyster mushrooms appear from the stumps and fallen logs of cottonwoods along the Bitterroot River. This particular species (Pleurotus populinus) had inoculated a downed cottonwood. Ecology: Saprobic; growing in shelf-like clusters on dead and living wood of Populus species, primarily quaking aspen; causing a white rot; spring, summer, and fall; widely distributed in northern and montane North America, throughout the range of the host trees. Cap: 2-15 cm; convex, becoming flat or somewhat depressed; kidney-shaped to fan-shaped, or nearly circular if growing on the...
Read MoreBAIKAL TEAL near Missoula, Montana
Today while birding along the Maclay Irrigation Canal, just south of the Maclay Recreation Area near Missoula, Montana. Within the canal and keeping company with a pair of Wood Ducks was a pale-headed teal. Upon glassing the presumed teal, it seemed to be a Baikal Teal. I managed to fired off a volley of photos (see below). The Baikal Teal soon flushed with the Wood Ducks. It circled around and settled in an old, small gravel pit some 300 meters away. I pursued the bird to that location. The teal had settled in with several Mallards. More detail will be added to this posting as I complete...
Read MoreGreg Miller – The Big Year – More Than Birds – Episode 12
Straight from the pages and silver screen of the Big Year, I chat with Greg Miller. Birding from childhood, Greg was prepared to undertake the ultimate birding adventure in 1998, the ABA Big Year. A member of the 700 Club (not the Christian TV show), Greg weaves a story of birding and places it will take one. Please subscribe/rate/review More Than Birds via iTunes Podcast: Play in new window |...
Read MoreKenn Kaufman – More Than Birds – Episode 11
Birds took over Kenn Kaufman’s life when he was six. At 16 he went out hitch-hiking all over to see as many birds as he could, as described in Kingbird Highway. He has 9 books in print now, in 3 languages, including his own series of field guides. He’s in demand as a speaker, and he’s led birding tours on all 7 continents. We talk about his birding adventures, the Spanish language field guide he produced, and listing in terms of environmental awareness. Please subscribe/rate/review More Than Birds via iTunes Podcast: Play in new window |...
Read MoreTransitions in the birding year
The first full day of spring, which in Montana means weather straight out of the ADHD mind of the godhead. Warm sun, thunder, torrential rain, freezing rain, snow, and, finally sun again, arrives with much faith and hope for the eager birder. Just as the weather is a chaotic mixture of winter and spring, the local avian assemblage also exists in a state of interfusion and flux. The last lingerers of the winter migrants are holding on into the spring months. A few Common Redpolls huddle around well-stocked feeders. A lone Rough-legged Hawk hunts in a field even as competition from arriving...
Read MoreDavid Lindo – The Urban Birder – More Than Birds – Episode 10
David Lindo (@urbanbirder) is The Urban Birder — a writer, broadcaster, speaker and bird guide. He strives to get urbanites to realize that there is a whole world of wildlife under their noses in the world’s cities. We talk about urban birding, positivity, his local patch (Wormwood Scrubs), UK birding, and appreciation of nature. David describes urban birding like this; The great thing about Urban Birding is that it can be done anywhere and any time, whether you’ve got the day to spare, an hour before work or just a half hour lunch break. In most cities like London, Paris and New...
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