My favorite photo - a newly fledged Bald Eagle has a feisty American Kestrel take a ride for a second, taken at the river behind the house.
Pileated Woodpecker pair in the front yard. New photos nearly every day on our Blog page!
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Things are always hopping at the Raptors of the Rockies organization. We're taking care of the birds and maintaining their enclosures, we're conducting raptor programs at local schools and organizations across Western Montana, art is flying out of the studio, we're taking photos and shooting video, we're out in the field birding and/or doing research, and much, much more. To help you keep up with the flurry of activities happening at Raptors of the Rockies, we're blogging on a more-or-less daily basis and our most recent posts are listed below. Enjoy!
Florence KidsPosted: Wed, 17 Apr 2024Yesterday we had a fun program for the kindergarten kids here at Florence Elementary. Our favorite teacher Julia White got this snapshot of students with Portia hooting up an owl, and promising they will go outside this spring and summer. Big day for young Bodie the American Kestrel - her first program and a Superstar, plus she didn't mind Mischa the Peregrine watching from behind.
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Yesterday's Osprey NestsPosted: Tue, 16 Apr 2024Local and five or six observed Sunday. Maybe seven, let me count.
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More Hammering WoodpeckersPosted: Sun, 14 Apr 2024This week the migrating Red-naped Sapsuckers returned with their signature tapping - on the metal sculptures all over the yard. Sapsuckers drum beats start fast and slow down, signature. And resident Northern Flickers in abundance. Seems like someone is always tapping, signaling his territory. No insects inside those creatures.
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Minutes OldPosted: Fri, 12 Apr 2024Just finished this etching. I spent a week on some Sandhill Cranes on Claybord, scratchboard, cattle markers and cheep Walgreens art material and finally gave up. So cranked this drypoint out the last few days, and tried a few new experiments with the Akua ink. Sharp-shinned Hawk on our power line in the yard.
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Eagle NestPosted: Wed, 10 Apr 2024The eagle nest across the river, constructed in 2011. Watching through the scope in the house and seeing her incubate (?) I guestimated that hatching began yesterday. Today the male flew in with a Columbian ground squirrel and she split to take a little break. Hadn't seen much of him lately and thanks pals-this will be fun!
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Couple MorePosted: Wed, 10 Apr 2024
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Northern HarrierPosted: Mon, 08 Apr 2024My favorite hawk, and saw six of these today at Lee Metcalf NWR, plus three occupied Osprey nests, seven Red-tails, and a bunch of Turkey Vultures. It's happening NOW!
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First Friday!Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024
Join me and the avian artists at Gallery 709 for our "Birds Are Back" Show! From 5-9 pm tonight, 709 Ronan Street in Missoula just off S. 6th W. and Russell St., then up all month.
Kate Davis, Sally Hickman, Tom Melhuse, Alan Wikoff, and Tom Zavitz
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Disaster ArtistPosted: Thu, 04 Apr 2024You can't win them all and my latest piece just doesn't work. Sandhill Cranes first on Claybord, then scratchboard yesterday. Scored on the nine pieces before this in the last few months, and number ten is a disaster. I tried every single medium known to womankind including cheap Walgreens’s magic markers, oil pastels, gouache paint, Akua ink, and cattle markers. Even broke one Rapidograph pen tip, expensive experiment for that reason! Time to take a break and working on them all day since Tuesday. Then back at it with something that I know works…like an etching!
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Common MerganserPosted: Tue, 02 Apr 2024
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