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!
Red-tail TodayPosted: Thu, 16 Oct 2025GREAT Five Valleys Audubon program on Monday night, glad I did't cry and thanks friends. Ravalli Republic reporters with Jessica Abell over today so a big story in all the papers in the state, "Sibley's Legacy." David Sibley of field guide fame for whom she was named wrote a nice email saying, "She was a great bird and I was honored to share her name." And a Red-tail today.
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Fall Colors Heron, TodayPosted: Sun, 12 Oct 2025
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PowerpointPosted: Sat, 11 Oct 2025Sonora the Aplomado was giving me advice on my Powerpoint for Monday's Audubon meeting. Just for a second on that perch, as she has a favored spot on the book cabinet (with newspaper below.) Boy, this "slideshow" is loaded with past birds, programs, books and art. And the recent dramatic changes at the Raptor Ranch, including bird behavior - poor Mischa the Peregrine is terrified to leave her new enclosure. I'm working on Plan B and have a Plan C and D....
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My Heron GalPosted: Thu, 09 Oct 2025
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Five Valleys Audubon Program, MondayPosted: Wed, 08 Oct 2025Monday, 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 1000th 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.
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Sibley TributePosted: Tue, 07 Oct 2025
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ProjectsPosted: Sun, 05 Oct 2025 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!
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Great Blue HeronPosted: Fri, 03 Oct 2025I 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!"
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New ArtPosted: Thu, 02 Oct 2025Thanks 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.
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Mose and NicoPosted: Wed, 01 Oct 2025Daily trip to the river and I remind them: You are Labrador RETRIEVERS.
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