Author Archives: Dottie Moon

Birds are returning to Montana! I am super excited that all the warblers will be here soon! The goldfinches and wood ducks have grown their new colorful feathers and the hummingbirds will be zooming around the place. The owl babies will hatch! Some birds have already reached their breeding grounds and we have seen thoseContinue reading “Birds Are Returning!”

For my birthday this year we went to a special place! Freezeout Lake is a Wildlife Management Area located in Choteau, Montana. Each year it serves as a stop over for thousands of swans and geese in their seasonal migration. Many years we have tried to come here but covid has recently stopped us. ThisContinue reading “Fun at Freezeout Lake”

HISTORY Waxwings are named for the red tips on their feathers that reminded people of wax used to seal letters. With only 3 species, waxwings are widespread throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. They are the Bohemian, Japanese, and the Cedar Waxwing. Waxwings are in their very own bombycilla genus. ID (Bohemian and Cedar Waxwing)Continue reading “Waxwings, Waxwings Everywhere”

John James Audubon Center Located in Audubon, PA, the John James Audubon Center was our first birding location. Because of that, we saw three new species there, the Northern Cardinal, the White-throated Sparrow, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker. The center was a wonderful (and muddy) hike through a field and by the river. Grandmom’s House AtContinue reading “Birding Pennyslvania”

Around a week ago on February 16, we went to Council Grove State Park. It is a long drive there, so when we got out I was ready for a walk. I knew exactly where the trail was, so I ran right to it. We hadn’t hiked long before Papa said “Pileated Woodpecker“. There wasContinue reading “Two Owls at Council Grove SP”

I have been trying to hand feed birds for a long time, and a few weeks ago I succeeded. I started 4 or 5 years ago in Alaska with Appa and Uncle John! Appa has platform feeders that attract Pine grosbeaks and chickadees. I didn’t have any luck so Uncle John said let them getContinue reading “Hungry Birds In My Hand”

Last month, Lucy and I had an art show at the Zootown Art Community Center (ZACC)! It was up all December in the youth gallery. Obviously they were drawings of birds! They were put up on December 3rd, 2021.There were 25 pieces of art. I am very happy that we made that many pieces ofContinue reading “Our Art Show in Review”

A few weeks ago l got a new camera lens!! I used to have a 18-55 mm lens but now I have a 55-250mm lens! I am super excited to have a new lens because now I can take close up pictures of birds. With the other lens, the birds were always too far away.Continue reading “Photographing Bald Eagles”

Northern Pygmy-Owl  On November 26 we went to the cabin. The week before we had heard a Pygmy Owl! Mama and Papa were in the sauna and I was swinging Lucy in the hammock when I saw the owl! It was perched on a near perfectly horizontal branch. I slowly tried to get closer, butContinue reading “Top 8 Highlights of the Year”

                     The history of the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) The CBC started in 1900 and used to be a Christmas hunting competition. Frank M. Chapman was an American ornithologist and began to notice the declining bird populations from the hunting competitions. In 1900 Chapman had the idea of the Christmas bird count. That year 27Continue reading “The Christmas Bird Count”