4/26/2026 A creature of night-time prowls, the owl is more often heard than seen. Tonight, Mom, Papa, Lucy, Fred, Charla, and I sit in a loose semicircle around the nesting box, the sky darkening around us. As the light fades from the crisp air, everything forms into the shape of owls which slips into shadows.Continue reading “Western Screech Owl Update”
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Western Screech-Owl Update
April 19th, 2026 This is a follow-up segment to the post “Oh My Gosh, A Screech Owl!” from last week. Basically, I am just so excited about the owls and want to share their life and our experience with you. Each week, I will post another update, until the owls have left the nesting box.Continue reading “Western Screech-Owl Update”
Search for the Resplendent Quetzal
By Lucy I wake to the steady drip, drip, drip, of coffee splashing out of the coffee maker and into the waiting mug. It is 4:30 am and I quickly remember why on earth I would be awake so early. Today, we are getting up today to go search for the Resplendent Quetzal who isContinue reading “Search for the Resplendent Quetzal”
The Weasel of Snow
Least weasels are native to Montana but extremely rare, that is why I was so surprised when I saw one. It was a Friday afternoon at Maclay Flat. I was looking for owl pellets and Dottie was looking for the Barred owl. We were at the owl pellet tree when Mom yelled “weasel!”. True toContinue reading “The Weasel of Snow”
2024 In Photos
My favorite images taken in 2024 In this collection comprising 15 of my favorite photos taken in 2024, I will illustrate the imaginative and thrilling art that is photography. Each image and the work behind it is vividly described, leading to a collage of experiences that I had in the past year. I would alsoContinue reading “2024 In Photos”
Maclay Flat’s Owl Quartet
Missoula hosts a wide range of owl species, from the miniscule Northern Saw-whet to America’s largest, the three foot tall Great Gray. My favorite spot to go ‘owling ‘ is Maclay Flat, in which 4 species of these elusive raptors reside in the winter months. Amongst them is the Barred Owl. Their call, the popularContinue reading “Maclay Flat’s Owl Quartet”
The Caching of Gray Jays
Gray Jays: the infamous “robbers” of food from campers and picnics. In late October, I enjoyed observing them gather fat from an elk carcass and caching it. Caching is when an animal hides food for later use, like a squirrel hiding a stash of nuts and seeds. The difference between the squirrel’s way of cachingContinue reading “The Caching of Gray Jays”
The Story of a Family Who Shot an Elk
By Lucy Day One The sleeping bag was hot at 7:00 a.m. Moose Lake Copper Creek campground. I dig to the bottom of my sleeping bag to find the warmest gear, as Mom slowly wakes up. Then Mom decides to get the fire started, I go out to get the hot chocolate and the warmth.Continue reading ” The Story of a Family Who Shot an Elk”
What’s in a Name?
Part Two : The Cooper’s Hawk In the What’s in a Name series, we dive into the entangled and problematic histories of naming birds after specific people. In November, I introduced readers to the American Ornithological Society’s decision to change the names of birds that were subjected to nomenclature. We learned about the Bonaparte’s GullContinue reading “What’s in a Name?”
Hurricane Helene Impacts Fall Bird Migration in the southern Atlantic Flyway
As the southeastern U.S. recovers from the 5th Hurricane Helene in history, birds that were flying in the southerly end of the Atlantic Flyway are beginning to recover. Hurricane Helene began as a tropical storm in the Caribbean, and then gradually transformed into a Category 4 hurricane as it hit Florida. Members of the annualContinue reading “Hurricane Helene Impacts Fall Bird Migration in the southern Atlantic Flyway”
Missoula Bird Nerds 