A birthday trip to Charlo didn’t turn out the way I expected, I was determined to come back again. Searching for Long-eared Owls is challenging, due to their nocturnal habits and their choice of habitat. But I persevered and returned to Ninepipes WMA two years later. After two failed attempts, I found one – which really goes to show how far perseverance can get you.
Tag Archives: Birds of Prey
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”
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?”
Triumph of the Fish Hawk
The wind whipped through the small, cramped tent and rustled the camo fabric. I yawned. It was about eight in the morning and I didn’t usually get outside until ten or eleven. This day however, was different. With my feet firmly planted 15 feet above the Missoula College parking lot, I gazed through my camera’sContinue reading “Triumph of the Fish Hawk”
Missoula Bird Nerds 