The Deep Snows of Lolo Pass
Silence, absolute silence. Not even the croak of a raven breaks the stillness of this white landscape. Deep, light snow covers everything up here near 6,000 feet. Snow ghosts surround me with their bowed tops. As I step forward only the muffled “woomph” of the snowshoe results in any sound. It is so quiet that […]
More Than Birds Podcast – Episode 1
In this episode of the More Than Birds Podcast, I talk to Konchog Norbu, an American Buddhist monk, birder, and friend, about Buddhism, spirituality, and mindfulness as it relates to birding. We discuss gateway birds, listing obsession, and birding travels. Please subscribe to this podcast at iTunes
The Avian Collection of the Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum
Recently, I had the immense pleasure of perusing the drawers of the avian collection at the Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum located on the campus of the University of Montana. In each of drawers, there were lined with preserved skins of many birds, including representation of almost the entire Montana native bird community. The specimens date from […]
Northern dilemma..seems that winter as arrived
Heavy, snow-ladened clouds pressed down on the invisible Bitterroot Range. The light was dampened to levels similar to twilight. As I entered the Lee Metcalf National Refuge near Stevensville, the first bird I spotted was my first Rough-legged Hawk perched atop an utility pole (the usual spot). It was a typical plumaged individual with a […]
Review: Birds of Central Asia
The Stans (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan)…those mysterious enclaves in the heart of the Asian continent have been somewhat of a natural history mystery for ages. Communism, radical jihad, conflicts, and just plain tribal shenanigans have all conspired to hindered the unfettered access of those wishing to chronicle the region’s unique wildlife and […]
Northern Saw-whet Owl banding with ORI and Five Valleys Audubon
Every autumn, a massive migration goes largely unseen. It follows the river corridors and through the adjacent riparian habitats. Hundreds of birds pass by my home during the ever darkening nights. Waves of Northern Saw-whet Owls head southward as the lean times of winter near. One of the rivers that they utilize is the Bitterroot River that […]
Thoughts on the Bridger Raptor Festival
It has been a week plus since I give a couple of presentation at the Bridger Raptor Festival, which is held appropriately at the Bridger Bowl ski area outside of Bozeman, MT. The festival was widely attended with setting a record for the Saturday activities. I know that I had the best audiences that have […]
Sand mandala creation at the Montana State Capitol
This past Friday, we were traveling through Helena, and as luck would have it, the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation (TCEF) was sponsoring the creation of a sand mandala in the rotunda of the Montana Capitol Building. TCEF dedicates itself to the preservation of the Tibetan culture through education and assistance, raising awareness of the culture, and […]
Smokey morning at the National Bison Range
On Saturday, we went to the National Bison Range early in the morning. The object of the quest was the bugling elk in full rut, but alas, this scene alluded us. We were able to able see plenty of the other ungulates though. Large antlered deer of both species and Pronghorn all posed nicely for […]
Odes of Late Summer – Dragonflies of Lee Metcalf NWR
On Monday, Tom Forwood and I spent a couple of throughly enjoyable hours at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge and Bass Creek. The first we found was a racer near my home along the Bitterrooot River (what a treat to have a racer stay still and pose). We had originally arrived thinking of birding, […]
The Culmination of all our blessings and practice
The July Consecration Retreat has come to an end, and, boy, it we send it off with a bang. We sang, danced, told stories, and enjoyed each other’s company until the wee hours.
Flames of the Fire Puja
After lunch on Saturday we, engaged in a Fire Puja, in which we placed the names/images of those who have passed away with intention of aiding the in the purification of any negative karma.
Miraculous skies in the Big Sky
Thunderstorms Angry, dark, clouds, they fill the sky, The roar of their voices so low and loud, The rain they drop, so heavy at times, Tears are flowing, from the heavens so high, Why do I love them, I do not know, So dark, so dreary, yet mystifying at least, I watch in amazement at […]
Arlee Fourth of July Rodeo
Yesterday afternoon, after spending too little time at the Garden of 1000 Buddhas, we take in the Arlee Fourth of July Rodeo with family. The rodeo is in its 30th year, and the bleachers show every year being faded gray and the planks slightly rotten in places. Most of the cowboys were local, which made […]
Vancouver Island Trip – Day 4
Today started with an amazing sunrise. As we headed out about 10 miles to sea for some halibut fishing, the sun played with the waves and the mountains. As we neared to area for our fishing, the seabirds to abound. Rhinoceros and Cassin’s Auklet leapt into flight from the swells. Pelagic Cormorants and Glaucous-winged Gulls […]