Spring Arrives in the Rockies
This past weekend was definitely the start of the Montana spring with sun, rain, and snow…you know, spring in the Bitterroot. The Lee Metcalf NWR was alive with Great Horned Owls hooting and Red-winged Blackbirds carrying on.
Morning spent in the blind
Managed to get out to Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge for a little birding and photography. Spending most of my time in one of two photo blinds where a number of waterfowl swam by at close range. Walking around the Wildlife Viewing Area, loads of California Quail scurried about and a broken top snag was […]
Birding – Easy Like Sunday Morning
Birding on a warm, lazy Sunday morning in April is like visiting with old friends. These friends are returning from journeys, both short and epic. The landscape of the Montana is being filled with color and sounds as the migrants return. The return coincides with a explosion of life that tracks with increases daylight and […]
Birding on Blue Mountain
The birding in the post-fire forest of Blue Mountain, near Missoula, Montana, has been phenomenal as of late. Williamson’s Sapsuckers and Western Bluebirds are definitely the stars of the show. House Wrens are making use of the previously excavated nest holes as the new tenets.
Mindful Big Year Prologue: 60 on the Christmas Bird Count
“Virginia Rail!”, Tom shouted. Rushing over, we catch a glimpse of the dark rail as it slipped through the dead blades of grass and cattails. The thin air bristled at the pig-like grunt call of this secretive species. This rail had taken us all-day to find, and it was our 60th species on our portion […]
Transitions in the birding year
The first full day of spring, which in Montana means weather straight out of the ADHD mind of the godhead. Warm sun, thunder, torrential rain, freezing rain, snow, and, finally sun again, arrives with much faith and hope for the eager birder. Just as the weather is a chaotic mixture of winter and spring, the […]
David Lindo – The Urban Birder – More Than Birds – Episode 10
David Lindo (@urbanbirder) is The Urban Birder — a writer, broadcaster, speaker and bird guide. He strives to get urbanites to realize that there is a whole world of wildlife under their noses in the world’s cities. We talk about urban birding, positivity, his local patch (Wormwood Scrubs), UK birding, and appreciation of nature. David […]
Gunnar Engblom – Kolibri Expeditions – More Than Birds – Episode 9
Gunnar Engblom is a Swedish expat who has made Peru his birding home. Gunnar has been leading birding tours in South America for more than 20 years. Also, he has a killer pisco sour recipe, and remember use only Peruvian pisco, not that Chilean stuff. Please subscribe/rate/review More Than Birds via iTunes Pisco Sour Ingredients: 3 […]
Jeffrey Gordon – American Birding Association – More Than Birds – Episode 8
Jeffrey Gordon, President of the American Birding Association, talks with me about the current state of birding and its future. Also we chat about his emergence as a birder and naturalist. NOTE: My portion of conversation is of horrible sound quality…apologies in advancement. Please subscribe/rate/review More Than Birds via iTunes
Jeremy Roberts – Conservation Media – More Than Birds – Episode 7
How does a film-maker make a difference? Help scientists and conservation organizations produce and distribute their own content without a corporate filter. That is exactly what Jeremy Roberts does for his career. Jeremy launched Conservation Media with this noble ideal. Plus, he has done research on chickadee vocalizations in relation to predators. While peer-reviewed literature […]
Another Birding Podcast? (or How Birding Can Change the World)
“We just saw 50 Sage Grouse on the lek this morning,” I blurted out as the waitress’s eyes rolled with such force that her head jerked backward. The Bearded Bird Freak Barricade landed at her table, and boy, was she duly impressed. Well, at least, she will have a new story now about the 3 […]
Mat Seidensticker – The Naturalist’s Mercantile – Episode 6
What does every community need? A store specializing in bird feeding and naturalist knowledge, of course. In Missoula, we have the Naturalist’s Mercantile, the ultimate nature geeks emporium. The store’s co-owner, Mat Seidensticker, talks with about the store, bird feeding, and his past work as an owl researcher. My favorite portion of the conversation centered […]
Forrest Rowland – The Business of Birding – Episode 4
Forrest Rowland is a guide and coordinator for Rockjumper Worldwide, a birding tour company. We discuss the positive and negative impacts of birding tourism as well as Oman and how he finding Montana birding. Forrest is entertaining and thoughtful as he relates stories of his life and career, the dream career for many of us…a […]
The Birding Balancing Act with Bill Schmoker – More Than Birds – Episode 2
The Birding Balancing Act with Bill Schmoker In this episode of the More Than Birds Podcast, I talk to Bill Schmoker, a birder, teacher, and father, about balancing birding and life, the latest birding gadgets, and a little bit about digiscoping, at which Bill excels. Check out his blog at brdpics.blogspot.com. Bill is known in […]
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