image courtesy of Alex Kearney
I suspect most folks living in the Bitterroot know that the Montana state flower is the Bitterroot. Yet, many are unaware that the state bird is the western meadowlark.
This quail size bird spends most of the spring and summer months in Montana grasslands habitats.
Although a few western meadowlarks brave the winter in the Bitterroot, the majority of these ground dwelling birds migrate south to warmer temperatures.
Image courtesy of Patrick Chaplin
Standing nearly 12 inches tall, the largest North American woodpecker is a magnificent bird, one that will capture your attention when offered the opportunity to see or hear it.
The eerie sounding, unmistakable call of a pileated woodpecker in a conifer forest or cottonwood river bottom, is one that ignites a primordial spirit. Looking like a miniature pterodactyl, the Pileated was named for its beautiful red crest that covers the top of its head.
Pileated woodpeckers are predominately black with white streaks below the eye extending down the neck. In flight, the breast and tips of the wings are black with white underwings. Both male and female have similar appearances yet the female is slightly smaller. When observing the two together, the male will have a more brilliant red crest that extends all the way to the beak, whereas the female’s red crest will stop short of the beak.
Image courtesy of Mel Holloway
I can always tell when winter is approaching by the detection of various migrating bird species that show up in the Bitterroot.
One bird shows up like clockwork every November poised to reduce the rodent population in the valley.
Named for its feathered legs, the rough-legged hawk is a large hawk within a group of hawks referred to as Buteos. These hawks, which include species like the common red-tailed hawk, have broad wings and often perch on telephone poles, fence posts or wheel lines to visually detect their next meal or feed after a successful hunt.
image courtesy of Mady Braught
Teller Wildlife Refuge and the Montana Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program partnered recently to present a Women’s Waterfowl Weekend.
Ten women from Montana and as far away as North Dakota traveled to Teller Wildlife Refuge to spend the weekend learning about all things waterfowl.
Staff from Teller and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and a group of knowledgeable volunteers delivered lessons on the history of waterfowl management, Montana waterfowl hunting regulations, Duck ID, gear and decoys.
Ducks Unlimited donated mallard calls and caps and local chapter volunteers presented a lesson on basic duck calling. The Hamilton Trap Club hosted the shooting safety portion of the day and assisted with helping everyone practice shooting that mimicked an actual hunting situation.
At the end of the day, the group had a hands-on demonstration on how to process their harvest in addition to being able to sample some favorite recipes of the volunteers. The following morning, the ladies and their instructors headed out to the blinds for their first duck hunt.
image courtesy of Mike Daniels
For most of us living in the Bitterroot, spending time along the river or one of the many valley streams is a highlight of our outdoor connection.
Whether fishing from a raft, wading, or just out for a walk with the dog, those visits have undoubtedly provided an opportunity to encounter one of nature’s most accomplished avian fish predators, the belted kingfisher.
Typically, you hear a loud “rattle-chatter” call as the bird parallels the water course, finally perching on a branch overlooking a pool of clear water. Suddenly, the bird plunges downward, makes a splash on the water, and quickly ascends back to the perch with a 2-inch fish in its beak. Swallowing the prey head first, the bird ruffles its feathers to knock off a few remaining water beads before it departs, echoing the “rattle chatter” as it flies off.
image courtesy of Heather Tellock
Flying low over the field, a midsized hawk gently glides inches over the tall grass.
Suddenly, it maneuvers and begins to hover, maintaining its position with a sharp eye on the quarry below. As it descends to the ground it disappears in the grass. Magically, it reappears and flies off to perch on a wooden fence post and consume what appears to be a vole.
Grasping the rodent firmly in its talons, it uses its sharp beak to rip open the protein rich meal.
Appropriately referred to as a Marsh Hawk in the past, this raptor is now recognized as the Northern Harrier, one of the Bitterroot’s most common birds of prey. Standing about 12-inches tall with a wing span near 26 inches, this raptor is easily identified with its white rump patch, which is quite visible as the bird flies away from a human observer.
image courtesy of Mel Holloway
Perhaps you have heard of the old nursery rhyme, “Sing a Song of Sixpence,” telling a story about a blackbird pie served to a king.
While the pie wasn’t species specific, I am convinced it was one of the species that call the Bitterroot and most of North America their spring and summer home.
I also vividly remember my Great Aunt Franny speaking highly of blackbird stew, which often fed her family during the Great Depression. Today however, blackbirds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and unless they are causing severe damage to crops, they may not be taken.
So, what species of blackbird reside in the Bitterroot? There are three, and all can be observed within a short distance of one another. Two species, the yellow-headed and the red–winged can be found near cattail marsh habitats, while the Brewer's blackbird tends to frequent pastures or wet meadows. Each has its own distinct appearance, vocalizations and behaviors. Let’s take a deeper look into these three blackbirds of the Bitterroot.
As Mel Holloway and I approached the cottonwood gallery on Teller’s Bitterroot floodplain, it was not hard to see what stood out silhouetted against the evening sky. Yet, more than a visual image, the sound alone from the chorus of nesting herons would have alerted the most unsuspecting visitor.
Over 20 nests the size of garbage can lids constructed of large sticks and perched near the tops of the trees were all grouped into what is known as a heron nesting colony. Often referred to as a heronry, these colonies are revisited year after year by pairs of Great Blue Herons determined to raise a successful brood.
Mel quickly grabbed his camera and took up a spot concealed near a hawthorn tree to view the birds without disturbing their intrinsic annual urge to produce next year’s batch of Bitterroot Great Blue herons.
