Best Bird Observations of 2012

Best Bird Observations of 2012

December 21, 2012

Kate Stone and the bird crew present some of the best observations of the year.

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Best Bird Observations of 2012

Great blue heron.

We completed our third season of point counts, visiting more than 550 survey points once in the winter and twice in the summer.

In early June, Debbie Leick heard the unusual song of a yellow-breasted chat coming from Whaley Draw.

William Blake detected the first California quail on the property.Eric Rasmussen picked up this rare black-throated sparrow while conducting point counts on 5/17/12.

We incidentally discovered many nests while hiking in between survey points.

We continued to monitor the breeding of two Montana Species of Concern: the long-billed curlew (top) and Brewer’s sparrow (bottom).

KS KS KS We continued to maintain nest boxes for species like mountain and western bluebirds, tree swallows,

We had 10 Lewis’s woodpecker nests on the ranch this year, and several on adjacent properties.

A young Lewis’s woodpecker gets a first glimpse of the world. Photo Claudia Strijek.

To examine how birds respond to restoration treatments, we mapped their use of the shrubby draws during fall migration.

We continued to have amazing owl observations during 2012.

In April and May, we stumbled upon 6 new long-eared owl nests in shrubby draws.

Acoustic monitoring stations installed by Debbie Leick recorded our first barn owl detections in September and October.

Northern saw-whet owls used this massive ponderosa pine in Sheep Camp as a roost site throughout the winter.

Roost This year we invested in a peeper camera, which allows us to peak inside nest cavities in trees or other high places.

On 7/17/12, this Lewis’s woodpecker adult calmly brooded young and eggs while one featherless nestling squirmed around on its head (top).

Using his “eagle eyes”, Eric Rasmussen finally located two golden eagle nests in June, both just off the property.

While out doing point counts, we recorded the presence of Columbian ground squirrels.

Though not a bird, this wolverine certainly represents an observation highlight of 2012.

ER ER Spring 2012 Fall 2012 Turkey Vulture 271 23 Osprey 114 28 Bald eagle 87 114 Northern Harrier 204 203 Sharp-shinned Hawk 345 377 Cooper's Hawk 273 134 Northern Goshawk 13 20 Broad-winged Hawk 3 25 Swainson's Hawk 22 8 Red-tailed Hawk 566 766 Ferruginous Hawk 8 5 Rough-legged Hawk 167 253 Golden Eagle 122 91 American Kestrel 166 190 Merlin 14 9 Peregrine Falcon 5 8 Prairie Falcon 8 11 Unidentified Accipiters 57 27 Unidentified Buteos 106 59 Unidentified Eagle 14 1 Unidentified Falcon 4 1 Unidentified Raptor 49 22 Total 2618 2375 Spring and fall raptor totals exceeded all previous seasons.

The use of satellite transmitter technology helped us answer several questions about some of our local species.

An adult osprey takes to the air after it receives a satellite transmitter.

Golden eagles consistently visit carcass trapping sites.

Beautiful clouds.

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