Nature. Observation. Discovery. Community.

The Adel Mountains: Volcanic Pile

2012-01-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

With over forty individually-named but unofficially delineated mountain ranges, Montana (from the Spanish word for mountain, montaña) is aptly named. The Rocky Mountain front cleaves down the northwestern portion of Montana, paralleling the Bitterroot, Flathead, Swan, Salish, and Mission Mountain ranges, while in the southwestern part of the state, the ranges are less of linear striations than variegated and somewhat disjointed bands of ridges jutting up like islands in the prairie.

http://images.summitpost.org/original/444328.jpg

Everyone in Montana, it would seem, recognizes the impressive Crazy Mountains; recreationalists love them for their plentiful alpine lakes, good fishing, and beautiful camping opportunities, and ranchers love them for the sweet grass they tower over. But nearby, a less known mountain range sits sentinel over a volcanic pile to the northwest.

2012 © Sara J. Call

If you have ever driven on I-15 from Great Falls to Helena (or vice versa), you may remember that you pass a sign identifying the Big Belt Mountains along the highway just past Cascade. The peaks rise impressively above, and if you continue on the highway , you will drop into a section of the Missouri River canyon to the northwest of the larger peaks. The interstate crosses the river, where log cabins have been built alongside the slow moving river. You may see a historic landmark sign that tells the story of the St. Peter’s Mission, made especially famous by Mary Fields, an emancipated slave who came to live with her former owner’s daughter, a nun that had helped establish the Mission. Mary’s strength and size came in handy in the repair of the mission’s dilapidated buildings, and she became the construction foreman; but when one of the workman who resented her struck her and reached for his pistol, she fired her six-shooter at him and was asked to leave the Mission. In 1895 when she was 60 years old, she was hired as a U.S. mail coach driver in Cascade and became known as the legendary Stagecoach Mary.

http://www.blackcowboys.com/maryfields.htm

Continuing past St. Peter’s Mission, the interstate meanders through dark columnar igneous rock. While this range is adjacent to the Big Belt Mountain range, it is a separate range referred to as the Adel Mountains Volcanic Field.
Both the Little and the Big Belt mountains are not necessarily impressive in the same ways as other more popular mountain ranges in Montana; they are tall, and therefore a large portion of the peaks are above timberline, but they are also not heavily forested in general and are notably more rounded. There is not exceptionally good fishing or camping available, and only one part of the mountain range, the Gates of the Mountains, is designated wilderness. The area is forest service land, and popular for off-roading and horse-packing. The adjoining Adel Mountains (eroded to be no longer a recognizable volcanic cone) provide even less recreational opportunity, being a 40 mile long by 20 mile wide swath of almost vertical volcanic rock; but they possess a fascinating and uncommon geologic history.

Rod Benson © http://formontana.net/hardy.html

http://formontana.net/hardy.html

More than a billion years ago, two continental plates collided and formed what we call the Great Falls Tectonic Zone, a crustal weakness that lead to the volcanic creation of a series of mountains and buttes in the area and, most recently (around 75 million years ago), allowed magma to well up and create the Adel Mountains over top the surrounding sedimentary rock.

The Adel Mountain Volcanic Field is made of a rare type of intrusive igneous rock known as shonkinite, which is found only in Montana, British Columbia, Ontario, and the Indonesian island of Timor. It’s similar to basalt but more brittle, and principally contains augite and a type of feldspar.

From the interstate, you can see multiple dikes that radiate from the center of the formation zone; from within the canyon, the dikes are dark, vertical ridges (hint: look left at milepost 247 and right at milepost 250). These dikes often were the path magma followed to form laccoliths, which are intrusions of magma between layers of sedimentary rock that forced upper strata of rock upwards to form domes or buttes. Shaw Butte, Cascade Butte, and Square Butte were all formed in this way, and Square Butte has eroded enough to expose the actual laccolith volcanic formation within.

But you don’t need to be a historian or geologist to appreciate the Adel Mountains Volcanic Field. When I last drove through the area, the fresh layers of snow draped over the dark rock and sparkled like fish scales, and the wind picked up streams of shimmering snow and poured it over the edges of the cliffs like waterfalls. The snow crystals whirled around in the canyon and crashed against the raised road bed in the sunlight like a cold, white ocean wave, then snaked across the lanes of highway until dissipating like mist. It’s a magical area.

References:
http://www.bigskyfishing.com/Mountain-Fishing/belt_mountains.htm

http://www.cascademontana.com/mary.htm

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:8XO1-TvJs0QJ:mathscience.mt.gov/files/RoadSignPDF/Adel.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESh0lDMOJy2JJefzas4lHUc_H6eBTfZ-uxytmS7DKGQz3vl5QAAaB2u55h7R1xw2yx5uhUgLNMoSFR9hyD30XKALNUZLnKLEKzLTuigKlFTVh5d_tmO7fnp_0zY-4lukg1HmvlAc&sig=AHIEtbRRSLpC-pYQzaH3-To3SIbwOjZBIA

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adel_Mountains_Volcanic_Field

http://visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=15520

Shonkinite

http://www.troutfishinglodgingmontana.com/gpage8.html

Blue Mountain Recreation Area

2011-11-18T11:33:00.002-07:00

Last week in Missoula was filled with reasonable temps and lots of sunshine with, so I decided to seize the last nice day of fall and go to Blue Mountain for a day hike. Looking back over the wind, snow, sleet, and rain from the past week, it shows how fast seasons change here in Montana.

Despite the temperatures in the mid-40s the sunshine really made this hike special - the view across the Missoula Valley was crystal clear. The trails were rather busy due in some part due to Veterans Day, although I think the last chance for a dry sunny day played a big part in the number of Missoulians out and about. Once I trekked further in, the crowds dissipated, bird songs audibly grew in number, and the peacefulness of the forest emerged.

The few times I tried to catch a family of chirping birds in my view finder, the small birds kept hopping and flying away. I put away my camera and decided to just watch and listen quietly; my mental note is just as vivid in my senses as a photograph in my camera. Once satisfied with watching the fleeting birds, I kept on the path and saw a few folks in bright vests in a field off in the distance. They were working on some sort of explosives project, of which I am not sure, but it did seem strange that in the midst this beautiful public space. Later down the trail a few signs directed me to stay on the path in the marked area as there were unexploded materials in the field. This made me a little uneasy, even though I was not straying from the path, so I changed directions at the next path I found.

I headed down closer to the river and through a more densely wooded terrain. A crow was calling loudly and it felt as if he were following my path by hopping from tree to tree as I moved forward. Not long after, the crow swooped out of the tree overhead and made a complete circle over my location of the path; I took this as a good omen for my walk.

Not long after the crow incident, I turned back toward the parking area. The walk lasted for well over an hour, but could have easily continued for longer given time. There are plenty of trails to explore, specimens to examine, and sights to take in.

To find Blue Mountain, head south from Missoula on Highway 93 towards Hamilton. Not long after crossing the river, there is a light at the intersection of hwy. 93 and Blue Mountain Rd., where you will take a right hand turn. Follow Blue Mountain road for a couple of minutes and after a tight turn left, you will see a parking area straight ahead and slightly to the left. Once you park your car there are many trails to choose from!

To find out more information on the recreation area at Blue Mountain please visit the All Missoula website.

And, for more information on bird species and field notes from Blue Mountain please visit the Montana Birding and Nature Trail site.

Philipsburg Area

2011-10-27T11:19:00.001-06:00

Not much more than an hour outside of Missoula, you can escape to a little morsel of historical significance known as Philipsburg. It’s not too far along I-90 E, maybe 50 miles, after you wind past the forested areas of Beavertail and Bearmouth and emerge into a wide (and golden!) valley, that you turn off the interstate at Drummond and follow MT-1 S up the valley to the small town of less than a thousand.

At this time of year, the drive from Missoula to Drummond is spectacular with all the vibrant autumn colors--red maples, yellow larch, golden aspens--but the drive from Drummond to Philipsburg along the Pintar Scenic Route is phenomenal. I love slowing down and inspecting the ranches, looking at resting horses, wandering cattle, and ranchers leaning against the fence posts.

Philipsburg isn’t that big, but don’t let that deceive you into thinking that you could see it all from one place. I stayed two days and a night, and plan on going back because I didn’t see nearly everything that I wanted to (if you’re looking for a place to stay, I would recommend The Broadway Inn).

In town, there are numerous places to eat (Doe Brothers has stellar burgers and sweet potato fries) and a decidedly amazing candy store. The Sweet Palace is overwhelming! The fudge flavors are decadent and the truffles--oh, the truffles--are worth every bite. If you happen to get there when they are packaging salt water taffies and one of the taffies escapes unwrapped, they will give you it as a sample, and you will be struck with an inexplicable desire to buy more. Just a warning.

We went up to the cemetery on the hill and sought out the oldest headstones to get a sense of the beginnings of the city. There were so many sad stories contained in the collection of grave markings, stories of children lost over the years and all at once, fathers and mothers that died young or survived decades beyond their spouses and children, singular spouses left buried in the ground alone after their partners must have packed up all they had left and moved away.

We went on a wet weekend, but after the rain let up a little, we drove the narrow dirt road to Granite ghost town. It’s a road you’ll want a high clearance, 4WD vehicle for, but it’s worthwhile heading up there.

Photo courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks | http://visitmt.com/pictures/big/5179h.jpg

It’s difficult to believe that 3,000 people once lived where a few ruins now cling to the mountainside. We wandered along the Granite Ghost Walk and sought out foundations, most of which were broken up by tree roots and frost weathering. It’s amazing to think that the buildings in this area were built by hand, from the huge stones set in near-perfect walls to brick arches to giant steel towers. It’s amazing to think that the trees and vegetation have filled in so much in the past hundred and some years.

Photo courtesy of Sara Call

The mine’s remaining structure is possibly the most impressive part of the area. It is massive, and only partially crumbling. Mica-studded granite sparkled throughout the rubble, brightened by the recent drizzle. The view from the mine’s perch was beautiful.

Photos courtesy of Sara Call

On our second day of exploring, we made an appointment with a volunteer at the Granite County Museum and Cultural Center. Esther, a spunky older lady with lots of knowledge and hard work behind her, chatted with us but didn’t prepare us for how much we would get for our $3 admission fee. The upstairs portion of the exhibit included models, clothing, saddles, and cattle brands from way back to the 1870’s. Photos and descriptions of local ghost towns lined the walls, and an extensive mineral and rock collection filled an entire corner of a room.

We made our way downstairs, and there sat all sorts of mining equipment and buildings models--the original sign from the general store, an assay office model, a miner’s cabin, and a massive lift (the original elevator) and hydraulic engine. The absolute most incredible part of the museum was the walk-in replica of a silver mine shaft, built by volunteers. It’s a wonderful piece of work.

There are a few other ghost towns around Philipsburg that you can also visit--Kirkville and Garnet, for example--and plenty of recreational activities to engage in around the area. Over the pass to the southeast is Georgetown Lake, and if you continue down MT-1 S you’ll come into Anaconda, another town of significance in our state’s history of mining.

Of course, there’s also Drummond, which is a character-filled town in and of itself... If you’re there on a Saturday, check out the Used Cow Lot!

Sources and links:
http://visitmt.com/categories/moreinfo.asp?IDRRecordID=6737&siteid=1
http://philipsburgmt.com/museum
http://www.drummondmontana.com/SurroundingArea.html

Garnet Mountain

2011-10-17T15:21:00.000-06:00

Garnet Mountain

Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting my brother in Bozeman for a backpacking adventure! Our destination was the Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout that is just 20 minutes south of Bozeman. The day before our trek a storm had rolled through Gallatin County and dusted the mountain tops with snow. The weather on our hike up was pleasant, in the mid-50s and only semi-cloudy. The breaks from the sun were welcomed and we cheered with cool breezes that graced our hard working bodies. The hike itself is a mere 4 miles - however you gain nearly 3,000 feet over the course of the hike.

We were cautious of bears, toting bells and bear spray, but we did not see any large wildlife during our hike. We spotted lots of Elk tracks in the mud and saw a few chipmunks scurry off the trail into the brush. We ran into snow the last quarter mile that was up to 6 inches deep in some spots. The snow made it much easier to spot animal tracks, such as some Prairie Chicken tracks, Fox tracks, and more Elk tracks.

The last stretch to the top was by far the steepest, and in the snow field a few hundred feet from the fire lookout we spotted a bunch of fox tracks zigzagging and then turned into circles. We laughed at the sight of the pattern of the tracks and wondered what the little fox had been up to, perhaps chasing his tail or more likely following a bunny, whose tracks we also found not far from the fox tracks.

The fire lookout itself was very cozy and offered unparalleled views of the Gallatin Canyon and beyond. The sunset was incredible; bright pinks, golden yellows, and blazing orange contrasted against the deep blue and bounced off scattered clouds. The views from the Lookout were well worth the aches and pains of the hike! Luckily we were not socked in with clouds or fog so we were able to take in the stars and wildly bright moon. Thanks to the snow reflecting so much of the moonlight, we were able to turn off our lantern and sit by the fire to enjoy the endless beauty below us. After inhaling a delicious fajita dinner, we were all more than ready to cozy up in our sleeping bags and call it a night.

We only stayed one night, so after waking up, eating breakfast, and cleaning up the cabin, we headed back down. It was a beautiful fall morning, full of crisp air and chirping birds. Chickadee calls were the most prevalent, however that is the bird call I know the best, so it could have been that my ear was only tuned into the Chickadees. The trek down was difficult, but beautiful and much faster than going uphill. Yet again we didn’t spot any wildlife, outside a few squirrels. This hike and Fire Lookout was amazing and will definitely be something I will do again. If you are looking for a great weekend getaway and a challenge, I would highly recommend Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout! The only thing I would do differently next time is pack along a field guide (I forgot mine at home on the coffee table, doh!)

Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout MT

Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge

2011-10-10T16:56:00.001-06:00

In the middle of September I had the chance to attend the Crown of the Continent Roundtable in Polson, and on my drive back to Missoula I thought I would take the opportunity to stop at the Ninepipes National Wildlife Refuge, just south of Ronan. I had driven past Ninepipes many times, but I always had somewhere to be, so it just never happened.

Ninepipes was created in 1921 as a refuge for native birds.. The refuge is located within the Flathead Reservation, but is maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife department. According to the Fish and wildlife website, Ninepipes is home to avian species such as red-necked grebes, song sparrows, yellow headed and red winged blackbirds, ring necked pheasants, American bitterns, sora rails, osprey, great blue herons and double crested cormorants. Non-avian species such as muskrat, striped skunk, mink, badgers, field mice, meadow voles, porcupines, and the occasional grizzly bear call Ninepipes home.

There are no developed areas of the refuge, so on my visit I drove down a small an unassuming dirt road, just off of highway 93, to a dead end, parked my car, and found a walkway lined with informative signs. The path, while paved, showed signs of deterioration and plants were eager to root themselves in the cement cracks. The wide expanse of the refuge was beautiful, especially with the Mission Mountains looming to the east. Grasses swayed in the wind, duck calls rang across the water, and I was greeted with a slight fall sprinkling of rain. Despite being less than a mile from highway 93, civilization felt a world away. Since this stop was on a whim, I lacked binoculars and a bird book. I do recall seeing a few Mallard ducks and even a heron off in the distance, but there were many birds than I can identify.

If you find yourself on highway 93 with a few minutes to spare, I highly recommend stopping and enjoying the scenery yourself!

Winter Weeds and Nature Walks

2011-10-04T20:08:00.001-06:00

While perusing the Montana Natural History Center shelves a few days ago, Allison and I found a spectacular book all about the plants of Montana in the winter. Let the weather gods know that this does not mean we were hoping for the winter weather to come as of yet; but the plants are dying back and are sometimes difficult to identify at this point.

Well, my curiosity got the best of me, and I checked the book out to take on a self-guided nature walk through Greenough Park.

Here's what I found:

Dock (Rumex crispus)

"You can recognize Dock by its dried, three-winged, heart-shaped sepals, which hang in dense umbrella-like clusters from the stems...As is characteristic of the Buckwheat family, Dock has wraparound leaf scars." (p. 70)
Curly Dock is a beautiful dark reddish-brown right now, and even though it's not a particularly pretty weed (and definitely not a desirable one--its seeds are viable for upwards of 50 years!), it catches afternoon light wonderfully in its dry, lacy sepal skeletons.

Motherwort (Leonurus Cardiaca)

"This is a tall perennial which grows up to four and a half feet. The calyx-tubes [fused sepal structures] are arranged in whorls around the square stem, and they are fiercely toothed....Motherwort was introduced from Asia as a home remedy and has now escaped to waste places, gardens, clearings, and roadsides." (p. 146)
Motherwort is in the mint family, and is known for it's use by midwives as well as for use to pacify the nervous system. At this time of year, the contrast of green stem to red-brown calyx-tubes is nice to look at, but beware--the calyxes are sharp!

Yellow Rocket (Barbarea vulgaris)

"The fruits [of Yellow Rocket] are not very sturdy, so in winter you will mainly find the silvery membranes that are left after the fruit has split apart...It is usually quite bushy...Yellow Rocket is a common biennial growing in fields and along roadsides." (p. 90)
The yellow flowers of this member of the mustard family (its also known as winter cress) are, during the summer, quite eye-catching. The winter stalk is less bold, but its feathery remnants are delicately splendid.

Now, here's a pitch: The Montana Natural History Center's library is full of books that are helpful, beautiful, educational, lyrical, and other good things, and I'm sure that you can find something you'll enjoy no matter your interests! (see more about the library here)

I hope you're noticing things out in the world as the seasons change and we ease deeper into autumn. It's a lovely time of year.

Sources:
Wildflowers and Winter Weeds, written and illustrated by Lauren Brown, 1997 reissue.

Boxelder Bugs

2011-09-22T12:01:00.000-06:00

The Boxelder bug (Boisea trivittata)

I started typing this post about all of the autumn-time plants I’ve been seeing around Greenough Park, but I was interrupted when a boxelder bug crawled across the desk and onto the keyboard.

There has been an influx of them in the office. They are crawling on walls and bookshelves, down the stairs and up the doorways. I have seen half a dozen today alone. I have heard folks talking about them--and not everyone knows much about them.

Boxelder bugs are named for their love of boxelder trees. The bugs are attracted to the female boxelder trees, which are the seed-bearers that can be identified by their long slender blossoms that hang down and produce seeds similar to maple seedpods—the paired “whirlybirds.” Boxelder bugs will, to a lesser extent, also feed on maple, ash, and sometimes fruit trees. They use their ‘beak’—a proboscis—like a straw to suck juices out of plant material (predominately from seedpods), but they don’t seem to cause any damage to the trees.

I can see a female boxelder tree out the east window of the office, its seedpods hanging in dry clusters that will endure through the winter. The windowsill is crawling with bright boxelder bugs of all life stages, sunning in the mottled morning light.

Sara C. 2011

The nymphs, or immature bugs, are bright red with round bottoms, which become more elongated and marked with black as they mature. The adults are a half-inch long, flat-topped and predominately grayish brown or black, with parallel red stripes on their thorax, a red abdomen, and red cross-markings on their wings. The bugs have big eyes and long, segmented antennae.

I don’t mind boxelder bugs; they don’t bite, or sting, or stink, or eat houseplants. They find ways into buildings, but don’t damage them. They just crawl around, looking for a nice place to sleep through the winter, and then come spring they go back outside to mate. They are considered pests simply because they are a plentiful, and therefore sort of a nuisance. (The boxelder bug at my desk is actually quite entertaining, and seems to enjoy following every cord from my computer and back.)

The boxelder bugs mark a change in seasons, a reminder that summer will come to an end. Other than that, they are absolutely harmless.

Though remember: don’t squish them, they’ll stain things.

References:

“Boxelder bugs and Conifer Seed/Leaffooted Bugs.” Montana Integrated Pest Management Center, 1997. http://ipm.montana.edu/YardGarden/docs/boxelderbugsconiferbugs-insect.htm

“Boxelder Bugs vs. Lady Bugs.” The Eclectic Scientist! June 23, 2010. http://angelasentomlabnotebook.blogspot.com/2010/06/boxelder-bugs-vs-lady-bugs.html

Swan, Lester and Charles Papp. The Common Insects of North America. Harper & Row Publishers, Inc: New York, 1972. p126.

July Observations - What Have You Been Seeing?

2011-07-06T12:06:00.001-06:00

It's July, the weather is glorious, and summer is here! This is the time when lots of folks are getting outside, taking hikes, exploring the rivers, going on backpacking trips. Please share what you're seeing (and where you're finding it!).

Two weeks ago I went on an amble up Waterworks Hill and saw a family of mountain bluebirds:

The parents were feeding their little fledgling, who must have been just out of the nest:

Aside from this lovely sight, I saw several other bird species, including:

western meadowlark
black-headed grosbeak
American goldfinch
black-billed magpie
northern flicker
warbler sp.
chipping sparrow
eastern kingbird
raven
western bluebird
house finch
red-breasted nuthatch

So--what are you finding, on your outdoor explorations?
We would love to hear about it!

Woods Gulch Hike

2011-06-06T10:45:00.003-06:00

Now is definitely the time to go seeking out wildflowers! A hike up Woods Gulch this past weekend awarded views of FIFTY-TWO plant species in full bloom. Gorgeous! Here's what you may see if you amble up that lovely little trail anytime soon:

side-flowered mitrewort

twisted stalk

false Solomon's seal (two species)

western trillium

black gooseberry

serviceberry

hawthorne

meadowrue

stream violet

dandelions

shooting stars

ninebark

clematis

stinging nettles

baneberry

arrowleaf balsamroot

desert parsley

blue-eyed Mary

pussytoes

Canada violet

false boxwood

mountain ash

kittentails

stoneseed

miner's lettuce

draba

groundsel

Oregon grape

prairie/woodland stars

kinnikinnick

Rocky Mountain maple

white arabis

purple arabis

bluebells

heart-leafed arnica

alumroot
wild strawberry

wood strawberry
glacier lilies

early blue violet

sitka valerian

waterleaf

fairybells

paintbrush

huckleberry

shooting stars
9-leaf desert parsley

collomia
lupine
penstemon
larkspur

What are you finding on your outdoor explorations?

Mystery Tail!

2011-04-13T14:22:00.004-06:00

One of our staff naturalists brought in a tail that she found near her property in Lolo. It is rather flat, but that may be due to the fact that it was buried under a thick layer of snow for much of the winter. Does anyone have any guesses as to what it may be?

Click on the pictures for a bigger view.

We have a few guesses as to the species here at MNHC, but we aren't quite sure, so we're open to any suggestions and thoughts you may have. Please share your ideas in the comments!

Spring Migration

2011-03-04T16:10:00.002-07:00

The spring migration is urgent and depending on the species of birds, there is a specific optimal time when the birds need to arrive for breeding.

So who arrives first?

Yellow-headed Blackbird: March 16 - April 30

Yellow-headed Blackbirds have a very systematic migration plan. Traveling to Montana from as far south as central Mexico, yellow-headed blackbirds migrate in large flocks that are segregated by sex and age. Arrival on the breeding grounds in spring is an orderly process. Mature males migrate first, followed by mature females as much as two weeks later. Next come the first-year males, followed in about a week by first-year females.

Swainson’s Hawk: April 1- April 30

The fall migration of this species is a spectacular phenomenon, as virtually all of the world's population of Swainson's Hawks funnels through Central America within a few days. Until very recently, these hawks were thought to disperse across the whole of South America, and no one really knew where or how they spent the northern winter.

Who are the final migrants to arrive?

Yellow Warblers: May 1 - Jun 15

The first Yellow Warblers to arrive in the U.S. are those that will reach southern California in mid-March. These birds, representing two subspecies, pass up the Pacific coast and reach southern Alaska by mid-May. The other five subspecies will arrive in the U.S. in early April. Their movement is rapid; some of these birds will reach the Great Lakes region before the end of April, and others may arrive in interior Alaska by mid-May. But for us, we will see these birds come May!

Western Tanager: May 16 - Jun 15

The majority of this striking species winters in southwestern Mexico and Central America. The actual migratory routes of Western Tanagers are largely unknown. These birds are nocturnal migrants that travel at high altitude covering great distances in one night!

All of these birds can be spotted at the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge.

Click Here for a list of all birds living at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge.

For more information on bird migration, check out the eNature website.

Great Grey Owl Sighting

2011-02-28T13:37:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, Robin Childers, one of our Master Naturalists, got a call from a friend that a Great Grey Owl was hanging out in their neighborhood. She dashed over, camera in hand, to investigate, and got some lovely pictures of this beautiful bird, who was hanging out on a powerline on 7th St. in the Target Range area.

Great grey owls hunt during the daytime, and this one seemed very tolerant of the small crowd of curious folk nearby.

What exciting wildlife have you been seeing lately? Please share!

A Guide to a Montana Winter

2011-02-09T20:33:00.009-07:00

We all know that winters in Missoula can get pretty gloomy and we find ourselves just sitting inside waiting for sunny weather. But there is a cure! Here are a few upcoming events that you can do this winter in Missoula and the surrounding areas.

Montana Natural History Center:

The Montana Natural History Center offers great activities all year long. Saturday Discovery Days are offered nearly every month for adults (and families) and feature different educational topics about Montana wildlife. The Winter Raptor Workshop is this Saturday, February 12th. Spend an incredible day seeking out raptors with Denver Holt, renowned wildlife researcher, naturalist and founder and president of the Owl Research Institute. Learn winter raptor natural history, gain insight with helpful raptor identification tips and experience the wonder of winter raptors.

For more information about community activities and Saturday Discovery Days click here.

Even though the Master Naturalist classes are full for the winter and summer, you can sign up for our Fall 2011 course! This is for any adult who is enjoys learning about the natural world, sharing knowledge with others, and supports conservation. If you enjoy hiking, bird watching, following tracks, or identifying wildflowers, you’ll love being a Montana Master Naturalist. For more information click here.

Montana Winter Events and Festivals:

I recommend going to any winter festival you can. I just came back from the winter carnival in Whitefish and had a blast! For all things winter in Montana click here .

On February 19th and 20th, the Northern Division Freestyle Competition is coming to Missoula. This annual event features the best skiers in the area for moguls, freestyle competition and jumping. For more information click here.

If you're willing to take a drive, you can also visit Whitefish on February 19th for the Moonlight Dine and Ski. Come for an evening of fantastic cuisine and winter adventure. Watch the moon rise from the summit, feast on delicious dishes, top it off with some dessert, then click into your bindings and ski or snowboard down the mountain by moonlight. Or, for guests who prefer, climb aboard the Big Mountain Express chairlift for a smooth cruise back to the village. For more information click here.
The Moonlight Dine and Ski will also be celebrated on March 19th, for those who cannot make it in February.

Starting February 11 through the 20th Missoula is hosting the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. It showcases the best in documentary films from around the world. The festival attracts more than 10,000 people and screens more than 100 films during the week-long event. All films are shown on Montana's largest movie screen at the historic Wilma Theater, downtown Missoula. Filmmakers from around the world will be in attendance to address audiences after their films screen. Tickets and passes are sold at the Wilma Box Office. For more information click here.

And, of course, there's always cross-country skiing and snowshoeing if you need a fun and inexpensive way to enjoy the outdoors. Look up snow conditions for surrounding cross-country ski trails here. This has been a great winter to ski in the Rattlesnake and Pattee Canyon, and getting out for even an hour of exercise in these winter wonderlands is enough to drive away the blues and bring a smile to your face! You can rent skis and snowshoes quite affordably at places like the Trailhead, REI, the Army-Navy Store, and the University of Montana outdoor program (for Griz card holders).

If any one has other great ideas of things to do this winter don't hesitate to leave a comment. We'd love to hear some of your ideas!

Spotlight On...Redtwig Dogwood

2011-02-03T18:23:00.005-07:00

Redtwig Dogwood

Cornus sericea

Cornaceae (Dogwood Family)
Quick ID:

Redtwig dogwood is full of character throughout the year. In its leafless winter state, the conspicuous red branches set off a blaze of color against the snow.

Early spring brings dense, flat-topped clusters of creamy white flowers, which give way to pea-sized white berries in summer.

Cooler temperatures bring out purple and red anthocyanins in the leaves--the mass fall display of a dogwood thicket can really take your breath away. Look for this loosely spreading deciduous shrub, typically 6-12' high, growing in dense thickets in riparian areas and open forests.

The red twigs are tipped by a uniquely pointed terminal bud, and can be covered in lenticels on the old growth. Leaves are opposite (arranged in pairs along the stem), simple (not lobed), with entire (not serrated) margins that tend to be wavy and occasionally rimmed in purple.

Notice the way the veins sweep up toward the tip of the leaf. This is a great identifying feature that can be used to distinguish dogwood from the many other simple-leaved species out there (chokecherry, twinberry, huckleberry...I'm looking at you).

Range:
Very common throughout Canada and the northern US, south to Virginia on the east side and northern Mexico in the west. Look for it growing in the rich, moist soil of riparian areas and in forest openings, in conjunction with alder (Alnus spp.), willow (Salix spp.), cottonwood and aspen (Populus spp.), Wood's rose (Rosa woodsii), currants (Ribes spp.), Rocky Mountain maple (Acer glabrum) and horsetails (Equisetum spp.).

What's in a Name?
Cornus is the Latin word for horn (like a unicorn). The Romans called the dogwood "cornel", in reference to its wood, which is hard as the horn of a goat and useful for making a great many things. This is also a convenient way to remember the distinct leaf buds of redtwig dogwood, which are narrow and pointed like horns.
The species name sericea means silky, in reference to the fine hairs covering the leaves. The origin of the word "dogwood" itself is not totally settled. It may be a corruption of "dagwood", from the use of its hard wood in making dags (or daggers). Alternatively, there is some evidence that a concoction of English Cornus leaves was used to treat dog mange in 17th century herbology.
C. sericea is also commonly known as redosier dogwood. This may be confusing, since "osier" comes from the medieval term for willow (Salix sp.) In fact, the flexible young branches of C. sericea have long been used for basket weaving, much like the willows that grow in similar streamside thickets.

Tidbits:
Like most of our native plant species, dogwood has been, and continues to be, valued for its many benefits to humans. An extract made from the leaves, stems and inner bark can be used as an emetic for treating fevers and coughs (and a great many other ailments), and the inner bark scrapings have long been added to tobacco smoking mixtures. The red stems not only produce colorful weaving patterns, but can be used to make red, brown and black dyes.

The white berries, although tart and bitter, are not poisonous, and have been eaten by many people throughout history. The fruits are low in natural sugars, making them less attractive to wildlife and less likely to rot than other berries. Thus, dogwood fruit persists long into the winter, making it available when other food is not. These unlikely berries are a key food source of grizzly and black bears, and are also eaten by songbirds, waterfowl, cutthroat trout, mice and other animals. Beavers use the hard wood to build dams and lodges.

Thickets of dogwood are especially good habitat for little birds like the dusky flycatcher, orange-crowned warbler, Lincoln sparrow and the house finch pictured here. These thickets, often located along the river's edge, provide good places to rear young, with year-round security and food sources. Because of its thick root system, redtwig dogwood is also important for stabilizing these streambanks, particularly in places where stream channels are scoured by seasonal flooding.

Wild Gardening

Being a water-loving species, Cornus sericea is tolerant of moist soils and varying water tables. Once established, it also holds up well against drought. Research has shown that water-stressed plants actually have a higher tolerance to freezing cold temperatures. When dogwood senses the shortened days of oncoming winter, tissue changes occur that prevents the plant from taking up water and increases water lost through transpiration, so the tissue becomes dehydrated even when water is abundant. This interesting adaptation, along with C. sericea's somewhat complex ability to avoid freezing injury by having water freeze outside of its cells, should make it an incredibly cold-hardy choice for northern gardeners. BUT, remember the notorious cold snap of early October, 2009, when temperatures across Montana took a sudden dive into the single digits? Our 11-year-old redtwig dogwood--10' tall and strong as an ox, we thought--was the only significant plant we lost at the Nature Adventure Teaching Garden here in Missoula. Granted, all the plants at the NATG are dynamite no-fear natives that can take most anything the weather throws at them, so the garden's overwhelming hardiness came as no surprise. The loss of Big Red was a sad one, though.
Luckily, dogwood is easy to propagate by seed, layering or stem cuttings, and easy to establish in a range of soils. This is one shrub that will do fine in partial shade as well. And while the tender stems are preferred browse for deer, elk and moose, they're less enticing that many of the delectable non-native shrubs commonly planted as ornamentals. Aside from all the wildlife you'll be providing backyard habitat for, you'll also be enticing pollinators and butterflies with the fragrant white blossoms in spring (C. sericea is an important larval host for the Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) butterfly. Overall, this is one of the best all-purpose native shrubs to plant for ease of care and year-round enjoyment.

Thanks to Dave DeHetre, Bryant Olsen and Paul Alaback for some of the images used here.

Spotlight On... features Montana native plants that are currently on display in our natural areas. Have a plant that you'd like to see featured? Let us know!

Wolverines: Dangerous or Endangered?

2011-01-26T16:52:00.002-07:00

Picture a weasel -- and most of us can do that, for we have met that little demon of destruction, that small atom of insensate courage, that symbol of slaughter, sleeplessness, and tireless ,incredible activity -- picture that scrap of demoniac fury, multiply that mite some fifty times, and you have the likeness of a Wolverine.
-Ernest Thompson Seton, "Lives of Game Animals.”

The fiercest creature on earth. Demon of the North. A dangerous killer. Indian Devil. Given the wolverine’s astonishing array of sinister nicknames, it is difficult to imagine what would possess a person to acquire a wolverine and keep it as a house pet. However, in his book Demon of the North, a German animal dealer in the 50’s, Peter Krott, recounts his domestication of and affection for these elusive predators. The wolverine plays prominently in Native American mythology as an oftentimes malevolent trickster figure. In Passamaquoddy mythology, “Master Lox” or “the Indian Devil” is a wolverine. In the popular imagination, the wolverine has come to be representative of the brutal, wild landscapes which it inhabits. With a bear-like appearance (albeit much smaller), teeth which can crush bones and tear through frozen flesh, and the ability to outrun a snowshoe hare (see video footage here), it’s not entirely surprising that the wolverine has developed a reputation as a ferocious predator.

Physical Characteristics

The largest member of the Mustelidae (weasel) family, the wolverine is stocky and bear-like in appearance. It has small eyes, rounded ears, short legs, and large, 5-toed feet which act as snowshoes in the snowy habitat in which the wolverine spends much of its time. Adult wolverines generally range in length from 25-35 inches and weigh 20-50 pounds. They display sexual dimorphism, with males often weighing up to 140% the weight of the females. Their fur is a dark, glossy brown, and was prized by the Inuit and fur traders alike for its frost-resistance.

Diet

The wolverine’s Latin name, Gulo Gulo, translates to glutton, denoting a voracious appetite and over-consumption but this is an inaccurate depiction of the wolverine’s eating habits. The wolverine is a scavenger and will eat anything from plants, berries, or eggs to caribou. It eats carrion (often the leftovers of other predators) but is also capable of bringing down animals several times its size when necessary. According to Daniel Mathews, in Rocky Mountain Natural History, “Biologists in the Selkirks found a 300-pound caribou brought down by a 25-pound wolverine, which must be close to the extreme size ratio a lone mammal predator can tackle.” What they don’t eat they will often spray with musk and store in a cache for later (the behavior from which the nickname “skunk bear” derives.)

Range and Habitat

Wolverines are capable of traveling prodigious distances. A lone wolverine will travel up to 30 miles in a single day in search of food. A male’s home range may be as large as 400 square miles. They live in remote, vast wilderness areas in boreal forests and tundra in Northern latitudes. The wolverine has been extirpated from much of its former habitat by the encroachment of human development.

Protection Status

The wolverine is not listed as endangered or threatened, though many wolverine advocates have been working tirelessly to achieve protection for wolverines. The potential impact of global warming on critical wolverine habitats is of particular concern. Wolverines rely on the carrion of ungulates which have fallen prey to avalanches and other winter-specific deaths, and as we continue to see milder winters, food could become more and more scarce for these scavengers. Female wolverines are reliant upon the winter snowpack for their dens and as this snow disappears, it will become increasingly difficult for them to find suitable sites for their dens. Additionally, a decrease in winter snow cover will fragment already vulnerable wolverine populations even further. A lack of connectivity between different populations increases the likelihood of inbreeding, and the subsequent plummeting of genetic variation and the species’ long-term survivability.

Last December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledged that wolverines are endangered; however, it refrained from listing them, citing a backlog of petitions for endangered status for different species and a lack of funding as reasons for this decision. Steve Guertin, regional F.W.S. director, said, “Listing the wolverine as a designated population at this time is precluded by the need to address other listings of higher priority, it is proposed for listing when funding and workload priorities allow.” In the meantime, a study done by the Rocky Mountain Research Center and the University of Washington Climate Impacts group predicts that the wolverine’s habitat will decrease 63% by 2099. This incredibly resilient creature might not be tough enough to survive a changing climate.

Winter Adaptations of Three Montana Animals

2011-01-12T14:43:00.004-07:00

Bears

When we thinks of bears during winter, we commonly think of hibernation. But, in fact, bears do not hibernate at all. They go into what is called torpor, or short-term hibernation. Torpor helps bears save energy during winter when food is harder to find. When the animal is in torpor, its heartbeat and temperature go down, but not as much as in true hibernators. This aids animals such as bears in colder climates because it helps the animal conserve energy. This is not as deep a ‘sleep’ as hibernation and can last a very short time.

Unlike animals that go through hibernation, bears can wake up fairly easily. When they do, they will occasionally leave the den, but for the most part they do not eat or drink during winter. During this time, a bear loses 15 to 30 percent of its body weight--without defecating or urinating. Instead, the bear recycles its waste. It does this by breaking down the urea, which at high levels is fatal. The resulting nitrogen is used to build protein, allowing the bear to maintain muscle mass and organ tissue.

Bears and Their Cubs

The bear cub is born mid-winter, blind, hairless, helpless, and weighing less than a pound. The tiny bear cub is just a fraction of one percent of the mother bear's weight. "It's almost an external pregnancy--the cub is born and then migrates to the teats and nurses," said biologist John Hechtel. "The size of the cub in the spring when it comes out of den is closer to what you'd expect to see at birth." The reason for this is bear milk, which is very high in fat. The hibernating mother bear is living off her stored fat, and it's much more efficient for her to put that fat into her milk than to convert it to sugars and proteins that must be transported through her blood to the placenta, then through the placental barrier to the fetus. The mother also cleans the cub, and, by consuming the cub's waste, everything is recycled.

Grouse

Resting place of a ruffed grouse just after its departure

The ruffed grouse is famous for its winter roosting routine, commonly referred to as “snow roosting.” If the snow is soft and a foot or more deep, the grouse is likely to spend the night in an insulated, air-filled snow tunnel. To do this, the grouse will fly directly into the snow. Then, with its wings and feet, the grouse extends the tunnel, sometimes to as much as 10 feet. Recent research suggests that the temperature in the tunnel can be as warm as 32 degrees Fahrenheit and that it rarely falls below 20 degrees. The tunnel helps the grouse conserve energy, so it needs less food. Less time spent in the open also means less time being exposed to predators.

Ruffed grouse are poor at storing fat, so the winter months are tough. This means grouse must eat large amounts of food daily to survive. However, this poses a challenge. If the grouse feeds for too long, it risks being exposed to predators such as the red-tailed hawk and the great-horned owl. To minimize the risk, grouse eat fast. In as little as 20 minutes a grouse can swallow enough buds to make it through the day.

Ruffed grouse have other physical and behavioral characteristics that help in winter. In September, fleshy projections—called pectinations—begin growing on the sides of their toes and stay until spring. These comb-like nubs increase the surface area of the foot and work like snowshoes, allowing the bird to walk across snow with less effort. Pectinations also give the grouse a better grip on ice.

Grouse feathers also adapt in winter. In cold weather, special feathers extend down the beak and cover the nostrils. This allows the grouse to breathe in warm air. Ruffed grouse also have feathers partially covering and insulating their legs.

Moose

Bull moose eating willows

Moose are long-legged and thick-bodied, adaptations that enable them to move about through deep snow and wet lands and to carry sufficient fat stores. Their thick, hollow hair is fatter at the tip than at the base. The shape helps trap an efficient insulating layer of air next to their bodies. But staying warm is not all the moose has to worry about.

For moose, winter is full of suffering and triumph over that suffering. But the suffering is not as a result of the cold. Because of their winter adaptations, the cold hardly bothers them. The struggle that moose face is finding food. During winter, moose mostly eat twigs from deciduous trees and shrubs and the twigs and needles of balsam fir and cedar. Each bite of food is a mere gram–just 1/28th of an ounce. Furthermore, twigs and needles contain only one third the nutrition of leaves that moose eat during summer.

The food is not only low in nutrition, but worse off, difficult to gather. The snow is deep and moving from tree to tree is difficult and energy consuming. An 800- or 1000-pound moose survives the harsh winter, chest deep in snow moving from tree to tree, on about nine thousand twigs a day.

When snow is deep and food sparse, moose restrict their intake of food because the costs of eating exceed the gains. Moose pass much of the winter resting and hungry. Ultimately, moose lose weight every single day for about five months of the year. Nevertheless, most moose live to see the spring that follows each winter.

Spotlight On...Ponderosa Pine

2010-12-15T21:29:00.007-07:00

Ponderosa Pine

Pinus ponderosa

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Here's my promise: Becoming familiar with this tree, the granddaddy of all pines, will most certainly lead to a richer, more fulfilling life.

Quick ID:

Luckily, ponderosas are pretty easy trees to pin down. They're giant, regal evergreens with thick, straight trunks. Branches of older trees are clustered toward the top, developing a distinctively massive bole (the part of the trunk below where the branches start). A ponderosa's branches are relatively short for its stature, and turn up at the ends. Needles are 5-10" long, in fascicles, or bundles, of 3 (sometimes 2 or 5 depending on the variety).
From a distance, it's easy to distinguish long-needled ponderosas from other, shorter-needled evergreens. Up close, you can recognize them by their orange puzzle-piece bark with its deep black furrows. Be sure to stick your nose into these crevices in spring and sniff the rich vanilla-scented sap running under the bark.
Like all Pinus members, the female cones are hard-scaled, as opposed to the soft paper-scaled cones of conifers like spruce (Picea). They're armed with a poky prickle and open in fall to release tiny winged seeds.

According to the Utah Forest News, the oldest ponderosa in the world is in the Wah Wah Mountains, and is at somewhere around 940 years. The National Register of Big Trees says the tallest (of the interior variety) is right here in Lolo National Forest and was 194' as of 1997.

Range: This is the most common pine in North America, and is widespread throughout the west, from BC to Mexico and east through the Black Hills. It covers 38 million acres across 14 states. Interior ponderosa is most common around 6000-8500', found randomly spaced in open grasslands at lower elevations, with stands becoming denser as elevation increases. Check out the USDA range maps and some details on regional varieties here.

What's in a Name? Ponderosa is also known as Western Yellow, Bull, Blackjack, Western Red, Sierra Brownbark, Heavy, and Western Pitch Pine. According to Flora of North America, "Its wood is more similar in character to the white pines, and it is often referred to as white pine. The taxonomy of this complex is far from resolved." What we do know is this...
1. It was named for its heavy, "ponderous" wood in 1826 by the fascinating botanist David Douglas, from a specimen found near present-day Spokane.
2. The common name "pine" (and genus Pinus) ultimately derive from the Sanskrit pituh, "juice, sap, or resin", the Greek pitys, "pine tree", and Latin pinguis, "fat".
3. There are basically three varieties: P. ponderosa var. ponderosa, found along the Pacific Coast, P. p. var. arizonica in the southwest, and the widespread interior variety, P. p. var. scopulorum (that's the one we have here in Montana, and the one I'm referring to in this post). They differ in size and fascicle number, but also overlap in morphology and distribution, and vary by latitude. As you can imagine...the taxonomy of this complex is far from resolved.

Tidbits:

Ponderosa is the most commercially important timber tree in the west, and has played a huge role in the region's economic development since the early pioneer days. The lumber was used intensively for building homes, railroads, telegraphs and mine bracing, and is still considered great for construction. In 1949, the Montana Federation of Garden Clubs convinced the Legislature that the Ponderosa was the "King of the Forest". It was adopted as the Montana state tree that same year, and we've all celebrated ever since.
Equally important is P. pine's essential role in the ecology of western North America. The behemoths create a mosaic of open stands filled with understory browse, interior woodland food and cover, and snags for cavity nesters and hunters.
Next time you're standing by one of these old trees, think about how incredibly well-adapted it is to the surface fires that naturally occur in this area. The branches prune themselves up and out of reach. Even then, the needles cluster tight around vulnerable growing branch tips, and open loosely farther up to discourage flames. The bark is thick and insulative, as are the scales covering the buds. The roots are deep, the size of lodgepoles themselves. Regular low-intensity surface fire opens the canopy to light and burns up the thick layer of plant debris that builds up on the ground, encouraging graminoids (grasses) to germinate in the nutrient-rich, ashen soil. It also thins out young trees, particularly the less fire-resistant ones. It may go without saying that trees in crowded interior stands where fire has been suppressed are much more susceptible to catastrophic crown fires. In the competition for space, they develop thinner bark and more compact foliage, and the closed canopy creates a dense understory of combustible "ladder fuels".
Anthropogenic factors like dense stands and stagnated nutrient cycling in the absence of fires, coupled with prolonged drought, have led to supreme stress on interior ponderosa ecosystems. As a result, P. pine is susceptible to a slew of pests including Dwarf Mistletoe, insects like Pine and Bark Beetles (Dendroctonus and Ips spp.) and wood decaying fungi like red rot and western gall rust. The Forest Service has this to say:
"Besides unprecedented, large-acreage severe fires, other ecological consequences of fire suppression in interior ponderosa pine ecosystems include:

decreases in soil moisture and nutrient availability
decreases in spring and stream flows
decreases in animal productivity
increased concentrations of potentially allelopathic terpenes in pine litter
decreases in productivity and diversity of herbaceous and woody understory species
decreases in tree vigor, especially the oldest age class of pines, and
increased mortality in the oldest age classes of trees"

The ecological changes in Ponderosa forests that have occurred in the last century as a result of fire exclusion, overstory logging and heavy grazing are a well-documented, fascinating and perhaps scary story that everyone in the west should be familiar with.

Fire rolls through a Salmon River ponderosa pine stand in the River of No Return Wilderness, Idaho

Wild Gardening:

Despite the complicated (and controversial) state of ponderosa forest ecology, the fact remains the this pine is extremely well adapted to the soils, temperatures and moisture regimes of the west. Try planting P. pine to establish windbreaks or as an impressive ornamental, if you have the space (they grow 60-150' in cultivation). You can collect not-quite-open cones in late summer, and dry them on racks to release the seeds. Sow your untreated seeds in late fall; you'll have better luck if you start them in containers before you put them out in the ground. You'll be providing food and cover for all sorts of wildlife, and will be rewarded with the company of the most awe-inspiring of trees.

Volunteers help spruce up the Nature Adventure Teaching Garden next to our ten year old ponderosa pine

You can read an incredibly detailed and fascinating account of ponderosa ecology here.

Spotlight On... features Montana native plants that are currently on display in our natural areas. Have a plant that you'd like to see featured? Let us know!

The Black-Capped Chickadee

2010-12-10T13:43:00.001-07:00

Not all birds migrate south for the winter. Some stay here in Montana and bear through the cold winter months. One of these birds is the well-known black-capped chickadee. Chickadees may be seen in your yard all year long. In winter they will form foraging flocks with nuthatches, titmice, and even woodpeckers.

But how is it that chickadees can survive through the winter? The chickadee's greatest obstacle is staying warm. The trick to doing this is eating as many calories during the day as they can, which will be metabolized for body heat. If they do not find enough food during they day, they will not make it through the cold night. Black-capped chickadees have another trick for surviving the winter nights: they can lower their body temperatures by up to 14 degrees Fahrenheit at night to save energy. The bird is able to drop its body temperature because of its ability to decrease its metabolic rates. The fewer calories that the chickadee burns, the less energy it creates. Less energy means a lower body temperature. However, the black-capped chickadee only does this on the coldest of nights.

One challenge for chickadees is that along with an increased need for food comes a decrease in the types of food which are available. During the summer, a chickadee’s diet consists mostly of insects, fruits, and seeds. However, during the winter months, fruits and insects become scarce, forcing chickadees to rely primarily on seeds. Seeds are high in fat and are found all year round. For this reason, the chickadee has adapted its beak over time to become perfect at cracking small nuts.

Did you know that chickadees also scavenge for dead animals? Chickadees eat fat from dead animals whose bodies have been opened up by larger predators. The fat is an excellent source of calories for the bird when times get tough.

When it comes to surviving the winter months, chickadees are one of the most resourceful birds around. By adapting their diet, metabolism, and behavior, chickadees can survive in almost any region. Make sure to look out for these little guys as you're out and about this winter!

White-Tailed Deer

2010-11-15T12:13:00.004-07:00

Odocoileus virginianus

Hunting season began several weeks ago and one of the primary animals being hunted is an animal we might just as easily spot in our backyards as in the woods—the white-tailed deer. The white-tailed deer is beginning its rut soon (most sources estimate that the white-tailed deer population of Western Montana breeds from late November to early December). During this period, bucks mark their territory with ‘scrapes’ and ‘buck rubs’ and compete with other bucks for territory and mating privileges.

Distribution

White-tailed deer are the most widely-distributed and most common of the large mammals in North America, with populations occurring in Southern Canada and stretching into Mexico. There are only a handful of areas in the United States in which white-tailed deer are absent—Hawaii, Alaska, and parts of the Southwest. White-tailed deer populations nationwide have exploded. In the early 1900s, there were roughly 500,000 white-tailed deer in the nation. Current figures put the population at somewhere between 15 and 20 million. The white-tailed deer population’s successful rebound has been contributed to the implementation of hunting regulations and the founding of federal agencies charged with managing and maintaining natural resources. Furthermore, the elimination and drastic reduction of populations of key deer predators, such as grey wolves and mountain lions, has contributed to this rebound. The white-tailed deer’s move from relative scarcity to such large numbers is now becoming problematic for people who find themselves struggling to keep deer out of their backyards or worry about possible deer collisions when driving. According to Montana FWS estimates, the state of Montana’s population of white-tailed deer is 249,001.

White-Tail

The distinguishing feature of the white-tailed deer (from which its name derives) is the white underside of its tail, which it sometimes displays while running. Several hypotheses have been given for the evolutionary advantage of the white-tailed deer’s ‘flagging’ behavior—including that it communicates awareness to a would be predator, that is alerts fellow deer to potential danger, or that it can be a cohesive signal, particularly for a doe to keep her fawns nearby. So far, there hasn’t been enough conclusive evidence to determine which of these hypotheses might explain the deer’s ‘flagging’ behavior.

Antlers

The male white-tailed deer have antlers which they shed and re-grow every year. Antler growth begins in March or April and deer antler growth can reach astonishing rates. Some bucks’ antlers will grow as much as ½ an inch in a single day! The antlers continue to grow throughout the summer months and are covered in a soft skin called ‘velvet.’ In the fall, the antlers harden during the process of calcification. During the fall, you might also spot bucks rubbing their antlers against tree trunks in an attempt to remove the velvet from their antlers. Bucks also use their antlers to mark their territory with ‘buck rubs’ and as a weapon in clashes with other bucks when defending or fighting for territory. The bucks lose their antlers in the dead of winter. These antlers, rich in calcium build-ups and other nutrients, are understandably difficult to find in the woods. Upon falling to the forest floor, they are quickly devoured by squirrels, mice, porcupines, and other small animals.

Deer-Car Collisions

1.5 million deer-automobile collisions cause an estimated $1 billion in automotive damages and 200 deaths annually. According to State Farms, Montana has the 4^th highest frequency of deer-car collisions, and 1 in 82 drivers in Montana will have collisions with a deer over the course of the next year. The construction of wildlife crossings, such as those recently added to Highway 93 (read more in this article from the Missoulian) might reduce the frequency of deer and human fatalities resulting from automobile collisions. Deer-car collisions generally peak during breeding season as males, in their frenzied competition, temporarily lose their cautiousness. And, as winter sets in, deer come into our backyards in search of food, and are most active at dusk and at dawn. Drive cautiously!

Wild Turkeys

2010-11-12T16:01:00.000-07:00

It is the holliday season and soon families will be sitting down for Thanksgiving dinner. But the wild turkey we usually see in photos or pictures is not the same as the domestic turkey that we serve at Thanksgiving. Domestic turkeys weigh twice what a wild turkey does and most domestic turkeys are so heavy they are unable to fly. The great majority of domesticated turkeys are bred to have white feathers because their pin feathers are less visible when the carcass is dressed, although brown or bronze-feathered varieties are also raised. Wild turkeys, while technically the same species as domesticated turkeys, have a very different taste from farm-raised turkeys as well. Almost all of the meat is "dark" with a more intense flavor.

Feathers:

Males have iridescent red, green, copper, bronze and gold feathers. They use these bright colors to great advantage when attracting females during breeding season. Females have brown or gray feathers. They make great camouflage and hide hens when they sit on their nests.

Head:

Males have brightly colored, nearly featherles heads. During breeding season the color of their heads alternates between red, white and blue, often changing in a few seconds. A hen's head is gray-blue and has some small feathers for camouflage.

Both males and females have fleshy growths on their heads known as caruncles. They also both have snoods, fleshy protrubances that hang over their bills and can be extended or contracted at will. The snood of an adult male is usually much larger than that of a female. No one knows for sure what these growths are for, but both probably developed as ways to attract mates.

Beard:

A male turkey grows a cluster of long, hairlike feathers from the center of its chest. This cluster is known as the turkey's beard. On adult males, these beards average about 9 inches long.

10 to 20 percent of hens also grow beards. The longest beard on record is more than 18 inches long.

Legs:

Wild turkey legs are reddish-orange with four toes on each foot. Male wild turkeys grow large spurs on the backs of their lower legs. These spurs are pointed, bony spikes and are used for defense and to establish dominance. Spurs can grow up to 2 inches in length. The longest spurs on record are 2.25 inches long.

Tail:

Wild turkey tails are usually 12 to 15 inches long and are banded at their tips. The color of the bands in the tail varies by subspecies.

Peacocks aren't the only birds who use their fancy tails to attract a mate. Each spring male turkeys try to befriend as many females as possible. Male turkeys, also called "Tom Turkeys" or "Gobblers" puff up their bodies and spread their tail feathers (just like a peacock).

MONTANA'S TURKEY:

The Merriam’s turkey is Montana’s newest upland game bird. A native of the pine-oak woodlands of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, it was first introduced into central Montana in 1954. Releases were made in the Long Pines of southeastern Montana near Ekalaka and near Ashland. As turkeys prospered in these areas, more birds were trapped and transplanted to other parts of the state. Since the early 1950’s, all areas of the state considered to be suitable wild turkey habitat have received transplanted birds. Merriam’s turkey habitat in Montana is generally restricted to open ponderosa pine woodlands in rugged terrain. Turkeys have been most suc¬cessful in woodlands where about one-half of the vegetative cover consists of ponderosa pine with the remainder grasses, deciduous trees, and shrubs in scattered openings and drainageways throughout the woodland.

Spotlight On...Skunkbush Sumac

2010-11-12T15:05:00.009-07:00

Skunkbush Sumac

Rhus trilobata

Anacardiaceae (Sumac Family)

Quick ID:

Look for shrubs with wide, dense crowns, generally no more than 4' high but spreading out to 8'. The alternate leaves are downy, dark green above and pale below, and divided into three coarsely toothed ~1" leaflets. In spring, beginning before the leaves appear, tiny yellow flowers cluster at the ends of the stems. These give way to clumps of hairy little red-orange fruits around mid-summer, which hang onto the stems long after the leaves have dropped. New twigs are covered with an ochre velvet much like new antlers. It's easy to see the plant's progression of growth when looking at the branches; each previous year's wood is smoother, more inflexible, and colored differently. Like counting tree rings, examining the length, form and character of branches' annual growth can be an interesting peek into recent history. Call it another way of reading, or of listening, or call it a chilly botanist's daydream on a grey November morning....
Here is the drought year. That piece is the summer the giant Ponderosa Pine fell down, opening the canopy to let the sunshine fall through. This is last spring, when a mule deer nibbled the soft spring growth, see how it branches out? And here, this fuzzy tip is what has appeared since things woke up this spring.
And so it goes...

Range:

There are at least four varieties of Rhus trilobata found in North America (some sources recognize six), most of which are mainly clustered in the deep southwest. Rhus trilobata var. trilobata is the only one found in Montana; its range spans from the Pacific coast eastward to the tallgrass prairie states, from southern Canada to northern Mexico, up to about 7000' elevation. Varieties tend to be more branched and compact in the southwest part of their range, and taller in the north. Sumac can grow in a wide diversity of habitats, from dry to mesic (moderately wet) areas, on slopes, in thickets, canyons and stream banks.

What's in a Name?

The family name Anacardiaceae is in reference to Anacardium, the cashew, and its vaguely heart-shaped fruits (cardium=heart). Rhus, in turn, is the Greek name for sumac, which itself is ultimately derived from the Syrian summaq, "red". The specific epithet trilobata refers to the three-lobed leaves. Skunkbush sumac is also known as Rhus aromatica, for its supposedly horrible, skunky-smelling leaves. Me, I've squished and sniffed these leaves a thousand times, and don't think it's disagreeable at all. They smell green, resinous, a little like acrid pine. Some folks won't go near it though, so, as LB likes to say, "You don't have to take my word for it." Best to sniff for yourself.

As usual, there are too many common names of R. trilobata to list here, but depending where you live, you might also hear it called sourberry, three-leaved sumac, fragrant, ill-scented or stinking sumac, squawbush, quailbush, lemonade sumac, basketbush, polecat bush or lemita.

Tidbits:

This is a plant with a long history of edible, medicinal and functional uses. Like other sumacs, the berries are super-duper sour, and fun to pop in your mouth on a hot summer day. They taste like lemony pine needles, and can be used in drinks, bread, soup, etc. The leaves and inner bark can be used in teas and poultices for such diverse ailments as colds, itches, stomach problems and hair loss. A black or orange dye can be make from the roots and berries, respectively, and the flexible young branches are good for basket-weaving.

The family Anacardiaceae is full of irritating or otherwise dangerous plants, including poison sumac, poison ivy, and poison oak. (Thanks to Fabric Guy for the informative picture.) Poison sumac doesn't grow in the west, and wouldn't be mistaken for skunkbush even if it did. The ranges of poison ivies and oaks, however, do overlap, and the three-leaved nature of these plants can make them hard to distinguish from skunkbush (especially the shrubby poison oak). In general, poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) and poison ivy (T. radicans) have a stalked middle leaflet, while R. trilobata's has no stalk. They also have greenish flowers and white fruits, as opposed to yellow flowers and red fruits. Even with well-honed ID skills, people who are super-sensitive to poison ivy should stay away from any member of the Anacardiaceae family. Sadly, this also includes mangoes, which a lot of people are sensitive to. I once ate so many mangoes my lips swelled up like a grouper, but that's a story for another day.

Wild Gardening:

With its soft texture in winter, bold spring greenery, glistening red berries and brilliant fall color, Rhus trilobata is an absolute pleasure all year long. It's fairly easy to find commercially, and naturalizes well to form windbreaks or shelterbelts. Because of its strong root system, it's a good choice for erosion control. Plants need full sun to part shade, room to spread, and good drainage, but will tolerate nearly any type of soil, cold, or drought.
One of the joys of gardening with native plants is the opportunity it provides for observing backyard wildlife. Keeping a list of birds and their arrival dates each year, discovering a cache of winter food or watching pollinators busy with their summer tasks are a delight in themselves, and knowing that you're helping conserve essential habitat by providing food and shelter is just icing on the nature-cake. In this spirit, skunkbush sumac thickets provide great hiding and nesting cover for small mammals, and the persistent berries are an important source of food for winter songbirds and upland gamebirds. Here at the Nature Adventure Teaching Garden, the golden Rhus, tawny chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) and evergreen mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) make for a fall display that just couldn't be prettier.

Spotlight On... features Montana native plants that are currently on display in our natural areas. Have a plant that you'd like to see featured? Let us know!

Lovely Larchiness

2010-10-29T13:57:00.003-06:00

Larches have become one of my favorite trees since my move to Montana five years ago. My first autumn here, I took a drive east on Highway 200, and I remember asking my friend, "What's wrong with all those trees?" as we passed hillsides covered with yellow-needled larches. I thought they were dying. Little did I know! Now I'm married to a botanist and naturalist whose favorite tree is the larch, which means I've learned lots about these amazing trees in the past couple of years. And the more I learn about them, the more I am fascinated by them.

Alpine larches at Glen Lake

Though there are about 10 different species of larch worldwide, we have just two types of larches (or tamaracks) here in western Montana, the western larch (Larix occidentalis) and the alpine larch (Larix lyallii). What makes these trees unique among conifers is that they are one of just a handful of genera that are deciduous. In the fall the needles turn a glorious golden color that splashes across the landscape, a bright contrast to the deep greens of the pines and firs and spruces. In the spring, that same bright contrast is evident, but this time the color is the vivid green of new growth. Whether it be spring or fall (or, for that matter, anytime in between), the lovely larch is worth searching out.

In Donald Peattie's A Natural History of Western Trees, he writes, "Concerning the Alpine Larch the fact which even most naturalists know best is that they have never seen it. And so scattered is its growth, so wild and inhospitable its favorite haunts at timber line . . . that most people would not know where exactly to begin to look for it."

Yet here in western Montana, we can (comparatively) easily walk among the Larix lyallii. If you haven't yet done so, I highly recommend you change that. One of the easiest spots to reach, after just a two-and-a-half-mile hike, is Glen Lake in the Bitterroot Valley. Carlton Ridge/Lolo Peak is another great spot for alpine larches. This year my husband and I took our alpine larch pilgrimage to the Bass Creek Overlook, just as the colors were peaking at the end of September. (A word to the wise: this trail gets pretty steep--but the larches are worth it!)

Alpine larches at Bass Creek Overlook

Besides being a place that provides fairly easy access to the alpine larch, we in western Montana are also near one of the very few places where Larix lyallii and Laruix occidentalis hybridize. This happens not only because the ranges overlap here (there are quite a few places where this is the case), but because of of the unique geography of the area. In places like Carlton Ridge (just below Lolo Peak), where there are steep, north-facing slopes, alpine larches creep down the slope while western larches creep up, and the two species hybridize. Now seeing a hybrid larch is definitely worth putting on the bucket list!

Alpine larches, which are found at elevations of 4,000-8,000 feet, tend to turn golden and shed their needles about a month before their lower-elevation (2,000-7,000 feet) counterparts. But if you missed the alpine larches changing color, do not despair! You still have time to enjoy the changing colors of our western larches (which also have the advantage of being much easier to get to). There are even a few in various yards around Missoula, if you know where to look. So now is the time to go take a walk in the Rattlesnake, or Pattee Canyon (see below--this was taken just yesterday, on on October 28th),

Western larches at Pattee Canyon

or along the Kim Williams trail. Or, if you don't mind a little driving, Seeley Lake has some spectacular old-growth larch stands, including what is claimed to be the largest Larix in the world.

Aside from their deciduous nature, larches can be identified by their clusters of needles, which are found in groups of 15-30 on western larches and 30-40 on alpine larches.

alpine larch needles


western larch needles

Western larches have thin, scaly bark when they are young, but as they mature the bark thickens--up to 3-6 inches thick on old-growth trees. As the trees age, the bark darkens to a reddish-brown, and comes to look very much like the puzzle-bark of Ponderosa pines (though without the intoxicating vanilla fragrance). The thick bark helps protect the larch from fires, as does its ready ability to create new needles. Larch trees are also able to sprout new branches from the side of their trunks, yet another unique adaptation that gives this species a high survival rate from forest fires.

While there are a plethora of fascinating facts about larches, what may be most important to note is that they are here, in western Montana, and that we have the good fortune to be able to see them with so very little effort. So don't just drive by their changing beauty at 75 mph on the freeway--take the time to seek them out, walk among them, and absorb their loveliness. And if you want to share your favorite larch-viewing place, that would be wonderful!

Spotlight On...Rubber Rabbitbrush

2010-10-22T17:49:00.004-06:00

Rubber Rabbitbrush

Chrysothamnus nauseosus

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Quick ID:

In general, Rabbitbrush appears similar to Big Sagebrush--a scrubby shrub with grayish-tinged, woolly leaves. Like sagebrush, it's found in dry, open plains or disturbed sites, and grows about 1 to 6 feet high. The leaves are linear and alternate on flexible stems. The yellow flowers bloom late (August-October), blanketing the plains and slopes with the type of brilliant display most flora exhausted months ago. Being in the Asteraceae family, each flower is actually a loose cluster of mini-blooms known as "disc flowers", like the ones in the eye of a sunflower or daisy. The "ray flowers" that we know as petals in other Asteraceae species are absent in Rabbitbrush.

Range:

Found up to 10,000', from Canada to Mexico, east of the Pacific mountain system and stretching to the Great Plains. Look for it growing near dryland bunchgrasses and shrubs like Big Sagebrush (Artemesia tridentata), Basin Wildrye (Leymus cinereus), Mountain Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) and Bluebunch Wheatgrass (Pseudoregenaria spicata).
What's in a Name?

A quick note on taxonomy:
It's the most fickle sport among scientists, always in flux and impossible to keep up on. It's not so easy to remember all this archaic Latin binomial nomenclature, and once you think you've got it down, a new taxonomical relationship is discovered or refuted, groups are shuffled around, and the 15 syllable name you've been proudly slipping into casual conversation and engraving onto your garden signs is now obsolete. So if you're the type to stick with what you know and ignore all the newfangled monikers, I, for one, won't judge you.

That said, Rubber Rabbitbrush is technically known as "Ericameria nauseosa (Pallas ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird", but in my heart of hearts, it will always be Chrysothamnus. Chryso- means gold, -thamnus a thicket. The "nauseous" root in the specific epithet is in reference to the strong smell the plant gives off, rather than the idea that ingesting it will make you sick. In fact, the plant's thick latex has been used for centuries as a sort of chewing gum (hence the "Rubber" part). It provides shelter for and is eaten by rabbits and other small mammals.
In some southern parts of the country, Rabbitbrush is known almost exclusively as Chamisa, from the Spanish word for brush or kindling, and ultimately derived from the Latin chama (-->flamma-->"flame").

Tidbits:

The presence of Rabbitbrush, which often grows on very poor soils, and is considered a useful indicator that land is eroded or overgrazed. It can be an important winter forage for antelope, mule deer and elk on depleted rangelands, but is sometimes reported to be toxic to livestock.
The plant has a few adaptations that allow it to thrive in arid, inhospitable places. It's tolerant to a wide range of soil types, alkalinity, salinity, cold and drought. The felt-like fuzz covering the stems (technically known as trichomes) acts as insulation and reduces water loss. The light gray stems also reflect more heat than dark green leaves would, keeping the shrubs cool as a cuke in the harsh summer sun of the open prairie.
Historically, Rabbitbrush has been used to make yellow or green dye, and prepared as a tea to help coughs and colds. The flexible twigs are good for baskets, and the seeds can be ground and used much like cornmeal.
People have been looking for a way to use the natural latex found in the roots and inner bark to produce rubber since the 1930s, but haven't found a commercially viable way to extract it. There is currently an investigation underway by the University of Nevada, looking at the potential of Rabbitbrush as a multi-use industrial crop for biomaterial and bioenergy applications. Here's the interesting project summary.

Wild Gardening: Plants need about 4' of space, and take about 4 years to mature. They tend to produce about a million branches, generally arising from a common point and not overtaking neighbor plants. Overwatering or fertilizing can produce leggy, sprawling plants. New plants sprout up from the roots and can be divided, and the seeds germinate easily.
Being a late bloomer, Rabbitbrush fills an important niche both as an ornamental perennial and a fall pollen source for bees, flies and butterflies. To see this plant in late fall, spilling over with brilliant color and buzzing with hundreds of hungry and deprived insects, is really incredible. It tolerates fussing-over, but seems to delight in neglect: no extra water, no soil amendments, no pruning or deadheading. The soft, pale branches complement the muted palette of a xeric landscape perfectly, and provide a safe haven for nesting birds and other small animals.

Spotlight On... features Montana native plants that are currently on display in our natural areas. Have a plant that you'd like to see featured? Let us know!

What Have YOU Seen?

2010-08-31T13:55:00.002-06:00

We so appreciate Kim Birck sending us her observations this summer, and we want to know what everyone else is seeing on their excursions out and about in Montana (and beyond!). So, what have you seen this summer?

Moose?

Grizzlies?

Bald eagles?

Cedar waxwings?

Here's a picture of a western tanager that I saw while hiking up the main trail of the Rattlesnake at the beginning of the summer:

Post your observations in the comment section, or send an email to adejong [at] montananaturalist.org if you have pictures you'd like to share. We can't wait to hear from you!

American Dipper Nest

2010-08-26T10:17:00.001-06:00

We have a few more pictures from MNHC friend Kim Birck, this time of an American Dipper nest she and her husband observed while backpacking in Idaho's Sawtooth Wilderness. Here are her comments:

These pictures are of the mossy nest of an American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus), also known as the Water Ouzel. The dipper was reportedly John Muir's favorite bird. The name "dipper" is for the bobbing motion this little gray bird makes as it stands on a rock or log in fast-moving water.

This nest was located on the side of a large rock in the middle of the falls between Middle and Upper Cramer Lakes in the Sawtooth Wilderness area near Stanley, Idaho.

We were camped right above the falls from July 24 - 27, and were able to watch the parents coming and going, and hear the excited noises made by the chicks during each visit.

According to my bird books, both parents feed the young, but the female does most of the work. We witnessed both parents in action, though we could not tell who was who. This may have been a second nesting, as the bird books indicate that dippers nest as early as late April. (Or maybe because of the elevation and late snowmelt, it could be a first nest.)

We watched the parents "dipping" and walking right into and under fast-flowing water in search of aquatic invertebrates to feed their young. As they entered the water, we could see a couple of their adaptive features: the protective white nictitating membrane that slides over their eyes and the extreme water repellency of their feathers.

We have seen dippers in the Missoula area, particularly in the upper reaches of Grant Creek, and have been aware that they had a nest - somewhere - but this was the first time we could actually SEE a dipper nest and watch the feeding activity.

It was fascinating to watch, and listen to, the dipper family during our 3 nights on the Cramer Lakes.

Photo Essay of a Cordilleran Flycatcher Nest

2010-07-20T13:47:00.008-06:00

The past few weeks have been nesting time for many birds in our area. One of MNHC's long-time volunteers and supporters, Kim Birck, has been watching one type of bird--and one nest--in particular, a pair of Cordilleran Flycatchers (Empidonax occidentalis) who chose her power box upon which to build their nest.

Cordilleran Flycatchers are small birds with greenish-brown backs, yellowish underparts, and a slight crest on the head. Distinctive features include a pale yellowish eye ring and wing bars. The Cordilleran flycatcher is virtually indistinguishable from the Pacific-slope flycatcher--in fact, they were once thought to be the same species and were called Western flycatchers. The only difference between the two species is the male's voice--and their range. Cordilleran flycatchers breed in a long north-south swath of the western U.S., from southern B.C. and Alberta into Idaho, western Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, and into the northern edge of Mexico.

Flycatchers are so named for their feeding habits; they swoop down from their perches and catch flying insects in mid-air, though they will also hunt for insects hiding in the branches of trees and shrubs. Some flycatcher species will also eat berries or other types of food.

Cordilleran flycatchers are commonly found in dry, shaded forests at mid-high elevations.

While they usually nest in trees, occasionally they'll find other convenient locations--in Kim's case, the top of her power box at her home. She was very happy to share with us both her pictures and her observations. Enjoy!

24 May: I just saw a little Cordilleran flycatcher yesterday, back from wherever he/she winters. (Mexico, it seems.) Maybe my power box will have another nest, for the 5th year running!

9 June: He's back again! I was repotting herbs nearby while my little flycatcher friend was checking out the nesting site on top of the power box.

10 June: Well, today, THIS showed up!

11 June: I hope I haven't scared him/her off . . . perhaps not. The nest looks bigger today:

12 June: She's at it again today. Watched her mashing down the nesting materials (mostly lichens and moss?) with her body. Here's a fuzzy image of her on the nest:

Fuzzy because I used digital zoom, not wanting to get close enough for optical zoom. Once she has eggs, she'll be harder to dislodge. But for now, I want to keep her as my neighbor. Seems like good luck to have a bird nesting on your house.

14 June: Set up a bicycle mirror on a broomstick that allows me to see into the nest. No eggs yet!

She isn't around much lately. I suspect she is gathering her strength after nest-making before egg-laying, as my book (Peterson Western Birds' Nests) says the female does the nest building and the incubating. One egg per day for a clutch of about 4. When the clutch is complete, she incubates for about 14-15 days, then both parents feed the nestlings for about 2 1/2 weeks before they get too big for the nest and fledge.

15 June: I hear them calling, so I know they're around . . . but still no eggs.

17 June: This morning, before we left on a 2-week trip, I checked the nest and there was one egg! During our absence, she should complete the clutch and do most of the incubating . . . and be fully committed to the nest by the time we get home. BTW, my husband recently admitted that when he was blowing dust and pine pollen off the porches and windowsills with a leaf blower he accidentally blew the flycatcher's nest off the power box. He carefully replaced it and it seems to have worked. The egg this morning is the proof!

2 July: When we returned home, I found mama flycatcher sitting on these:

Note the brown splotches wreathed around the large end of the egg. This is typical for Cordilleran flycatchers.

4 July: Mama bird was acting restless, spending more time looking into the nest before settling back onto the eggs. Since the bird book says they incubate for 14-15 days, I knew hatching was imminent.

5 July: This morning when I looked into the nest, there was only one egg left, plus three naked lumps of baby bird flesh:

Mama continued to incubate the nest, when I thought she should be out catching bugs for her babies . . .

6 July: We were cleaning windows this weekend and my husband went up on the roof above the breakfast nook--and the flycatcher's nest on the nook wall--to wash the upstairs windows. I was tending plants nearby when I heard a flycatcher "shreek!" and saw it streak away from the house. I looked up to see size 11 white tennis shoes hanging over the roof edge right next to the nest as he stretched to reach windows on the adjacent wall! No wonder she fled! I hoped that our maneuverings near her nest hadn't spooked her for good.

But she came back has been diligently "sitting on" the babies, all four of which had hatched by last night. And at least one was alive last night, raising its little head--and gaping big mouth--when the mirror loomed overhead as I checked it out.

I have yet to witness food being brought to the nest, though. Not to say it hasn't happened, I just haven't seen it. We are trying to keep a low profile and avoid disturbing her, though her instincts would probably not let her abandon the babies now. The windows closest to her nest are going unwashed, and I only photograph the nest when she has flown away.

7 July: This morning:

Baby flycatchers sleeping while Mama is away. And now I'm seeing TWO flycatchers. And finally, late this morning, witnessed an insect being fed to somebody in the nest!

4 pm: Still spending a lot of time on the nest, even though the young are all hatched.

Both flycatchers--hard to catch them together as they are finally actively bringing insects to the nest this afternoon!

8 July: I caught the nest unattended briefly this afternoon and snatched this image:

They are starting to look just a bit like baby birds. Less like raw meat anyway.

11 July: I frequently catch an adult feeding the young in my mirror, hanging from the eaves, but they won't come to the nest when I am outside with my camera. Taken on Sunday, in the hanging mirror. I can watch them from inside the kitchen without disturbing the birds.

16 July: I took this photo from a 6-foot ladder about 6 feet away from the nest while the parents were away:

Their mouths are open because they're hot (and hungry). They are beginning to overfill their nest. And now I can see that all 4 have survived. So far. Ravens prowl the neighborhood looking for such tasty morsels!

17 July: The first three babies hatched on July 5, and the Birder's Handbook (Ehrlich, Dobkin & Wheye) says they are in the nest 14-18 days before fledging. So they will have to grow up a lot in the next few days as today is Day 13!

19 July: The afternoons have been quite hot lately, and the little ones look like this a lot of the time:

They wake up pretty quick when Mom or Dad arrives with a tasty insect!

Sometimes the parent bird gives a heads-up "peek!" as it arrives, so the little ones assume the position and no time is wasted.

20 July: We are off for a week-long hiking trip. The baby birds are about to fledge, and will probably be out of the nest by the end of the week! A fifth season of nest-watching is ended.

Spotlight On...Red Baneberry

2010-06-30T18:23:00.005-06:00

Red Baneberry

Actaea rubra

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Quick ID:

Look in rich, moist thickets and shaded forests for this striking, relatively uncommon plant. It can grow up to three feet high, with flowers appearing in early to mid-summer as fluffy clusters atop tall stalks. The white flowers have lots of antenna-like stamens that wave out past the small petals. Soon, the flowers fade and stalks of bright red berries take their place.

The species and subspecies of Actaea are closely related and not always easy to distinguish. There is a white baneberry (A. pachypoda), but the red baneberry species (A. rubra) sometimes bears white fruit as well. True white baneberries have thicker pedicels (flower-bearing stalks) than the "red" species. You can recognize Actaea berries by the little buttons on their ends. The white berries, with their pupil-like spots, have been used in the past as eyes for children's dolls, hence one of the common names for the plant, "Doll's Eyes".

Range:

Found through the northern temperate zones of North America and Eurasia. In Montana, it's most likely to be spotted in the southern and western parts of the state (see the USDA range map)

What's in a Name?

The family name Ranunculaceae comes from the Latin rana, frog, in reference to its members' affinity for wet places. Actaea is the Latin name for a generally strong-smelling plant. The Greek aktea is the word for the elderberry tree (Sambucus sp.), whose leaves the baneberry resembles. Rubra is a ubiquitous species name meaning "red". The common name "baneberry" refers to its toxicity--bane ultimately comes from the ancient root gwhen-, "to murder or wound".

You might also hear baneberry called red cohosh, necklaceweed or snakeberry.

Tidbits:

All parts of this plant are poisonous, with the toxin protoanemonin most concentrated in the berries and roots. Symptoms include "the usual"--vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, stomach cramps--but the toxin ultimately acts on your heart, and can cause circulatory failure. So don't eat it! That said, people have been eating this plant for thousands of years. North American Indian tribes have used a decoction of the roots to treat rheumatism, coughs and colds, and to improve the appetite. It is said to increase milk production after childbirth, and decrease excessive menstrual bleeding. A poultice of chewed leaves was used to soothe wounds, and there are several references to it being ingested to soothe stomach pains caused from swallowing hair. (Huh?) But once again, unless you're a trained professional, please, don't eat it. Eating as few as two berries can cause severe pain, and a few more can mean respiratory failure and cardiac arrest.

Baneberry is not, however, poisonous to livestock. Sheep and horses will graze on it when there's not much else around, and elk will eat the foliage in the fall (Actaea foliage stays green late in the season, after most plants have withered in the frost). Birds like Grouse, Gray Catbird (seen here), and American Robins also relish the berries, as do mice, squirrels, chipmunks and voles.

Wild Gardening:

Despite its murderous name, baneberry makes an excellent woodland garden perennial. The foliage is lush, the flowers and fruit are highly ornamental, and it can take part to full shade. It provides cover for small mammals and will attract songbirds to your yard. Plants are not hard to find at nurseries, particularly those specializing in natives. If you do decide to try propagating from seed, remember that, like many wildflowers, they need a period of cold stratification before they'll germinate, and it might take two seasons to get them to sprout. Naturalize along with other moisture-loving species like twinberry, horsetail, thimbleberry, sedge, alder and aspen for a lush, verdant woodland garden.

Spotlight On... features Montana native plants that are currently on display in our natural areas. Have a plant that you'd like to see featured? Let us know!