Montana Naturalist to Promote and Cultivate the Appreciation, Understanding and Stewardship of Nature Through Education

NatMuONTANAralisWintert 2013-14 Montana Birds on the Move

Montana’s Métis People

Where Do Not-So-Mighty Moose? The Osprey Go? see Get Outside Guide, page 9 Connecting People with Nature

WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA NATURALIST TO PROMOTE AND CULTIVATE THE APPRECIATION, UNDERSTANDING AND STEWARDSHIP OF NATURE THROUGH EDUCATION

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 1 12/6/13 3:42 PM inside Winter 2013-14 NatMuONTANAralist Features 4 Practicing Miskihkiya Traditions of Montana’s Métis by Rosalyn LaPier

6 Birds Across the Big Sky —and Beyond Following the Paths of 4 Montana’s Migratory Birds by Kate Stone and Adam Shreading Departments 3 Tidings 9 Get Outside Guide The travels of Osprey 54; naturalist word search; 6 frosty photos and more Special Pull-Out 13 Community Focus Section Teaching Honors: MNHC’s Educators of the Year 14 Far Afield Not-So-Mighty Moose? Scourge of the Winter Tick 16 Imprints 9 13 Fall Celebration and Auction re-cap; MNHC’s new look 18 Magpie Market 19 Reflections

Cover – A juvenile Cooper’s Hawk waits out a snowstorm. Photo by Alan Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com. Nature’s Pics is a beginner’s guide to bird, wildlife and 14 16 natural landscape photography.

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MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 2 12/6/13 3:28 PM tidings

Connecting People with Nature 120 Hickory Street Missoula, MT 59801 406.327.0405 [email protected] wo winters ago, my www.MontanaNaturalist.org husband, his parents Executive Director Tand I boarded several Arnie Olsen silvery planes and flew south

Education Director to 80-degree days and sun- Lisa Bickell drenched beaches on the Baja Peninsula. Much as Assistant Education Director Brian Williams I’m saddened to miss any of Montana’s lovely snowy season, Community Programs Coordinator I did enjoy getting to explore a Christine Morris new landscape. One afternoon, Naturalist while exploring a wildlife Alyssa McLean sanctuary, we saw an Osprey Volunteer Coordinator, perched high in a palm tree. I Field Notes Coordinator & felt disoriented for a moment, Montana Naturalist Editor seeing this piece of Montana in Allison De Jong an exotic place. I’d known that Photo by Allison De Jong Development & the sleek M-shaped fish-hawks Winter sunlight filters through the trees along Warm Springs Creek. Marketing Director I watch from my office window in the summer spent their winters in warmer climes, but Whitney Schwab seeing that familiar shape hanging out above a sandy beach on the Sea of Cortez brought Office Manager the reality of their migratory life home. Might this very Osprey—using its own wing power Deb Jones rather than the gallons of jet fuel that brought me here—have flown here from Montana? Administrative Assistant I learned that Baja has a resident Osprey population, so the bird we saw may have Candace Romero been non-migratory. But that doesn’t mean it would be impossible for an Osprey that

Visiting Naturalist Instructor breeds in Montana to find its way to Baja. In this issue, biologists Kate Stone and Adam Christine Wren Shreading share some of their research on migratory birds (page 6), including Osprey, one of which has made his way for the last two winters to western mainland Mexico, just Volunteer Visiting Naturalist across the Gulf of California from the Baja Peninsula. Thanks to specialized technology and Instructors Rod Snyder naturalists with an unquenchable curiosity, we are answering—or trying to answer—ever Valerie Bayer more of our myriad questions about our feathered friends. Though winter too often seems like a time when all living things are heading south or Forest for Every Classroom & Education Intern holing up, there is still so much to revel in this time of year—birds that fly south to winter Valerie Hingston here even while our breeding birds have left, long-legged moose stalking through snowy forests, frost crystals forming in intricate patterns on the ground, trees, windshields . . . Education Intern Thomas McKean This winter, I encourage you to brave the cold (and as I write this the temperatures have dipped below zero—something that may happen less often as our climate continues Board of Directors to change) and see what unique wintry beauty you can discover . . . and then come inside Hank Fischer, President and cozy up with that well-deserved cup of hot cocoa and something (ahem!) to read. Be Marilyn Marler, Vice President Marcia Kircher, Secretary warmed by learning about the celebrations and traditions of the Métis people and their Betty Oleson, Treasurer rich heritage (page 4), or read about some exceptional teachers who infuse their lessons Julie Cannon with a love for the natural world, encouraging their students to ask questions—and find Susie Graham answers!—about nature (page 13). Janice Givler However you choose to spend these wintry days, may you enjoy all the delights of Ryan Huckeby the season! Sally Johnson Edward Monnig Rick Oncken Penny Ritchie Stephen Speckart

Montana Naturalist Allison De Jong Art Director Editor Eileen Chontos [email protected]

3 WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA NATURALIST

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 3 12/6/13 3:28 PM Métis Miskihkiya: MÉTIS LIFE IN MONTANA By Rosalyn LaPier What happens when two worlds collide? Sometimes there is conflict and one gets conquered, sometimes they learn from each other but remain separate, and sometimes they blend into a new entity. On the Northern Great Plains two worlds collided and out of it emerged a new ethnic group—the Métis.

THE MÉTIS of French, Chippewa and Cree evolved on their own as wood-hawkers. They ended The Métis are a distinct ethnic group that into Métis, who developed self-sufficient up settling down near Augusta—an area the evolved out of the fur trade during the 18th communities all across the Plains. Their Blackfeet called “Sspiksii,” meaning “tall groves century. As the European and Native peoples mixed heritage was evident in their language; of trees”—and it was this place, which stood married and intermingled, their cultures, even into the 20th century the Métis were out amongst its stark surroundings, that the languages, music, art and environmental multilingual, speaking Michif (their own creole Métis came to call home. knowledge also began to blend. language), French, Chippewa, Cree, sometimes Antoine’s daughter Clementine LaPierre By the time the Métis permanently other Native languages, and English. married a Québécois rancher, Sam Forque, moved into what is now Montana in the 19th My family, the LaPierres, first came to who Americanized his name to Ford. (The century they had already solidified their status the Rocky Mountain Front before Montana LaPierres eventually changed theirs to LaPier.) as a separate group within the Northern Great became a territory. The Rocky Mountain The home of Clementine, the eldest female of Plains. They even asserted political rights as Front of Montana is where the mountains the clan, became the center of Métis life in the their own distinct nation-state within what is meet the prairies, semi-arid and in some region. Family gatherings, community events, now Canada. places almost desert-like. In the 1850s weddings and even weekly Mass were held at The Métis usually traveled and settled Antoine LaPierre moved his entire family the Ford family home. Her siblings, Francois, in large family groups, similar to their Native there to work, initially as buffalo hunters, but John, Moses, Alec, and Euphrosine, and their relatives. Families that began as a mixture eventually as hands for local cattle ranchers or spouses and children all lived close by. 4 MONTANA NATURALIST WINTER 2013-14

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 4 12/6/13 3:28 PM MISKIHKIYA Since the Métis men continued to hunt and understanding how to balance this varied The Métis, in part due to their semi- trap wild animals and fish the streams along ecological knowledge to live a healthy life. subsistence lifestyle, viewed food and health the Front, the women smoked the meat and Now, five generations later, the Métis holistically—much more so than is typical fish to preserve them for future use. tradition of understanding and using native in modern Western culture. Miskihkiya is plants and hunting on the prairies continues. the Métis or Michif word that best translates My cousin Autumn LaPier, a descendant into “medicine.” But it is a complex of Antoine LaPierre, lives on the Rocky translation because it does not necessarily Mountain Front, near where her ancestors mean “medicine” in the Western sense; rather, called home. Autumn now teaches her it refers to healing generated from plants kindergarten-age daughter, Madeline—the that come from the earth. These plants are next generation of Métis women—about neither strictly medicinal nor edible but their native plants and health, and so the practice general characteristic is to heal the body, mind of Miskihkiya continues.

and spirit. Therefore, Métis women used a —Rosalyn LaPier (Blackfeet/Métis) is a faculty combination of edible and medicinal plants in member of the Environmental Studies program everyday life to promote health and wellness at the University of Montana. She also works within their families. with the Piegan Institute in Browning. Métis women like Clementine and her CELEBRATIONS sisters were the keepers of plant knowledge. Celebrations were central to the social life of Special thanks to Dr. Sherry Farrell Racette, a When they lived further out on the Plains— the Métis. The biggest day of the year was well-known Métis artist and associate professor in the areas that are now Manitoba and New Year’s Day, when the Métis organized of Native Studies and Women’s & Gender Studies North Dakota—these Métis women relied a large community dance and feast. The at the University of Manitoba, for allowing us on native plants. Fortunately many of these Métis women cooked a huge feast of foods to use her artwork. same plants could be found along the Front all harvested from the local environment: a FURTHER READING: Range. The women spent their summers dish called rubbaboo (boiled rabbit with flour Christi Belcourt. Medicines to Help Us: Traditional Métis gathering a variety of berries and roots to gravy); bullets (meatballs made from elk or Plant Use. Gabriel Dumont Institute, 2007. eat and plants for medicine, including herbs deer); pemmican; fried bread; huckleberry, Leah Dorion. Relatives With Roots: A Story about Métis used to ease childbirth. raspberry and serviceberry pies; and herbal tea. Women’s Connection to the Land. Gabriel Dumont In addition to gathering wild medicinal And they invited all their neighbors, no matter Institute, 2011. and edible plants Métis women also grew large their ethnicity, to join in the celebrations. Rosalyn LaPier, “Métis Life Along Montana’s Front home gardens, a skill they learned from their The New Year’s celebration was not Range,” in Beyond...The Shadows of the Rockies: History of the Augusta Area. Augusta Historical Society, 2007. European relatives. They raised and butchered complete without a visit from the local Catholic cows, pigs and chickens. They churned priest. The Métis religion was a blend of Native their own butter. And instead of picking beliefs and Catholicism. On occasions such as MÉTIS ART chokecherries (Pîkomina in Métis) to dry and this, the men got together to smoke the inner One part of grind into a mixture of meat and fat, known bark of the red willow (Kinikinik). All of this— Métis culture that became as pemmican, the Métis women canned their celebrating in community, eating wild meats unique was their chokecherries into jam and syrup. The women and berries, smoking red willow, dancing all incorporation also used their unique knowledge and skills to night—and more was what the Métis referred of native floral make tools from native woods, such as willow to as Miskihkiya. imagery into branch (Lii sol) pitchforks for moving hay. their artwork. TRADITION CONTINUES Initially this When the Métis emerged as began with a new group they blended beadwork and embroidery many aspects of their Native Painting by Valentina LaPier on buckskin and European heritages. clothing. Métis women became known They maintained their for these unusual designs and people Native ecological knowledge could easily distinguish their work from of wild plants and animals of other ethnic groups. Even today this the region, and they blended distinct style of floral beadwork designs it with European ecological exists. However, in contemporary times, knowledge of domesticated Métis floral art has also evolved to plants and animals that include different types of art such as go along with ranching, paintings and even body tattoos. Valentina LaPier, a Montana Métis farming, and gardening. And artist, incorporates native floral designs through all this melding of into her highly sought-after paintings. She cultures they maintained also incorporates Catholic religious icons, a holistic approach, another Métis tradition, into her artwork. 5 WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA NATURALIST

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 5 12/6/13 3:28 PM Montana Birds on the Move By Kate Stone and Adam Shreading Maps by Debbie Leick

stroll along the river in the winter may seem empty, given the lack of bird song and activity we enjoy during the summer. A As biologists working with birds in both our professional and personal lives, one of the most common questions we encounter is: “Where do our birds go in the winter, and how do they get there?” As technology improves and the importance of non-breeding habitat becomes more central to the conservation of bird populations, we are closer to discovering the answers to those questions. Traditionally, our efforts to understand large-scale individual bird movements have been limited to the recapture of previously marked birds. Though it is routine practice in most studies to attach uniquely numbered aluminum leg bands to study animals, and millions of birds sport these bands, recapture rates for most species are extremely low, with most recaptures occurring locally. Sometimes scientists use auxiliary marking techniques such as wing tags or enlarged numbers on leg or neck bands to gather re-sighting information without trapping or handling. Like recapturing a banded bird, re-sightings based on auxiliary markings are Montana birds go everywhere! Points on the map are based on re-captures or re-sightings. Birds captured in the summer months relatively infrequent, and often rely on common likely breed in Montana, while birds captured in the fall could be citizens to report the information. migrants passing through the state. Though the chances of long-distance recaptures or re-sightings are low, when they do “Lola” the Northern Saw-whet Owl roosting near Chico, CA, 35 days occur, these observations can amaze us with the after her original capture near Florence, MT. distances some birds travel and how fast some

of them make their movements (see map). A Photo by Julie Shaw 6 MONTANA NATURALIST WINTER 2013-14

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 6 12/6/13 3:28 PM Northern Saw-whet Owl banded by the Owl Research Institute in females left the breeding area Migration routes, staging areas, and Florence, MT, and recaptured in Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, first, followed by the young, then overwintering areas of Long-billed CA, made the approximately 600-mile journey in 35 days, covering the males. In the fall of 2012, Curlews breeding in Montana. Map based on satellite transmitter data from about 17 miles per night. A male Calliope Hummingbird travelled the farthest-traveling Osprey, a the Pacific Shorebird Migration Project. the 813 miles between Troy, MT, and Aspen, CO, in just 21 days, female, took 19 days to travel the averaging 38.7 miles a day. 3,300+-mile distance between One way of capturing more information on the movements of Florence and the Pacific coast birds is by attaching satellite transmitters in addition to leg bands. of Nicaragua, flying more than Using this technology allows us to track short- and long-distance 170 miles a day. Of the three movements of individuals over several years. Though watching the adults that have provided two movements of individual birds is captivating and provides us with years of data, all followed some interesting stories, when enough transmitters are deployed, we roughly similar travel routes can gain insight into what populations are doing: Do they all use along three migration trips. the same migration route? Do they migrate at the same rate or make All three adults are currently similar stops? Do individuals travel together? Overwinter in the same on the same wintering location? Return to the same breeding area? What are the causes of grounds as last year. (For the mortality? Answering these questions gives us a data-driven foundation story of one of these Osprey, for making conservation decisions. see page 9.)

We can gain insight into what bird Long-billed Curlews Raptors aren’t the only birds populations are doing: Do they all use that we can learn about the same migration route? Do they via satellite transmitters. Beginning in 2009, partners migrate at the same rate or make similar working with the Pacific stops? Do individuals travel together? Shorebird Migration Project used transmitters to track the migrations of 14 Long-billed Who’s Migrating and Curlews breeding in Phillips County, MT. Where Are They Going? On their southbound migration, the curlews

Osprey generally followed the same Photo by Kate Stone In 2012 and 2013, Raptor View Research Institute (RVRI) deployed path for 900 miles along the satellite transmitters on two Osprey families breeding on the MPG Rocky Mountain Front. From northwest Texas and northeast New Ranch near Florence. The data collected thus far show that Osprey Mexico, their paths split and individuals traveled an additional 600 families do not migrate or overwinter together. In both years, the miles to one of several overwintering locations, including New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, the grasslands of Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of Mexico. The curlews commonly spent several days at various stopovers during both fall and spring migration. At some times, they flew up to an estimated 75 miles per hour! Like the Osprey, Long-billed Curlews returned to the same breeding and overwintering areas during the course of the study.

Golden Eagles Obviously, satellite transmitters can tell us a lot about where our breeding birds go in the winter. But they can also give us important information about birds that breed elsewhere, but winter here. In 2011, RVRI began deploying satellite transmitters on Golden Eagles overwintering in the Bitterroot Valley. Over two years, they have deployed five transmitters on two male and three female overwintering Golden Eagles. The satellite data reveal that Golden Eagles also tend to return to the same breeding and overwintering areas. Two Golden Eagles have returned to overwinter in the Bitterroot two years in a row, and a third Fall migration paths of Bitterroot Valley Osprey. Map based on satellite has returned three years in a row. Though these eagles all seem to like transmitter data from RVRI. southwest Montana in the winter, they breed in very different locations 7 WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA NATURALIST

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 7 12/6/13 3:28 PM throughout Alaska and northern Canada. The distance between originally captured in October 2010 near Lincoln, MT. After providing their breeding and overwintering grounds ranges from around three years of tracking data, including trips to her breeding grounds 1,100 to 2,200 miles. in the Brooks Range of Alaska, Elaine was found dead in a snare trap set for coyotes near Ringling, MT. She was one of three Golden Eagles Breeding areas and fall and spring migration paths killed by traps within the same week in January 2013. of Golden Eagles overwintering in the Bitterroot Valley. Map based on satellite transmitter data from RVRI.

Golden Eagle with a satellite transmitter released by RVRI on the MPG Ranch near Florence, MT. Photo by RVRI

Why Is This Information Important? Knowing birds’ movements also helps us identify what areas or Why do we go to the lengths we do to understand bird movement, habitats are important to migrating and overwintering birds, and can given that some of these methods take a lot of time, a lot of money, prompt conservation efforts in those areas. The work done by the and cause stress to the birds involved? Most of the information we have Pacific Shorebird Migration Project showed that Long-billed Curlews about bird behavior and habitat is generated from research conducted breeding in Montana preferred agricultural lands while overwintering in the breeding season. However, most birds spend the majority of their in places like Texas—places that are currently experiencing some of the lives away from breeding territories—either migrating or overwintering. highest rates of agricultural land loss. If we want to sustain breeding During that time, they may be navigating through unfamiliar or populations of curlews in Montana, we may have to look south and changing landscapes, or concentrating in large numbers in small areas. work on protecting the agricultural lands of Texas and Mexico. And What risks do they encounter along the way? What sorts of habitats are our actions here may very well affect the breeding population of important while traveling and when they arrive? We can do everything Golden Eagles in Alaska. possible to protect birds and their habitat in Montana, but if they face Advances in technology hazards or habitat degradation elsewhere, we may not see sustainable are allowing us to uncover Thank you to the following individuals and institutions for sharing their data populations here. more fascinating aspects of for this article: Death of our study birds—which we discover either when a band the life history of Montana’s American Robin: Avian Science Center or tag is identified on a dead bird or when we get mortality signals birds, including information Trumpeter Swan: Blackfoot Challenge from a transmitter—gives us important insight into the risks birds face about all of the time they spend Northern Saw-whet Owls: Owl Research during migration and while on overwintering grounds. For example, elsewhere. It is our hope that this Institute, Julie Shaw, Dawn Garcia a Red-tailed Hawk trapped in Florence, MT, and found in Livermore, greater understanding will allow Hummingbirds: Ned and Gigi Batchelder CA, was electrocuted while feeding on a squirrel on a poorly configured us to work towards conservation Osprey, Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawk: utility pole. After the hawk’s death, the utility pole was retrofitted to be throughout the range of our Raptor View Research Institute, MPG Ranch Long-billed Curlews: Pacific Shorebird safer for raptors. Montana birds. Migration Project RVRI’s work has documented a high mortality rate for young Funding for the curlew project was provided by: Osprey. Though we can’t account for the causes of all mortalities, one —Kate Stone works as an the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, young Osprey was recovered by a rancher along a county road in Texas. Ecologist for the MPG Ranch. The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, U.S. Geological Survey, the membership of Point The Osprey had apparently collided with either a vehicle or nearby Adam Shreading works as a Blue Conservation Science, the USFWS Challenge wind turbine, just two months after leaving its nest in Montana. biologist for RVRI. Cost Share Program, the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, and the USDA Forest Service, Several Golden Eagles, including two bearing RVRI’s satellite Office of International Programs. transmitters, have perished in traps of some kind. “Elaine” was 8 MONTANA NATURALIST WINTER 2013-14

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 8 12/6/13 3:28 PM 9 Special Pull-Out Section: pull out and post these pages for handy reference. IST L 12/6/13 3:28 PM URA T A N Osprey 54’s flight path Osprey 54’s Osprey 54 with his sibling on

Dow Chemical Company complex Company Dow Chemical their nest near Florence, MT. Left: Below: based on satellite transmitter data from RVRI. WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA he return to the Bitterroot in the spring of 2014? Valley Map by Debbie Leick By Kate Stone and Adam Shreading Young Osprey in the typically spend at least two winters Young

frequents the wetlands surrounding a Dow Chemical of Texas. Company complex along the Gulf Coast “south” before returning to their breeding grounds. Osprey 54 has stayed in this general area since November of 2012. Will Photo by RVRI by Photo guide

outside get This past October, birders MargaretThis past October, and Greg Sloan Of the four young Osprey outfitted with transmitters in also observeWe that the habitat Osprey 54 is using

Your observations can make a difference! If you happen to see a bird with a leg observations can make a difference! If you happen to see a bird with Your on the can report your sighting band there are couple of things you can do. You website: www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/ USGS Bird Banding Lab’s can You project directly. best to try to contact the particular often it’s However, depending on species) Google “leg band eagle Montana” (or something similar, and see what organizations come up. For raptor sightings in Montana, you can website: www.raptorview.org/researchprojects.html. simply go to RVRI’s

Osprey 54: Follow That Bird! of techniques to learnSometimes biologists use a combination as much as possible about birds During and their movement. the summer of 2012, Raptor View Research Institute (RVRI) outfitted Osprey 54 with both a numbered leg band and a (See the map for Osprey 54’s route.) satellite transmitter. Lavaty were out photographing birds near Surfside, TX, when they realized the Osprey they were watching sported Through a a colored leg band and a satellite transmitter. network of Osprey researchers, they eventually got in touch with RVRI Osprey and the University of Montana Project. Their pictures are providing us with direct observations of Osprey habitat use. 54’s behavior and 2012, only Ospreystill alive. From 54 is Margaret and Greg’s photos, we can see that Osprey 54 clearly has no problem can also see that the satellite transmitter catching fish. We does not appear to be hindering the bird’s activities. looks very different from the breeding ground of western Osprey 54 Montana. Along with several other Osprey, Photos by Margaret Sloan Margaret by Photos MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 9 get outside calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

MNHC Hours: January miniNaturalists January Gallery, Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Pre-K Program, all month. and Saturday noon - 4 p.m. 10:00-11:00 a.m. Robert Neaves: Mustelids. Admission Fees: $2/adults, $1/children under 12 (maximum $6) 1 2 3 4 Free/children under 3 and Ravens MNHC members active, foraging in January Gallery all month. Robert Neaves: all kinds of Mustelids. weather January 2 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

January 15 Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter

Meeting, 4:00 p.m. Free and open to miniNaturalists the public. Glacial Lake Pre-K Program, Missoula Meeting, January 16 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, 10:00-11:00 a.m. 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. 4:00 p.m. January 22 Winter Speaker Series, 7:00 p.m. Beginning Beekeeping. $4 suggested 12 15 16 17 18 donation; MNHC members free. January 25 Saturday Kids’ Activity, Moose Winter Saturday 2:00-3:00 p.m. Hibernation Celebration. forage for Kids’ Activity. $3; $1 MNHC members. Speaker Series. willow Beginning Beekeeping, Hibernation January 29 Winter Speaker Series, twigs 7:00 p.m. Celebration, 7:00 p.m. Bioclimatology with Ashley Ballantyne. 2:00-3:00 p.m. $4 suggested donation; MNHC members free. Caleb Slemmons, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, Bugwood.org February Gallery all month. Leah Grunzke: 19 22 23 24 25 Montana Flowers.

February 4 Spring Master Naturalist Course, Winter 4:00-7:00 p.m. Tuesdays to May 6, with three Speaker Series. full-day field trips on February 22, March 8, Bioclimatology, and April 12. $395; 3 college credits available. 7:00 p.m. Call 327.0405 to register. February 5 Winter Speaker Series, 7:00 p.m. Naturalist Trivia Night. $4 suggested 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 donation; MNHC members free. February miniNaturalists Gallery, February 6 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, Winter Speaker Series. Pre-K Program, all month. 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. February Naturalist Trivia 10:00-11:00 a.m. Leah Grunzke: Spring Master Montana Flowers. February 6 Winter Night Nature Walk with Night, 7:00 p.m. Winter Night Naturalist Course, First Friday Gallery Val Hingston, 7:00-9:00 p.m. $5 suggested Nature Walk, Tuesdays to May 6, Opening, donation; MNHC members free. 7:00-9:00 p.m. 4:00-7:00 p.m. 4:30-6:30 p.m. February 7 First Friday Gallery Opening, 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday February 12 Winter Speaker Series, Winter Kids’ Activity. Speaker Series. 7:00 p.m. Owls with the Owl Research Institute. Montana’s $4 suggested donation; MNHC members free. Owls, 7:00 p.m. Canine Club, February 15 Saturday Kids’ Activity, 2:00-3:00 p.m. 2:00-3:00 p.m. Montana’s Canine Club. $3; $1 MNHC members. 11 12 13 14 15 February 19 Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter Meeting, 4:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Glacial Lake miniNaturalists Saturday Discovery February 20 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, Missoula Meeting, Pre-K Program, Day. Family Winter 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. 4:00 p.m. 10:00-11:00 a.m. Ecology Walk, February 22 Saturday Discovery Day, 10:00-12:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Family Winter Ecology Walk. $3; $1 MNHC members. USFWS Photo 18 19 20 21 22 March February 26 Winter Speaker Series, First blue- Gallery, Winter 7:00 p.m. Grizzly Bears with Jamie Jonkel. birds, robins, all month. Speaker Series. $4 suggested donation; MNHC members free. Leah Grunzke: red-wing Grizzly Bears, March Gallery Montana Flowers. all month. Leah Grunzke: blackbirds 7:00 p.m. Montana Flowers. return

10 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 Programs and events held at MNHC - 120 Hickory Street - unless otherwise noted.

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 10 12/6/13 3:28 PM get outside calendar SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY miniNaturalists March 6 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, Pre-K Program, 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. Great blue 10:00-11:00 a.m. March herons March 15 Saturday Kids’ Activity, 2:00-3:00 p.m. Rocks, Crystals, and Gems. return to $3; $1 MNHC members. nests 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 March 19 Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter Meeting, 4:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Saturday March 19 Winter Speaker Series, Kids’ Activity. 7:00 p.m. Hornaday’s Bison with Doug Coffman. Rocks, Crystals, $4 suggested donation; MNHC members free. and Gems, March 20 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, 2:00-3:00 p.m. 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. March 22 Saturday Discovery Day, 9 12 13 14 15 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Snow Geese at Freezeout Glacial Lake miniNaturalists Lake. $60; $50 MNHC members.

Missoula Meeting, Pre-K Program, March 26 Winter Speaker Series, 4:00 p.m. 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday Discovery 7:00 p.m. Flying Squirrels with Alex Badyaev. $4 Winter Day. Snow Geese at suggested donation; MNHC members free. Freezeout Lake, Speaker April Gallery all month. Stephanie Frostad. Series. Hornaday’s 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. Joy Viola, Northeastern University, Bugwood.org Joy Viola, Northeastern University, Bison, April 3 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, 16 7:00 p.m. 19 20 21 22 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. April 4 First Friday Gallery Opening, 4:30-6:30 Winter p.m. Aspen Speaker Series. Flying April 12 Saturday Kids’ Activity, catkins Squirrels, 7:00 p.m. 2:00-3:00 p.m. Beginning Birding for Kids. swell and $3; $1 MNHC members. open April 16 Glacial Lake Missoula Chapter Meeting, 4:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 April 17 miniNaturalists Pre-K Program, miniNaturalists 10:00-11:00 a.m. $3; $1 MNHC members. Pre-K Program, April

10:00-11:00 a.m. Gallery, April 23 Volunteer Naturalist Training, all month. 3:30-5:00 p.m. VNS Spring Field Trip Training. April Stephanie Frostad. Learn how to teach kids about the flora and First Friday Gallery fauna of western Montana during the May Opening, VNS school field trips. No prior experience 4:30-6:30 p.m. 1 2 3 4 5 necessary.

Saturday Flowers and Insects Kids’ Activity. Beginning Birding and Birds, Oh My! for Kids, Sign up for our Spring 2014 2:00-3:00 p.m. Montana Master Naturalist Course and learn all about the trees,

J Schmidt; YNP 8 9 10 11 12 flowers, birds and insects of the Glacial miniNaturalists place we call home. Taught by Lake Pre-K Program, MNHC Naturalist Brian Williams, Missoula Meeting, 10:00-11:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. our popular 12-week course will be offered on Tuesday evenings from February 4th to May 6th, with three full-day Saturday field trips. For 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 complete details, see the Calendar, Wolf cubs call 327.0405, or visit our website Volunteer are born at www.MontanaNaturalist.org. Naturalist Training, Look for these program 3:30-5:00 p.m. symbols in Montana Naturalist USFWS Photo 20 21 22 23 24 and on our website at www. MontanaNaturalist.org. Adult Program

Youth Program

Volunteer Opportunity

27 28 29 30 11 Visit www.MontanaNaturalist.org for directions. To register or to learn more, call MNHC at 327.0405.

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 11 12/6/13 3:28 PM

12/6/13 3:28 PM

Snowy Owl Sussex School

by Harriet Reese Winterer,

T T Y Z E I S B G O N J J W M Y I I I A K K K K C S G G H M by Linda Glaser by Uri Shulevitz T T T I V A A P B O H D N J M Book Corner:Book Wintry for Kids: Books Great Books to Snuggle Up With to Snuggle Great Books and Mark Buehner Dream Snow by Eric Carle Science ofThe Story of Snow: The by Mark Cassino Wonder Winter’s with Jon Nelson, Ph.D. Here is the Arctic Winter by Madeleine Dunphy Winter Eyes by Douglas Florian Not a Buzz to be Found: Insects in Winter The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats Backyard Birds of Winter by Carol Lerner Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner Little Tracks: Big Tracks, Following Animal Prints by Millicent E. Selsam Snow Animals in Winter by Henrietta Gelder Bancroft and Richard G. Van The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder Owl Moon by Jane Yolen A Kids’ Winter EcoJournal: With Nature Activities EcoJournal: With A Kids’ Winter Albert the Season by Toni for Exploring The Longest Night by Marion Dane Bauer A Perfect Day by Carin Berger Snowmen at Night by Caralyn

L X A R R B B B B U O O O D W Photos by Allison De Jong De Allison by Photos Z E A V P K K S R O O N W W M Y E E E C S R G O H N W M M S I T T L L F E E C C S R U O N T T L Z E S R U G O D D N N M T F E I I R R U G Q H H W M M T F Y E A C C U U G H N J W W T T L X F E E I A A R R B W W I E E I A A V A A K R B G N J T F E I V P S R R R U G O D N L Y E V A S U G G O H D D D W L X Z E S R B B U G Q O H H N guide WINTER 2013-14 IST L URA T A N COOPER’S HAWK CURLEW EAGLE HABITAT LEG BAND MEDICINE METIS MISKIHKIYA MOOSE OSPREY OVERWINTER RADIANT RUBBABOO OWL SAW-WHET TRANSMITTER UNGULATE WINTER TICK Winter Naturalist Word Search Fabulous Frost! Fabulous water vapor inFrost is created when to its solidthe air condenses directly on grass,state, forming ice crystals trees, fences, windows—basically any solid surface. Frost is very much except that it forms close like snow, to the ground rather than on tiny particles high in the clouds. When the temperature of the various surfaces—rocks, trees, etc.—drops below the dew point and below freezing, voilà! Frost! From a distance, frost looks white (because the tiny crystals scatter you’ll light), but if you look closer, that translucent—and see that it’s the crystals come in many different shapes and sizes. Here are some pictures of frost seen on the talus slopes along Bear Creek on an early winter hike. outside get

Special Pull-Out Section: pull out and post these pages for handy reference. MONTANA MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 12 1212 community focus Susie Graham and Jennifer Carlson Susie Graham and Jennifer Carlson are a team in the best sense of the word. Each of these teachers brings a unique personality and special talents into her own classroom, but it is together that they truly shine as educators. Jennifer grew up and earned her undergraduate and Master’s degrees in San Diego, and moved to Missoula six years ago. She has taught for 17 years, all of them in 4th grade, and the last six at Chief Charlo Elementary. Photo by Brian Williams Exceptional Educators MNHC’s 2013 Educator of the Year Awards went to three teachers from two Missoula schools: Michele Riordan, a 4th grade teacher from Hawthorne Elementary, and Jennifer Carlson and Susie Graham, 4th grade teachers at Chief Charlo Elementary. We Cover art by Jaiden Hettick

honored these three teachers for the countless Photo courtesy of Susie Graham

hours and extraordinary energy they have put Top: Michele Riordan with her Susie is a Montana native, a into piloting an extended version of our Visiting class’s “seasonal round” project. graduate of Sentinel High School Naturalist in the Schools (VNS) program. Above: Susie Graham taking kids and UM and a Montana Master Not only have they invited MNHC naturalists on an outdoor exploration. Naturalist. She has taught for Right: Jennifer Carlson into their classrooms for additional visits every 24 years, all in Montana, and in month, they have also reshaped their own curricula to dovetail with and expand every grade from 1st-8th. on the VNS lessons. Their hard work exponentially magnifies the positive impact In partnership, these two of the Montana Natural History Center on the lives of Montana children. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Carlson teachers are masters at the Here’s a little bit about our winners: sublime skill of translating a connection Michele Riordan with nature into quality academic Michele’s classroom is a place where each child is given the support, the structure, and the challenge performance. To detail just one example, to reach for her full potential. Because of this, and because of Michele’s unwavering dedication to Susie and Jennifer took a simple birding excellence, she has been an invaluable partner for the Montana Natural History Center. She helped trip in Moose Can Gully and turned it shape and pilot MNHC’s extended VNS program, and, every year, works to find new ways to help into a season-long learning expedition. MNHC naturalists sharpen their lessons as well infuse naturalist ideas in her classroom. Their students researched in the field Since earning her degree at MSU, Michele has taught for 20 years. For the last seven years, and classroom to hand-create a field she has taught 4th grade, where she has been part of the VNS program the entire time. guide to the local birds and plants, The students in Michele’s classroom don’t just work towards the goals of the Visiting Naturalist then capped off the experience by program on the days the naturalists visit, but on every day of the year, when they are integrated into guiding the members of the South Hills science lessons, social studies lessons or reading lessons. One small story illustrates how well Michele Neighborhood Council on a nature hike. integrates her curriculum: about a month after MNHC naturalist Brian Williams taught students Incredible. how to ask their own Testable Questions to design experiments (an amazing feat for a fourth grader), We are so grateful for the the class was working with microscopes, and one student asked, “Will this break if I drop it?” Before good work these teachers do in our Brian could answer, another student piped in, “That’s a testable question!” And so it was (but, community. Thank you, Michele, fortunately, one that did not get tested that day!). Jennifer, and Susie! 13 WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA NATURALIST

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 13 12/6/13 3:28 PM far afield Photos by Dan Bergeron Moose’s Bane: The Winter Tick By Alyssa McLean

oose are one of the reasons my husband and I are together that big, spooky, and silent so close to us. We looked at her for a few today. In January 2003, Chris and I were in northern New minutes in that still, cold forest, and then she meandered off. MHampshire, working on a project tracking moose and Many years, jobs, and states later, Chris and I are living in investigating the causes of winter mortality. The temperature was Montana and often see moose tracks and moose together. It’s always a -20°F and we had been following a cow for several chilly hours. special treat to see these huge animals appear out of the forest, and I’m Coming in late to the project as a temporary volunteer, I’d never always amazed by how silly they look. Moose have almost comically even seen a moose in the wild. After tramping around in the freezing long faces with huge nostrils, providing them with a good sense of cold, trying to get a visual on the moose, I finally announced that if smell, and they have a prehensile lip to help them grasp vegetation. he didn’t find her for me soon, I was leaving him. We’d just started That funny little flap of skin that sways below a moose’s chin is called a dating, and not sure if I was kidding, just cranky, or done with the dewlap, and there are a few theories about its function; during the rut, whole situation, Chris found the moose within a half an hour. the male rubs his chin against a cow, leaving his scent on the female, “There she is,” he said. which may deter other bulls. Dewlap size may be also be an indicator I looked, but didn’t see anything for a few minutes. I would have of dominance in males, although both males and females have dewlaps. thought something that large would be fairly obvious in a forest of One would think that moose, with their enormous size—they conifers and white snow, but she was camouflaged perfectly against the can weigh up to 1800 pounds—would have little trouble surviving stark trees. She moved, and the first thing I noticed was how huge she the winter as long as they could find enough food. I was surprised to was. And how close. All the stories of people being stomped by moose learn that one of their biggest challenges in winter comes from a tiny started to make sense in a way they never had before. I’d like to say organism: the winter tick. she was majestic, but if you’ve ever seen a moose, you know how goofy Winter tick, or Dermacentor albipictus, is one of the main causes they look. But it was still a magical moment to see another creature of winter mortality in moose. In small numbers, winter ticks don’t 14 MONTANA NATURALIST WINTER 2013-14

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 14 12/6/13 3:28 PM cause problems for these big ungulates. more energy removing ticks from its body, to remove ticks until February and March However, when a single moose is infested and spends less time feeding since it is so busy when the adult ticks become active, and thus with 40,000 winter ticks—or, in a particularly removing ticks. If enough ticks are feeding on lose hair and fat reserves later in the winter bad year, up to 150,000—the moose is in for the moose, the resulting blood loss can cause when high-energy foods are less available and a hard winter. anemia, since the moose will have a tough the animals have been through a few harsh Winter ticks live for a year, and parasitize time finding enough food between itching to months of winter already. In some cases, one host animal (interestingly, this makes replenish the blood taken by the ticks. when enough winter ticks afflict moose, the them unable to carry diseases, since they animals die from the stress and starvation don’t feed on multiple hosts). In the spring, One would think that moose, with caused by these infestations. female adult ticks lay eggs in the ground. Will this year be a bad one for The eggs hatch, the larval ticks eventually their enormous size, would have little moose? Winter tick numbers are related climb up on vegetation in September and trouble surviving the winter as long to temperature and precipitation, as well October, and then attach to host animals as they could find enough food. I was as moose densities in an area. Warm such as moose, elk, bison, and deer. The winter weather, lack of snow, and low larvae take some blood from the animal, surprised to learn that one of their precipitation in April seem to favor winter molt into nymphs and stay dormant until biggest challenges in winter comes tick survival, while excessively warm January, when they help themselves to weather in the summer may decrease tick another meal and molt into adults. During from a tiny organism: the winter tick. survival. As winter progresses this year, I’ll March and April, they continue taking keep looking for those moose tracks and blood from the host animal, mate, and rooting for the moose to make it through then fall off the animal to lay eggs. No ticks Although winter ticks aren’t picky about a relatively itch-free winter.

remain on the host animal come May, and which ungulates they spend the winter none re-attach until September. on, they seem to be the most detrimental —Alyssa McLean has been a Naturalist Unfortunately for moose, this life cycle to moose, perhaps due in part to the at the Montana Natural History Center occurs at a tough time of year. A moose grooming habits of moose. Deer, bison, and since June 2009. She has worked with covered with ticks in the winter will lose elk groom extensively in the fall and early a variety of wildlife, including moose, quite a bit of its hair—up to 80 percent—as winter, removing many of the winter tick prairie dogs, coyotes, bobcats, salamanders, it rubs and scratches to try to rid itself of the nymphs early before they molt into adults fish, mice, and migratory songbirds. itchy parasites infesting its body. This hair and therefore reducing hair, blood, and fat Alyssa enjoys learning about the natural loss results in fat reserves being depleted as reserve loss later in the winter. Moose, on the world and sharing that interest with the moose struggles to stay warm, expends other hand, don’t begin intensive grooming the kids she is lucky enough to teach. Photo by Ron Moen

Opposite page: Moose in various stages of tick affliction. Left: When moose attempt to scratch off the ticks, they end up scratching off much of their hair as well. Above: Winter ticks, which can grow to the size of a grape after feeding, infest moose in the tens of thousands and don’t drop off until spring. Photo by Lev Frid 15 WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA NATURALIST

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 15 12/6/13 3:28 PM 16 MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 16 MONTANA N A T URA News from the Montana L IST IST Natural History Center WINTER 2013-14 imprints Director’s Award: Stephanie Frostad.Ifyouhaven’tseenityet,pleasestopby! On October4th,weunveiledourbeautifulmural,“Radiant,”designedbyMissoulaartist all shehasdoneandcontinuestodoonourbehalf:Thankyou, Mindy! needy kidsandschools—andwe already have feedbackfrom folkswhocan’t waittoattendnextspring.For spring. It andsuccessfulevent—a fundraiserfortheMNHCscholarshipfundtobenefit wasawonderful with herhusbandStuart, ofMNHC. anongoingsupporter plants andfalldecorationsforeachannualevent andhasremained, on herfamilyandtwoyoung children, shestillgenerously contributes to inspire us. While Mindy lefttheboard acoupleofyears agotofocus standardfundraiser shesetanew forqualityandsuccess thatcontinues over theannualCelebrationandAuction. While headofthisannual board sixyears ago. It didn’t takelongforhertovolunteer topreside Mindy Volunteer oftheYear Award: Thank you, John andShermy. and he’s spacenextspring. tohelpingus unpack allthebooksinournew lookingforward compassion andkindness.John continuestohelpwithourgarden collection, programs andwiththelibrary years they helpedbox months. upthe3,000+bookstobeputinstoragefornextfew in goodorder, andtheyshared ourexcitement aboutMNHC’s space,even as buildingprojectlibrary andnew area, andprocessbooks. new the library Together they’ve keptthelibrary each week they’d ourcollection,cleanandorganize comeintoinventory the twoofthemhave beenfamiliarfigures atMNHC. For hours afew library, hiswifeShermy librarian Minie Smith. monthsafterJohn Afew beganworking inthe Environmental Education Library, taking over from long-timevolunteer but theothertaskhetookonwasmanagingRalphLeeAllen spent muchtimeandenergyhelpingoutattheNative Plant Garden, John Bremer Bremer John &Shermy Mindy’s generous spiritalsoledhertohostourfirstannual Women’s ScholarshipLuncheon thispast

We are sograteful forJohn andShermy, forallthetime they’ve given toMNHCthesepast Then, thispastspring,Shermy andJ ago hadreturned, andshepassedawaythispastJuly. has been an enthusiastic supporter ofMNHCsincejoiningthe has beenanenthusiasticsupporter began volunteering atMNHCthree years ago. He’s joined him, and for the past couple of years joined him,andforthepastcoupleofyears Mindy Goldberg ohn discovered thatthecancer Shermy afew hadsurvived

We missher—hersenseofhumorand

y ears. 12/6/13 3:28 PM

Photo courtesy of Mindy Goldberg Photo courtesy of John Bremer MNHC Photo Black Cat Bakery Jeff Freeman *Ryan Newhouse So Much To Celebrate! Black Coffee Roasting Co. Jim Ellis *Sam Manno, Once again, we’d like to convey our sincere thanks Bob Ward and Sons Kettlehouse Opportunity Resources to everyone who attended MNHC’s Fall Celebration Book Exchange Lake Missoula Tea Company Sawadee Thai Restaurant Boone & Crockett Club Lance Schelvan Scotty’s Table and Auction at the DoubleTree Hotel on October Break Espresso Larchmont Golf Course *Sea and Adventures, Inc. 11th. Some 235 people helped us raise $86,000 in *Bridge Pizza Le Petit Selvedge Studio support of nature education for children and adults. Brierwoods Wood Crafting Leah Grunzke Snowbowl We are especially grateful for your outstanding Caffe Firenze *Lewis and Clark Trail Sotto Voce response to our Visiting Naturalist in the Schools *Carol and Hank Fischer Adventures *Stephanie Frostad Cecile Sorensen *Liz Bradley Steve Loken challenge, which will enable us to continue *Charlie and Mary Lynn *The Lodge at Whitefish Lake Stevensville Playhouse providing quality natural history education to area Eiseman Lois & Lance Schelvan *Stuart and Mindy Goldberg schoolchildren in 2014 and beyond. And, of course, China Woods *Maclay Ranch Subway at Southgate Mall we couldn’t have done it without the following *Clark Fork Coalition Marcia Kircher *Tamarack Brewery businesses and individuals whose generosity and Coldstone Creamery *Marianne Forrest *Teller Wildlife Refuge *Colleen Fischer, Marilyn Marler Ten Spoon Winery hard work made the whole event possible. (Please Austin City Limits *Metalworks of Montana The Golgi Clinic accept our apologies for any missed names.) Costco *Mike Foote Trailhead MNHC Photo Thank you! *Courtney Babcock Missoula Art Museum University of Montana Bookstore Cowgirls Salon & Spa Missoula Country Club Val Hingston Cracker Barrel Missoula Maze Valerie Bayer *David Schmetterling Montana Trout Unlimited Wapiti Waters Dickey’s BBQ Montgomery Distillery *Wendy Brown *Dr. Dick Hutto Mountain Press Publishing *Whitefish Mountain Resort *Don Mundt, Murdoch’s Whitney Schwab Montana Art and Framing *Nancy Erickson *William Lenoch Don Stierle *Dr. Nathan Varley, *The Youth Farm, Downtown Dance Collective The Wild Side A Collaboration of Garden DraughtWorks Native Yards Landscaping City Harvest and Youth Homes Photo by Leah Grunzke Earth and Wood Naturalist’s Mercantile YoWaffle Auction Sponsors Wells Fargo El Diablo Open Road Bicycles Zootown Arts Community Center Allied Waste (Republic Service) Western Montana OBGYN Fact and Fiction *Paul and Jeanne Moseley Zone 4 Magazine Anderson Zurmuehlen WGM Group Families First/ *Peak Health and Boyle, Deveny and Meyer Children’s Museum Wellness Center Brian and Karen Sippy Auction Contributors Finn and Porter PEAK Racquet Club Auction Volunteers: Foundation *Live Auction Donors Five on Black Pink Grizzly Aimee Kelley Butterfly Properties 2nd St. Sushi & Asian Grill Five Valleys Land Trust Pruyn Veterinary Hospital Anna Semple Community Medical Center A Balanced Body Garage Tees of Missoula ReCreate Designs Carly Harmon Cowgirl Salon and Spa *Abe Risho, Silk Road Go Fetch! REI Carolyn Hart First Security Bank Adventure Cycling Great Harvest Bread Company River Otter Fly Shop Claire Muller Four Paws Allison De Jong Greek Gyro and #1 Gyros Rivulet Apiaries & Courtney Wall Good Food Store *Animal Wonders Green Light Hindu-Hillbilly Farms Ellen Myers International Heart Institute Annie Garde Grizzly Hackle *Rob Domenech, Raptor View Gary Graham Dr. James Ouellette, DDS Anonymous Grizzly Liquor Research Institute Heidi May Dr. John Snively, DDS Arnie Olsen *Hardy Eshbaugh Rockin’ Rudy’s Janet Allison Johnson Law Firm Bad Goat Forest Products Harlan Ockler Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Jesse Bergeson Julie Gardner Realty Bagels on Broadway Heritage Timber Rocky Mountain Hearing - Jocelyn Catterson Kathy and Jack Ward Thomas Bernice’s Bakery Hidden Legend Winery Glenn Hladek Julia Edwards Missoula Bone and Joint Betty Oleson Hide and Sole Rocky Mountain Map Gallery Kallie Moore MMW Architects Betty’s Divine Hobie Hare Rocky Mtn. ENT, Dr. Phil Gardner Leah Grunzke Montana Cancer Specialists Big Dipper Holiday Inn Downtown Romaines Lena Viall Olsen Orthodontics Big Sky Beekeepers Home ReSource Ruby Moon Originals - Rachael Alter Pea Green Boat *Big Sky Brewery Jack & Wendy Sturgis Laura Snyder Theresa Duncan Dr. Robert Korenberg *Bill Caras, Caras Nursery Jaker’s Bar and Grill Runner’s Edge Val Hingston Twin Cranes Dental Group *Black Cat Bakery *Janet McGahan *Run Wild Missoula Wendy Sturgis

2013 American Endowment Foundation Kendeda Fund Plum Creek Foundation Cinnabar Foundation LEAW Family Foundation PPL Montana Community Foundation Foundation Drollinger Family Charitable Foundation Lolo National Forest Ross Charitable Fund Support Elizabeth Wakeman Henderson Charitable Foundation Max and Betty Swanson Foundation Southgate Mall Engelhard Foundation Merrill Lynch Springfield Foundation MNHC gratefully First Security Bank Missoula Community Foundation Steele-Reese Foundation acknowledges the Friends of Lee Metcalf NWR M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Tides Foundation following foundations and Gallagher Western Montana Charitable Foundation Montana Community Foundation U.S. Forest Service organizations that help make Harrington Charitable Unitrust My Good Fund University of Montana our educational programs Hellgate Hunters and Anglers Outdoor Nation and The Trailhead Vanguard Endowment Program possible. Thank you!

17 WINTER 2013-14 MONTANA NATURALIST

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 17 12/6/13 3:28 PM MAGPIE MARKET ry page g. Eve is w min orth fra Children will be delighted by the fourteen diverse North American plants depicted in Fiddleheads to Fir Trees, from weep- ing willow and cedar to cattail and poison ivy. Mountain Press For Ages 6 and Up PUBLISHING COMPANY 32 pages, hardback, $12 P.O. Box 2399 • Missoula, MT 59806 • 406-728-1900 800-234-5308 • [email protected] www.mountain-press.com Please include $4 for s/h

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Volunteer Field Notes with our Visiting Hear all about the flora, fauna, bugs and Naturalist in birds of western and central Montana. the Schools Program! Field Notes can be heard Sundays at 12:25 p.m. Love kids? Love nature? and Mondays at 3:00 p.m. on KUFM/KGPR radio, Help MNHC’s staff naturalists teach 3rd-5th graders about the 89.1 in Missoula and 89.9 in Great Falls. natural world with hour-long lessons on winter adaptations, Field Notes welcomes new writers skulls, birds and more. and sponsors. Contact the To volunteer or for information, contact Allison De Jong, Montana Natural History Center www.goodfoodstore.com | Missoula | 406.541.3663 Volunteer Coordinator at 327.0405 or [email protected]. at 327.0405 for details.

A buzz-worthy series of beekeeping courses.

Apprentice to Master-Level, and everyone in bee-tween! Become a Certified Master Naturalist! Sign up for our Spring 2014 Taught by one of the Montana Master Naturalist Course nation’s premier bee and learn all about the trees, research teams. flowers, animals and insects of the place we call home. Taught by MNHC Naturalist Brian Williams, Interactive instruction and our popular 12-week course will be offered on Tuesday evenings from beeyard experience. February 4th to May 6th, with three full-day Saturday field trips. For complete details, see the Calendar, Now offered online! call 327.0405, or visit our website at www.MontanaNaturalist.org. umt.edu/bee School of Extended & Lifelong Learning

MAGPIE MARKET

MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 18 12/6/13 3:28 PM reflections

Winter Trees by William Carlos Williams Photo by Allison De Jong All the complicated details of the attiring and the disattiring are completed! A liquid moon moves gently among the long branches. Thus having prepared their buds against a sure winter the wise trees stand sleeping in the cold.

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MNHC_Naturalist Wtr13-14.indd 19 12/9/13 11:59 AM NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE Connecting People with Nature PAID 120 Hickory Street PERMIT 569 Missoula, MT 59801 MISSOULA, MT www.MontanaNaturalist.org

Montana Natural History Center is an equal opportunity service provider. Montana Natural History Center trips are permitted on the Lolo National Forest (Clause VII.B).

Family & Individual Yes! I want to become a member and support the Membership Benefits Montana Natural History Center. All memberships are annual. Annual subscription to Montana Naturalist Family Membership: $50 Individual Membership: $35 Free visitor center admission Discounts on all programs Supporting Membership (magazine only): $10 Invitations to special programs All gifts are tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Access to the Ralph L. Allen Environmental Education Library I am enclosing payment by check.

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Why can’t we Fall 2013 City State Zip lijustst get along? Natura Hiking Columbia Natura Mountain list All About Bones Birds in Snow Stargazing and More Phone page 9

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MNHC_Naturalist Spr13.indd 1 Signature 8/29/13 11:29 AM f you have enjoyed the articles and I photos in Montana Naturalist, won’t Sign me up for the monthly email newsletter. you please help us continue to celebrate Email address: Montana’s natural history by becoming a supporting member? Your $10 donation will I want to volunteer! Send me a volunteer application. go directly to support the costs of producing I would like more information on making a planned gift or gift of stock. this magazine. Thank you! Make us your base camp for discovery with a visit to our website – Please send donations to: www.MontanaNaturalist.org. Become a member online, explore our programs Montana Naturalist, and discover where the Montana Natural History Center can take you! c/o Montana Natural History Center Fill out and mail to Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory Street, Missoula, MT 59801 120 Hickory St. or Fax: 406.327.0421 Missoula, MT 59801

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