Kids vs. BEETLES

  It's been a busy time for us here at MNHC.  Visiting Naturalist field trips are in full swing, summer camp registration is booming and we're switching up things at the front desk.  I, Julia, will be leaving Missoula in a few weeks to begin a new adventure.  My fiance and I will be taking a 9-month long trip around the world starting in June.  I am thrilled about traveling and equally thrilled that we were able to find an excellent new office manager to hold down the fort.  Her name is Debra Jones and she hails from Spokane, WA.  She enjoys traveling with her husband, J.P. and hiking with her hardy-for-her-size Shorkie, Luna.  Make sure you say hi to her next time you come down to the center!

  A few weeks ago Annika Johns visited us to lead a Kid's Activity about beetles, a subject she researches at the university under Professor Doug Emlen.  The kids were so excited to hold beetle larva and learn about the life cycle of beetles. 

 

  A big thanks to Annika and her (hopefully not too scared) horned beetles.  The kids had a great time!

Be sure to join us at MNHC this Saturday, May 8th for another insect Kid's Activity.  This time, our very own Jessie Sherburne will be helping kids learn to identify different insects and take the group out on a bug-capturing adventure.  See you there!

Happy Earth Day!

  Yesterday was an exciting day for us here at MNHC.  Lisa Bickell, our intrepid Education Director, led a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of five new interpretive trail signs along the Clark Fork River Trail.  In a collaboration with the Biomimicry Institute, Run Wild Missoula and the State Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, MNHC created these signs to explain how certain biological attributes of local species are inspiring scientists to create and improve products for humans.

  Mayor Engen was also on hand to help with the ribbon cutting.  He reiterated that improving the trails in Missoula enhances life for all residents and encourages them to get outside.  More improvements will be coming to the trails thanks to this partnership - mile markers, additional signage and detailed trail maps will all debut this summer so stay tuned!

  Be sure to read the Missoulian's article about the ribbon cutting and check out the video!


Stay tuned for photos - our internet is a little slow today!

Owl Trapping with Denver Holt

The following incredible pictures were taken by UM graduate student Tom Rogers on a recent outing with Denver Holt.  The field trip was part of the University of Montana's Avian Field Techniques course taught by Professor Dick Hutto and two graduate students.

The group spent the day trapping long-eared owls as part of Denver's long-term study monitoring owl numbers in Western Montana.  The team used a misty net for capture, walking up and down the woody draw to flush the owls into the net.  Trained handlers were in charge of processing the birds: taking their wing cord, mass and sex estimate (based on feather patterns).  After this information was collected, the owls were released safely back into the wild.

Long-eared owls have an average wingspan of 86-98 cms

This is an owl ear, believe it or not!

Tom also reported the team saw a Great Horned Owl nesting in the draw.  So cool!  For more information on Denver Holt and his research, visit the Owl Research Institute here.

Playing with Fire

MNHC hosted a wonderful lecture on Wednesday.  Speaker Tony Harwood, the Salish-Kootenai Tribe Fire Management Division Manager, discussed the many ways that the Salish-Kootenai used fire to renew land for spiritual as well as ecological reasons.  If you missed him speak, be sure to check out the exhibit "When the Mountains Roared: The Fire of 1910," opening March 28th at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.

Nature Detectives

Last Saturday we held a wonderful Track Detective kid's workshop, led by UM grad student Elliott Parsons. We had expected some snow on the ground for the activity, but luckily mud is just as good at showing animal tracks!  First, Elliott talked to the kids about the evidence animals leave behind as clues that they were once in an area.  Then, everyone went outside for a scavenger hunt!  All the kids had a sheet of paper and went on the prowl for their items.  Along the way, Elliott pointed out all sorts of tracks: dog, cat, mice, squirrel, and even fox!  They also saw fox scat and logs that beavers had munched.  In the end, everyone arrived back at the center for some hot cocoa (even though it was 50 degrees out!) and snacks.

 

Coyote tracks, which we did not see!

All this talk of tracking reminded me of an e-mail I got a few months back from a friend of MNHC named Carolyn.  She sent us some really cool pictures of porcupine tracks in snow from her trip to Colorado: 

 

Pretty neat, huh?   You can just imagine them meandering along, minding their own business.  A few weeks ago I was giving my dog a quick walk at night off-leash and we saw a porcupine walking right down the street in our neighborhood.  Luckily I saw the little guy before my dog - he would definitely have wanted to go say hi!

If you have interesting pictures of your own adventures, please share them with us!  Provide us with your name (and let us know if you'd like to remain anonymous), pictures and a brief description of the pictures.

Send your submissions to office (@) montananaturalist.com

Weekly Round-Up February 26th

Can you believe February is almost over? Based on the weather, can you believe it was ever February at all?

All of us at MNHC are getting excited for the weekend (which for some of us, starts on Sunday). We are dog-tired but thrilled at all the great programming we put on this week - everything from Teachers' Workshops to Center Visits to Evening Lectures to the Master Naturalist classes. This week had it all!

Wednesday brought us an awesome lecture by University of Montana student Shannon Hilty about her research on pikas. Shannon has monitored pikas all over the Bitterroot region and is studying their habitat patterns.

These adorable little creatures are potential forecasters of rising temperatures. Due to their high sensitivity to heat, pikas are believed by some biologists to be an early-warning indicator of climate change in their habitats. Shannon is working on estimating the pika population in the Bitterroots and identifying the range of elevation they tolerate. Her research will eventually help biologists determine if there is a correlation between pika movement and climate change.

As we get ready for the weekend, take a look at the following interesting links:

Looking for a pair of ostrich boots? The Fish and Wildlife Service is auctioning off exotic contraband in Texas this week.

The Missoula Independent reports on the mysteries surrounding Colorado's first potential wolf pack in 70 years.

Montana Snowbowl is hosting its annual Gelande Championship this weekend. Think of it as Missoula's answer to the Olympics.

Our friends at Montana Wildlife Gardener profile the building of an outdoor grill shed. Burgers anyone?

That's it for now! If you have any news or would like to share pictures of your adventures in the Montana outdoors, please email us at office (@) montananaturalist.org. We want to hear from you!

Have a great weekend everyone! Have as much fun as this elk calf, in a video sent to us by friend of MNHC Ellen!

First Friday at MNHC a Smashing Success!

A few weeks ago the Natural History Center held its first ever First Friday event! The Center is lucky enough to host the Glacier Centennial Art show this month, which is traveling all across the state this year in celebration of Glacier National Park's Centennial. From photographs to oil paintings to jewelry, the fourteen pieces of art showcase the diverse interpretations of Glacier's natural beauty. The art will eventually be auctioned off later this year, with proceeds to benefit Glacier National Park's non-profit partners.

Ancient Quiet, Photograph

Bret Bouda 

View from the Backyard, Linocut

Kelly Apgar

The Crown Jewels, Dye on Silk

Nancy Cawdrey

Of course you must understand why we had to throw a little shindig to show off this collection. A well-placed story in the Missoulian combined with a special visit by Glacier National Park Superintendent Chas Cartwright attracted quite the crowd!  The Superintendent gave a nice speech while visitors nibbled on hors d'oeuvres and sipped wine. After the speech, guests stayed on eating, drinking and admiring the art well into the night. After such success, there may be more First Friday events to come!

Jessie, our Community Programs Coordinator, welcomes visitors to the Center

If you haven't yet visited us to check out the collection, you still have until the end of the month to catch it! Come down to the Center at 120 Hickory Street any time from 12-5 on Tuesday-Friday or 12-4 on Saturdays.