November 6, 2022 A light snowfall blanketed Missoula overnight, and this morning my feet are feeling the approach of winter. They’re screaming gradually louder at […]
Hope for a dammed stream: watching Rattlesnake Creek change
November 1, 2022 It’s probably the last mild day before winter hits. Among the golden cottonwoods, Rattlesnake Creek is the very image of an idyllic […]
Attacked by pygmy nuthatches: unusual behavior in the ponderosas
October 26, 2022 It was one of the more curious things I’ve observed in the ponderosa pine forest. At first the interaction seemed peaceful. A […]
Atacado por bajopalos enanos: una sorpresa en los pinos
26 de octubre de 2022 Fue una de las cosas más curiosas que nunca he observado en el bosque de pinos ponderosas (Pinus ponderosa). Al […]
Kochia: what this despised weed does for fall sparrows
Kochia (Kochia scoparia): the mention of this weed conjures consternation in the minds of many. But when I think of kochia, I think of sparrows. […]
Finding nature near Missoula: walking through fall at Kelly Island
Note: I updated this story slightly in May 2024, and completely redid the accompanying podcast. In part, this was inspired by Lynda Saul, one of […]
Encontrando la naturaleza en Missoula: el otoño por Kelly Island
Nota: Actualicé esta historia en mayo de 2024, cuando también la traduje al español con el apoyo generoso de mi oyente Lynda Saul. Yo estaba […]
El Lago Helena y sus patos increíbles
4 de octubre de 2022 “Este lugar es como una fábrica de patos frisos,” dice Mark Mariano. Hoy me he reunido con Mark, un ecólogo […]
Lake Helena and its amazing ducks
October 4, 2022 “This place is like a gadwall factory,” says Mark Mariano. Today I’ve joined Mark, a Butte-based ecologist who works for Rampart Solutions […]
Stories to watch for: Helena’s fall and winter birds
Fall has come gently to the Helena Valley this year. Temperatures have floated well above average. Killing frosts and early snowstorms have been delayed. Nevertheless, […]