Red-breasted nuthatch making a cavity in Cottonwood snag

Red-breasted nuthatch building a nesting cavity in a Cottonwood snag. West of Victor, MT near Bear Creek - 2012.03.27 this is the sixth day I have been watching this process. In the 2 minute video you get an idea how long it takes to excavate a cavity. They actually excavate up to 4 holes and choose one to raise their brood in. In the audio, you will hear a little bit of wind.

Red-breasted Nuthatch - nest cavity Click the link to the left to see online album of still photos on SmugMug - same nuthatch.

One of my favorite Bitterroot River slideshows

Jack, John Hickman, Freda and I fished the lower Bitterroot on Sunday. Quiet, beautiful day and the fishing was great, too.

"Blooming beauty - Clivia" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Blooming beauty - Clivia" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Beautiful flower, taken near Victor, Montana USA.
Canon EOS 7D, 1/20s, f/7.1, ISO:400, 156 mm, manual, cropped
SIGMA 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Aspherical DF Macro SLD Autofocus Lens

"Clivia" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Clivia" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

In the Amaryllis family, native of southern Africa. Common names include Kaffir lily. It is very easy to grow. Mine flowers in late winter. When the flowers are done, beautiful red seed pods develop where the flowers were.

"Sweet little pony" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Sweet little pony" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

This is a pony at our local organic dairy farm in Victor, Montana USA. He is getting up there in age, but tell him that. He is sweet as can be and loves to visit.

Canon EOS 7D, SIGMA 24-70mm f/2.8 EX DG Aspherical DF Macro SLD Autofocus Lens
1/320s, f/13, ISO:800 45 mm, ISO:800

"Looking over her shoulder, cow elk in the spring" by amontanaview | RedBubble

"Looking over her shoulder, cow elk in the spring" by amontanaview | RedBubble:

Taken in the early evening west of Victor, Montana USA near Sweathouse Creek in mid-March. This was a small group of elk, about 12 of them at the base of the Bitterroot Mountains. There were a few White-tailed deer mixed in with these elk cows, calves and a few spikes (young bull elk). The mature cows will be dropping their young in a few months. They are looking for nutritious feed and lots of it.

Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM,
1/400s, f/5.6, ISO: 320, 300mm, manual setting

Steller's Jay - Cover photo for Montana Naturalist Winter 2011-2012

Cover photo for Montana Naturalist Winter 2011-2012 
From my Steller's Jay series. Sequential photo is available on RedBubble.

"Steller's Jay in winter" by amontanaview | RedBubble: Study in blue. Blue sky peaking through the clouds and a blue Steller’s Jay on a Ponderosa Pine branch covered in hoar frost. Taken near Ronan, Montana USA. Canon EOS 7D, 1/320s, f/5.0, ISO: 320 Cannon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM lens