Mission Mountains and Ninepipe NWR Photo by Merle Ann Loman -- National Geographic Your Shot

Mission Mountains and Ninepipe NWR Photo by Merle Ann Loman -- National Geographic Your Shot

FWP hosting women's ice fishing workshop in February

Ice Fishing — February 8-10, 2013

Near Bigfork, MT

Fee: $100

Don't sit inside waiting for the long winter months to pass by. Put on some warm clothes, get outside and try ice fishing. This workshop is at Big Sky Bible Camp with a very short walk to Peterson Lake. You'll learn to use ice fishing rods and tip-ups and other gear like ice augers and sonar fish finders. The workshop is for beginner and intermediate anglers and includes some optional indoor activities and night fishing. The registration fee includes all your fishing equipment, 2 nights lodging dn meals from Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast.

Beyond BOW Ice Fishing Brochure ( 857 KB)

Bitterroot elk in December

I took a late afternoon hike and came upon a pretty good sized herd of elk. There was at least one bull with 4 points, plenty of cows and calves and a few rag-horn and spike bull. One young bull seemed curious about me so I got a few photos. Today was overcast and by now it was getting very dark, but here is what I was able to get.

American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis

Lots of Goldfinches here (west of Victor, MT USA) this fall.

See more below.

Western Larch - Larix occidentalis, Fall in the Bitterroot Mountains

Click on the photos to "buy" online.

Exhibit Oct 1 - Nov 17, Photography through a naturalist's lens

A Montana View photography collage[/caption]Wednesday, October 3, 2012
4:30pm until 7:00pm
Montana Natural History Center, 120 Hickory St., Missoula, Montana, 59801

Note: Merle is installing art the last week of September. The show actually runs Oct 1 through mid Nov. The lobby/gallery is open Tues - Fri 12:00 - 5:00 pm, Sat 12:00 - 4:00 pm. Hope to see you all there! There will be a few "special opening dates," Oct 3 and Oct 10. More info to follow.

The Montana Natural History Center is pleased to announce the Gallery Opening for “Photography through a naturalist's lens," an exhibit by Merle Ann Loman, A Montana View.

See the photos online at Merle Ann Loman, A Montana View photography at Fine Art America.

Science, documentation and art can describe photography and the study of natural history. Merle Ann Loman is passionate about them both. So “naturally,” photography is how she captures visual art, the art of the moment, and acutely records her experiences with nature.

As a naturalist photographer, she strives to create photographs that are sharply focused, detailed, simple in composition, and that instill a connection between humans and nature. Her creations record ordinary everyday subjects with a sense of artistry. Her most basic goal is to capture nature through photography without altering it, and to provide documentation that promotes the appreciation, study and understanding of natural history through all seasons and over longer / extended periods of time.

Displaying over 50 photos in various sizes, the show features three western Montana areas through seasons: 1) National Bison Range near Moise, 2) Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge near Stevensville, 3) the Bitterroot in general including the photos from the river, valley and mountains. Information sheets will accompany each collection with species, date taken, and location noted.

"Chokecherries for dinner" by amontanaview | Redbubble

"Chokecherries for dinner" by amontanaview | Redbubble:



American Robin – Turdus migratorius. Robins were feeding on our Chokecherries (Chokecherry – Prunus virginiana, in the rose family) in early September. Taken west of Victor, Montana USA. The Grosbeaks began feeding on this bush and even though the robins are a smaller bird, they took over this bush. It was fun to watch the frenzy as the hopped, flapped, chased and then gobbled the berries, large seeds and all. My first time catching a robin catching a berry.

Canon EOS 7D, 1/160s, f/4.0, ISO: 320, 500 mm, manual setting, tripod
Canon EF500mm f/4L IS USM lens

The largest thrush in North America. The male has deep grayish to dark-brown upperparts with blackish head, white crescents above and below eye, rich reddish underparts with white throat streaked with black and white undertail-coverts. The bill is yellow. The female is similar but paler overall. Juveniles have a spotted breast. This species is common year-round over all of Montana.