Articles
75 posts
Understanding Bird Nest Structures and Identification Clues
A field-guide reference to reading bird nests by structure, materials, placement and eggs, with a printable observation template and guidance for watching prairie nests responsibly.
Reading Soil Survey Maps for Prairie Nature Observation
How to read soil survey maps to predict prairie vegetation, wetlands and bird habitat around Medicine Lake, Montana, and how to plan careful, low-impact field visits.
Choosing a Bird Citizen Science Project
How to pick a bird citizen science project that fits your time, skills and setting, from casual checklists to structured prairie surveys, with tips for careful field observation.
Understanding Bird Breeding Evidence Codes
A plain-language guide to bird breeding evidence codes used in eBird and breeding bird atlases: what the categories mean, how to choose the right code and how to observe nesting birds responsibly on the prairie.
Understanding Watershed Boundaries and Drainage Maps
What sets a watershed's boundary, how to trace one on a topographic map or in GIS, and why flat, pothole-dotted prairie like the country around Medicine Lake makes drainage maps harder to read.
Selecting Support and Setting Up a Birdwatching Spotting Scope
How to match a spotting scope to a tripod by load and mounting interface, then mount, balance, aim and focus it, using a Celestron Ultima 100 and TrailSeeker tripod as the example.
Documenting and Reporting an Observed Banded Bird
How to record color bands, leg flags and metal band numbers accurately, and how to choose the right reporting route for a banded bird.
Recording and Documenting Bird Sounds for Identification Help
How to record prairie bird sounds with a smartphone, save and export the original file, add useful notes, and get identification help or attach audio to an eBird checklist.
Documenting Prairie Burrow Entrances and Occupant Uncertainty
How to record prairie burrow entrances, mounds and habitat in Montana grasslands while keeping the original digger, current occupant and unseen tunnels separate.
Reading Prairie Feeding Relationships and Their Evidence
How to tell observed consumption, apparent feeding, published diet links and ecological explanations apart when reading or building prairie food webs.