Interesting Birds

[Steven B in PV]

Pine Marten and Long-tailed Weasels! I would LOVE to see them and didn't know they were around here. I am usually focused on looking up when I hear those jay and crow alerts, only just scanning the ground. Now you've inspired me to bring binoculars on my walks now. 
John I've seen that one around our house as well, such a beauty. Thanks for the photo and all the good intel neighbors!

We're so fortunate to live in an area where we're surrounded by wildlife.  I see Pine Marten and Long-tailed Weasels every year, sometimes the tiny Short-tailed Weasel, and lately Mink on the stream by the cabin.  Last year, I watched a weasel kill and carry off a rabbit right next to the cabin.  A few weeks ago, a friend in Ward got photos of a Long-tailed in it's white winter coat as it took down a rabbit outside her window.  Mountain cottontails weigh six times that of a weasel which can easily haul them away.  I have no doubt that a 9 oz. weasel could kill one of my 8 lb. cats if they were ever to get out of the house.  I once watched a Pine Marten carry a Snowshoe Hare to the top of a tree to keep ground predators from stealing it's kill.  And I've watched martens scavenge on deer and elk.

Many times, I've called martens and weasels to me and had them stand against my leg looking up to the source of the call.  They can often be found by the presence of mobbing birds.

A few years ago, I got great video of male and female Pine Martens sparring over the remains of an elk carcass.  Here are stills from video of the male checking out my pack, and the smaller female sheltering in the hollow of a log.