Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 15 ird tier of the bald eagle menu would be mam- mals. At times ground squirrels and prairie dogs come in handy. e wide variety of items a bald eagle can catch is surely an advantage when it comes to survival. But just to expand the possibilities a little more, bald eagles also indulge in eating carrion. Juveniles especially utilize this form of food, easy to catch when they're still mastering the hunt. e golden eagle, on the other hand, makes mid- dle-sized mammals its leading choice, even though on rare occasion it dispatches a mammal as large as an adult deer, pronghorn, or mountain goat. Day in and day out, jackrabbits, prairie dogs, and marmots are the mainstays. A habitat in grasslands, sagebrush-steppe, and alpine areas can all be rich in these, and therefore in golden eagles. For the golden, the second tier food includes birds, particularly ring-necked pheasants in winter. (Like bald eagles, some golden eagles stay the winter and Watch a live raptor demo. Take a family nature walk. Get your face painted. Hear raptor and related talks. The Bridger Raptor Festival draws 4,000 people annually to the Bozeman area for a smorgasbord of free activities. The participants? They range from young to old, from raptor dabblers to devotees. Here's what's in store. "Sky Migrations," a short documentary, opens the festival at Bozeman's Ellen Theater with two of the film's directors on hand (Friday October 4, 6:30 p.m.). The festival continues Saturday and Sunday at Bridger Bowl Ski Area, 16 miles north of town. Here visitors both days can pick activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday the day closes with Oktoberfest, a mix of beer, food and music from 3 until 6. By design the festival falls during peak raptor migration. Golden eagles are the superstars here, with 1400 of the migrants typically taking advantage of the Bridger Ridge's updrafts between September 2 and October 31. A vigorous two-mile hike to the helipad above the ski area leads visitors up 2,200 feet to spectacular views, a chance to join the official observers at Bridger Hawk Watch, and the possibility of spotting raptors. Binoculars and warm layers recommended. For more information: www.bridgerraptorfest. org. or call Bridger Bowl (406) 586-1518 or (800) 223-9609. T H E E AG L E S ' HEFTY FEET CARRY THEIR ACTUAL WEAPONRY, THE GIANT, SHARP, CURVED TALONS, READY TO SECURE THE PREY AND PIERCE ITS VITAL AREAS. THEY TEAM UP WITH A NOTABLE GRIP THAT'S AN ESTIMATED TEN TIMES STRONGER THAN A HUMAN'S IN POUNDS PER SQUARE INCH. THIS CRITTER MEANS BUSINESS. BRIDGER RAPTOR FESTIVAL , BOZEMAN • OCTOBER 4 – 6 Golden on a deer carcass Face painting is one of the many fun activies you can have at the Bridger Raptor Festival. CONTINUED

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