Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w. d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a . c o m 31 A photo may be worth a thousand words, but eyesight is priceless. After Ozzie's death, Harriet's story of finding a partner is familiar to us all who follow her. Borrowing from astronomy, i mounted a solar filter over my lens and moved my camera into Harriet's shadow. This filter only allows 1/100,000 of the sunlight to pass. You either see blackness or sun, so starting in Harriet's shadow was the best way to find her in my viewfinder. i made the camera extra-sensitive to light and used a slow shutter speed and sturdy tripod to compensate for the filter. With the nest as a fulcrum, i followed the sun in a slow waltz to keep Harriet in view. The photo captures Harriet's compelling life in a single moment. tration, accomplishment, disappointment, mystery, sadness, triumph, physical challenge, disaster, and joy. us was born the world's first cyber ranch: www.DaysAtDunrovin. com. With two additional web cams, videos, blogs, and real time chat- ting, all can be enjoyed. Viewing is free. We charge a small fee to par- ticipate in our social community for three important reasons: to create a safe cyber space where real people (no trolls allowed!) can respectfully chat; to financially support the site; and to support the things that draw us together — nature, wildlife, animals, etc. We offer real and unedited stories, stories that enrich as well as entertain. Horses are trained. Dogs are rescued. Injured or sick animals nursed. People acquire new skills and find themselves through nature. Kids learn responsibility through caring for animals. Foreign students attempt fly-fishing. Books are read and discussed with authors; Native Americans tell stories around a campfire. If you had told me five years ago that I would be hosting a "cyber ranch", a look of puzzlement would have spread across my face. Now I happily explain that, like the ospreys, I am doing exactly what nature tells me to do, connecting with others to share a mutual love of Montana, nature, and animals. Harriet pairs with a young male osprey and teaches him the ropes. At pub-time Harriet's new mate has gone missing. Harriet now has two eggs and no mate, leaving her in a tumultuous state. Tune into www.DaysAtDunrovin.com to follow what happens next. JOHN ASHLeY

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