Distinctly Montana Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.distinctlymontana.com/i/526416
d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a • s u m m e r 2 0 1 5 30 ose of us who have watched this beautiful bird through the last five seasons have seen her commit to renew life again and again: Sitting on eggs during freez- ing spring snow storms, futilely attempting to keep three chicks alive when pouring rains kept Ozzie from catching fish in a swol- len river, standing for hours in the hot sun to shade her chicks, gently turning and tending eggs that would never hatch. Harriet is the embodiment of survival. We humans have much to learn from her. And, indeed, we at Dunrovin are learning. We too are doing what nature tells us to do. We are watching; we are listening; we are sharing. Our sense of curiosity, our ancestral bonds to animals and nature, and our need to socialize are as innate to us as nest building is to Harriet. Stories are fundamental to our human expe- rience. Harriet's ever unfolding story captivates us. Modern Internet technology brings Harriet's story to thousands of people and opens doors for communities of Internet users from across the globe to gather, talk, share, and form real bonds of friendship. When Dunrovin began, in 2011 the ranch partnered with the University of Montana to install a web camera above its osprey nest to record the number and species of fish fed to the chicks. By capturing the chicks and taking blood samples, biologists relate the mercury in the chicks' blood to the fish they eat and to the river. What started out as an inter- esting science project quickly led me down a new and unexpected path. My emotional involvement with the birds and other camera viewers was a total surprise. Suddenly the birds' daily lives became part of our daily lives. eir individual idiosyncrasies, habits, and vocalizations became familiar. We rejoiced at Ozzie's "wing lift" maneuver to move Har- riet off the eggs. Harriet's warrior calls set off our own alarm bells. We practically adopted the chicks. It was exciting, intriguing, informative, and emo- tionally gripping. At season's end, I received numerous emails, letters, and phone calls asking that the camera be left on so viewers could watch the ranch. What? I didn't understand. While I certainly shared the postseason letdown as the last chick departed, and I too wanted to maintain friendships that had grown, I didn't see how we could. It never oc- curred to me that life at the ranch was anything akin to life at the nest. As I communicated with others, I began to see it. Our ranch houses numerous animals — horses, ponies, donkeys, dogs, birds, wildlife. A river runs through it. Mountains surround it. Guests from near and far enjoy all kinds of activities. Nature serves up dramatic storms, forest fires, and stunning sunsets. Ranch work never ends. Yes, life here is in many, many ways like life at the osprey's nest — ever changing, unpredictable, and punctuated with moments of frus- T here is something profoundly moving about watching Harriet the osprey struggle to do what nature tells her to do — to make a nest in spite of the loss of her long time mate, Ozzie, who was killed by an eagle late last summer. She does not know if she will find a new mate and open a new chapter in her life. She patiently waits and prepares her nest. by SuzaNNE millEr TAMAr kASBerG Harriet on her nest Tune into the adventures of Harriet the Osprey. Go to: www.daysatdunrovin.com DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL