Tales From A Wandering Albatross

I am an itinerant field worker (birds, not vegetables), a traveling writer, a road-tripper. I rock climb, I read, I hike, I run around outside looking for (and sometimes catching) birds. I’ve spent the last few years traveling and working field jobs around the US, working with birds and small children (sometimes at the same time). I have no idea where I’ll be in a month, but I do know it’s going to be interesting.

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An Ornithologist's Response

An Ornithologist’s Response

I wish I could write only about birds.

That I could go back to how it was, when my dreams held shards of words and images of flitting sparrows, dreams of opening eyes to the wonder of the natural world through birds. Dreams of articulating connections with the earth so deep I feel the words but cannot speak them. These dreams are skies filled with murmurations of starlings, clouds of…

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Pipit and Lark are very supportive of my writing. #kittensnamedafterbirds #andsoitbegins #goodthingtheyrecute

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The American Robin: My Least Favorite Bird

The American Robin: My Least Favorite Bird

This piece was first published in In The Air, a column I wrote for Montana Woman Magazine. September 2017.  A young robin. Don’t be fooled, it’s just waiting to poo all over. Of all the birds I’ve handled, robins are my least favorite. Over the years working as a field biologist, primarily capturing live songbirds for migration and breeding studies, I’ve handled many birds. To catch birds, we set…

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Seeking snow, we went high. #stmarypeak #almostskiseason #moreadventurethanwebargainedfor #dampsocksbutwesurvived (at Bitterroot Mountains)

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Five months ago, we were waiting in the ICU as Dad came out of heart surgery. Today, we all climbed Mt. Sentinel. 1,958 ft to the top in 3.5 mi, to an elevation of 5,158 ft above sea level. I've never appreciated the view so much as I did today. #smithsinmontana #familylove #cowvalvesrock #icanseeformiles (at Mount Sentinel)

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Once upon a time there was light in my life, now there's only love in the dark... eclipse viewing from way up the Slide Creek drainage in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. #totaleclipseoftheheart #eclipse2017 #windriverrange #wyomingadventures #epicness #worththebushwhack

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My evening, as told by photos. #arlothedog #summerinmontana #wildfireseason2017 #smokysunset (at Mount Jumbo)

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Trying to think cool blue thoughts on this hot smoky day. #fireseason2017 #montanaisburning #summerinmissoula

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In my brain I rearrange the letters on the page to spell your name. #summerinmontana #courtneybarnett #historyeraser

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Don't mind me. I'll just lay here quietly panting on your feet under your desk until you take me swimming. #arlothedog #woofitshot #dogsitting

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Even when I'm climbing I find birds. #loloclimbing #birdnerd #climbingbirders (at Lolo Pass)

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Happy tails happy trails. #arlothedog #helicoptertail #neverhikewithoutadog (at Waterworks Hill)

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Celebrating the solstice in style. #climbmontana #rockclimbing #elkrock #slabfordays #becauseitslolo

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Beyond every dead end are blooming poppies and waiting hillsides. (at Greenough Park)

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'Tis wildflower season. #flowerstagram #montanawildflowers #flowerpower #prettiestthingieverdidsee (at Helena National Forest)

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A weekend of explorin' beyond my usual haunts. Refrigerator Canyon and Gates of the Mountains Wilderness. #helenanationalforest #hikemontana #summerinmontana #onlyoneflattire (at Helena National Forest)

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Climbing big rocks is kinda the best. #mymomsmuscleshirt #climbmontana #rockclimbing #mywholebodyhurts (at Blodgett Canyon)