This week, Bob Danley of the Bitterroot Outdoor Journal noticed some flocks of American Crows in the Lolo area of western Montana. You'll notice a photo of a raven above, often mistaken for a crow. Both are black, but ravens are larger and often travel in pairs, while crows flock together. Bob saw about 40 crows in the air, which is part of their migration behavior. They start gathering together in August and are on their way south.

KMPT-AM logo
Get our free mobile app

The cold weather has started the Western Larch's fall change. It is a conifer tree that is deciduous - in other words, it loses its needle during the winter. Right now, you can see the bright yellow patches of larch on the mountainsides. The tree can get up to 150 feet tall.

patches of larch
Colorful Western Larch. (Bob Danley Photo)
loading...

Another bird affected by the fall weather is the Ruffed Grouse, which is into "drumming" behavior now. The young grouse are leaving the family and picking their territory by drumming sounds on a log. Bob says the experts have found that once the bird has picked its territory, it will spend the rest of their life within 300 yards of the spot. By the way, hunting season for this bird is now open until January 1st. So, if you're out and about in the wild, wear bright colors and make some noise as you hike.

dragonfly
Striped Meadowhawk dragonfly. (Bob Danley Photo)
loading...

Last call for dragonflies this season. Bob saw a Striped Meadowhawk in Maclay Flat by Missoula this last week. It's about an inch and a half in size and you'll have to have a sunny day to see one. Look around irrigation ditches, even if they're dry now.

waxy cap fungi
Larch Waxy Cap fungi. (Bob Danley Photo)
loading...

For Halloween, the orange-colored Larch Waxy Cap fungi can be found in pine forests and it's about 4 inches tall. There are 41 species in the Pacific Northwest. The reddish orange cap has a raised dark center. Stay warm, and listen to the Bitterroot Outdoor Journal Wednesday mornings about 7:45 a.m. on 1240 KLYQ AM radio or at www.klyq.com.

LOOK: Stunning animal photos from around the world

From grazing Tibetan antelope to migrating monarch butterflies, these 50 photos of wildlife around the world capture the staggering grace of the animal kingdom. The forthcoming gallery runs sequentially from air to land to water, and focuses on birds, land mammals, aquatic life, and insects as they work in pairs or groups, or sometimes all on their own.

10 Actors Who Adopted Animals From Movie And Sets

More From KMPT-AM