We moved to our location along the Snake River in 1988, the year of the Yellowstone fires. That particular summer, we had 3 hummingbird feeders going full blast, filling all 3 every other day. The hummers were primarily Broad-tailed and Rufous (with a handful of Calliopes) and the battles at the feeders were epic, mid-air chest-to-chest crashes and face-offs. We would see as many as 6 to 8 hummers at each feeder, starting at daybreak and continuing until sunset, everyday. In the years since, we’ve never had those numbers again, and I relate that particular summer to the fires. Since 1988, our main hummingbird visitor has been the Broad-tailed with some spectacular and loud tail-feather whistling, mating flight displays by the males. But in numbers that require the need for only a single feeder and filling about every 3 days.

Two summers ago, we noted a change. The arrival of Black-chinned Hummingbirds. And just the briefest passage through of an occasional Rufous and Broad-tailed. Now, I have both male & female Black-chinneds visiting the solitary feeder, with one female quite consistent. I suspect it’s the one I observed collecting spider webs a few weeks back. Just an interesting shift in hummer species during the past 30 years.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Beverly:

I don’t claim to know the whole county, but I do know that the only place I encountered a C. Raven on my bike ride to Lucky Peak the other day was at Discovery State Park. And I’ve previously encountered Ravens along the black cliffs along Highway 21.

Tom McCabe, Boise

From: ible@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ible@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of btaylor_317@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2017 11:14 AM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Raven Sightings – BSU area

Ruth Melichar received a raven fledge several weeks ago, brought in by a BSU employee. It was found outside, in a corner of a building. It was disoriented, unable to fly, and physically weak at intake. There were no raven parents around. We are not aware of any raven nests in the BSU area. Has anyone seen ravens in that locality? I’m wondering how it would have made it to that location, other than by a human’s “help.”

Thanks.

Beverly

Ruth Melichar received a raven fledge several weeks ago, brought in by a BSU employee. It was found outside, in a corner of a building. It was disoriented, unable to fly, and physically weak at intake. There were no raven parents around. We are not aware of any raven nests in the BSU area. Has anyone seen ravens in that locality? I’m wondering how it would have made it to that location, other than by a human’s “help.”

Thanks.

Beverly

Paul Sieracki just shared this on Facebook too … wish it wasn’t 8+ hours away ? Jay

Date: Sat Jun 24 2017 19:16 pm
From: gandrbond AT gmail.com

“This morning near our cabin at Coolin on Priest Lake, we encountered what almost certainly is an Alder Flycatcher. The call matched the call on our recording of Alder Flycatcher and could easily be differentiated from the Willow Flycatchers calling nearby. We then played the Alder Flycatcher call and the bird immediately flew right at us and lit on a branch so I could photograph it. The bird has a definite thin eye ring, definitely more of an eye ring than I have ever seen on a Willow Flycatcher and I am convinced it is an Alder Flycatcher. We walk this road every day I this is the first time we have heard this bird. On this 3/4 mile road this spring we have now identified 6 Empids, which includes a Least Flycatcher that has been calling daily for the last week. As best I can tell there are no records of Alder Flycatcher for the state of Idaho.

Bob Bond”