Nearing the end of a Sunday afternoon walk on the Boise Greenbelt (1/7/18)
I paused near the wooden fence of On The River RV Park to listen for a bird
sound. Movement on the trunk of a large cottonwood tree next to the path
grabbed my attention. Binoculars aided in my delight watching the Brown
Creeper work its way up the trunk, pausing frequently to poke its bill into
a crevice then continue upward. That Brown Creeper added joy to my day.

Diann Stone Boise Depot Bench

I visited the spring fed, Portneuf River wetlands along Siphon Rd
(Chubbuck) Sunday morning. Open water is still holding a very nice
diversity of waterfowl, including about 40 trumpeter swans, mallards,
American wigeon, gadwall, northern pintail (1), northern shoveler (3),
green-winged teal, redhead, lesser scaup, bufflehead, common goldeneye and
150+ ring-necked ducks.

This location holds half-hardy species in the winter and I was able to find
3 yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon’s), 2 Virginia rail and a marsh wren.

Steven F. Kahl
Deputy Project Leader
Southeast Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex
4425 Burley Dr., Ste. A
Chubbuck, ID 83202
P (208) 237-6615 ext 112
F (208) 237-8213

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