[IBLE] Rhyming in the New Year

Again, with apologies to real poets, I offer some rhymes about birds.

New Year’s Birding

By Tom McCabe

The wind was cold, the sun was low

And ice was slowing the river’s flow.

The year was starting with quiet events

As Dark-eyed Juncos perched on my fence.

Other birds came and joined the crowd

But only the Crow was very loud.

Time to jump on my two-wheeled steed

Biking and birding is a constant need.

Finches and Doves along the way,

A Downy Woodpecker brightened my day.

Ducks and Geese and Chickadees

My year was starting with the greatest of ease.

Seeing a bird for the first time each year

Brings every birder a bit of cheer.

So going birding on January One

Means lots of cheer and lots of fun.

Herons and Hawks and a Ring-necked Duck

Nuthatch and Robins and a bit of luck.

On the first day of birding even a Starling

Can end up being quite the darling.

So get out the door and open your eyes,

Grab the binos and scan the skies,

‘Cause just in case you haven’t heard

Every flyer today is a first of year bird.

[IBLE] American Falls Reservoir hotspot

I was wondering if anyone here could provide any insight on why the
locator pin for the American Falls Reservoir hotspot is located in
Bannock County. I ask in this forum because so many observers for high
counts, first records, and rarities for the hotspot are names that I
often see here. Also, I emailed eBird about it twice and never got a
reply.

I’m curious because the pin is not really located in the center of the
reservoir. Bannock County does not look like it occupies more of the
reservoir than other counties, like Power or Bingham. Also, the
shoreline of the reservoir that is in Bannock County is entirely
within the Fort Hall Indian Reservation and not accessible to the
general public.

Thanks for any info you can provide.

Sent from my iPhone