Birds were popping this morning! Beginning with several sp singing in the dark, it got better, louder, faster, happier, and I’m hoping this was a widespread “fallout” so that Tom and others get to enjoy similar action! Hundreds of swallows were swirling, hovering, covering our 14+ ponds along this three-mile section of greenbelt, and “inspired warblers” were debating their hearts out, mostly Yellow-rumps, but Orange-crowned as well.

I’m never sure what combination of variables produces these birdiest of moments that we live for, but when I arrived home from my short bike ride at 11 a.m., local conditions were 53F, partly cloudy, calm, 68% humidity, barometric pressure steady at 29.71, following 0.01” precip overnight, but with 1.7” for the month, 8.24” for the year, and more is forecast this evening..….

Spring fever has arrived!?

Larry

thx for reminder Denise! =)

Lanny Chambers ( St Louis MO ) began tracking / mapping spring sightings abt 20 yrs ago, but had given it up i think for technical reasons, and I had forgotten about this other website.

we’re getting excited, and Missy is itching to put out a couple humfeeders!!

here hummer, hummer, hummer……

LA

Curtis and Carol, I hope this reaches you guys as well

From: “Denise Hughes deniseh449@gmail.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2019 4:49:18 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Hummingbird map

Just in case anyone is interested. There are maps for both the Ruby throated and Western hummers. Broad-tailed and Black chinned Hummingbirds have been reported in Salt Lake City.

[ https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2019-map.htm | https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2019-map.htm ]

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

Just in case anyone is interested. There are maps for both the Ruby
throated and Western hummers. Broad-tailed and Black chinned Hummingbirds
have been reported in Salt Lake City.

https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2019-map.htm

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

Absent a local robust data set like a state Breeding Bird Atlas, I can only guess as to Western Screech-owl breeding phenology here in west Boise. Can eBird yield these data? I keep hearing what sounds like fledged birds, but according to the BNA account and nearby state BBA’s, the earliest reported / published / dates are 15 April. Maybe nestlings are calling from a nest site I can’t see on private property? Happens to be a place I’ve encountered them almost every year, but I’m suspicious of what I’m hearing until I can see the ‘lil fluffernuts. Could be something else I’m hearing? Thing is, they sound so distinctive to my ears……

The challenges and surprises of birding, eh?! =)

Larry

Missy and I had good luck on this drizzly, muddy day in SW Idaho (Ada, Owyhee, Elmore Counties) —

Indian Creek Reservoir yielded one each Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, and Long-billed Curlew
Ted Trueblood gave us a Swainson’s Hawk
Jack’s Creek treated us to six Caspian Terns and a Wilson’s Snipe
And Avocets were everywhere

But our quest birds were Black-necked Stilt and Barn Swallow, which we didn’t find anywhere…… such is birding, eh? 😉

More migrants, please
Larry

Y – nice sightings!
wish we could say “ditto” on Swainson’s, but we can’t……..yet

Missy and I *were* surprised by all the RL hawks on our drive to Swan Falls Wednesday, and I doubt we counted/entered them all in eBird
Larry

From: “Yvonne Motherwell birdnerd_motherwell@yahoo.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Saturday, April 6, 2019 6:07:27 PM
Subject: [IBLE] FOS Swainson’s Hawk

On Cloverdale Road today, April 6, between Meridian and Kuna, I saw my FOS Swainson’s hawk!

Also had three rough-legged hawks out in the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation area.

Good birding!

-Yvonne Motherwell
Meridian, Idaho

On Cloverdale Road today, April 6, between Meridian and Kuna, I saw my FOS Swainson’s hawk!

Also had three rough-legged hawks out in the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation area.

Good birding!

-Yvonne Motherwell
Meridian, Idaho

Brian, I saw 2 tundra swans just east of Cascade, Valley County, on a frozen pond on Sun 3/31.
Happy trails, Rich Nampa

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2019 10:30 AM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Tundra Swans

 
Last night about 10 PM heard my first-of-season migrating groups of Tundra Swans flying overhead. Enjoy hearing their flight calls.

My most common feeder bird is American Goldfinch. And, alas, haven’t seen nor heard the Blue Jay since Wed. It may have used the brief break in weather to head back East. I’ll keep an eye out but usually the jay is the first morning feeder visitor.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

thx Brian…… re: “no interest in banding a single visitor……..
as another science dude I’m curious !!

I’ve mostly been biased against banding as a matter of principle, it being “old science” (imprinted long ago by discussions with Marty Collar of Pocatello), and banding reminds me of a “macro” version of HUP (Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle), which should be an easy wiki search if folks are interested…….. but – warning – it gets technical 😉

can you and I discuss this more offline? I’m very interested in your perspective……!!

thanks again, Larry

From: “lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2019 5:41:10 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Turns Out…

Hi Larry. As it turns out, the Blue Jay returned for one short feeder visit this afternoon. Must be finding natural forage, as the weather warms. So, still around, albeit the jay’s no longer predictable in its habits. Suspect, it won’t hang around too much longer. As your provided map shows, perhaps it will head north. As far as banding a single visitor, simply have no interest in such.

Others today, were several flyovers by Sandhill Cranes and some White Pelicans. Forgot to mention, saw one Harris’ Sparrow scratching under the feeder this past Tues. And saw one Townsend’s Solitaire on top of one of our spruce trees today.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Hi Larry. As it turns out, the Blue Jay returned for one short feeder visit this afternoon. Must be finding natural forage, as the weather warms. So, still around, albeit the jay’s no longer predictable in its habits. Suspect, it won’t hang around too much longer. As your provided map shows, perhaps it will head north. As far as banding a single visitor, simply have no interest in such.

Others today, were several flyovers by Sandhill Cranes and some White Pelicans. Forgot to mention, saw one Harris’ Sparrow scratching under the feeder this past Tues. And saw one Townsend’s Solitaire on top of one of our spruce trees today.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot