Today, as I got near to Esther Simplot Park, I heard a sound that always gives me a thrill. It took a second for my brain to process it, but then I realized it was the sound of Sandhill Cranes. I scanned the sky and saw a string of cranes, way up, traveling generally up river. There were at least 20 cranes, maybe 30, but I was standing in the middle of Stewart Ave. and I didn’t really feel comfortable. By the time I got out of the way of cars, they were gone. But way cool.

Then, while scanning all the waterfowl at the main pond at Esther, they all suddenly took off. And I mean EVERY body. I looked up, expecting a raptor but didn’t immediately see anything. Then a shadow crossed over me and I looked up again to see an immature Bald Eagle flying by. It was quite a cloud of birds: Mallards, C. Geese, RB Gulls, A. Wigeons, A. Crows. I think the lone Killdeer managed to stay put, and I think the C. Goldeneye just dove. Still, a noisy cloud of birds, all squawking.

Tom McCabe, Boise