This is old news for veteran birders but the unsettled weather over the last week has brought us a lot of migrants – and the forecast for the coming few days looks to be more of the same. The basic idea is that birds initiate migration after dusk (most of our songbirds are nocturnal migrants) and then are grounded (i.e., they stop migration for the night and make do where they are) if they run into rain or even a strong weather system with very little rain but keep migrating if the weather is good. In my experience in Idaho, this phenomenon is much more pronounced in spring migration than in fall – and May is the peak migration for many Neotropical migrants.

For example, on a quick neighborhood walk with the dog this AM, I eBirded 26 Western Tanagers (probably a conservative #), 3 Western Wood-pewees, & more migrants. In contrast, last weekend Heidi & I birded after a clear night and found relatively few migrants.

Take home message – get out birding when you can during breaks in the weather & you;ll be rewarded! I would guess there are currently many hundreds, if not well over a thousand, Western Tanagers in and around Boise – and just imagine the #s across southern Idaho.

Enjoy spring migration,

Jay

BTW, As many of us IBLE’rs visit Malheur, the Bobolinks have arrived at the NWR, as of yesterday I saw 4 males about 1+miles N of Pea Ranch on center patrol road. 

A few observations from this weekend. Have seen that Bald Eagles take advantage of soaring with large groups of White Pelicans. Nearly every larger Pelican group I saw the last few days had at least one, & in another case 3, Bald Eagles soaring with the group over the Snake River. Wondering if they use the Pelicans to hide themselves in, to make a sudden dive toward a rising fish? Or, if it’s just that the same thermals attracting Pelicans, also attract the Eagles? 

Another obs is of dandelions. I do try to keep dandelions under control in the lawn, but never kill out all. Have found that Lazuli Buntings, Pine Siskins & Am Goldfinches like the seeds in fluff. At one point today, had 3 male Lazulis all eating dandelion seeds at the same time. Striking colors!

And, lastly, learned a new sound. While the male Black-chinned Hummingbird was displaying to a female perched on the feeder, kept hearing distinct & rapid bell-like tones as it would buzz past the feeder, in addition to the usual trill of air through its feathers. Finally, found on Cornell University’s bird site the exact description of what I was hearing. The males don’t always make the sound and it’s also caused by air rushing through the feathers during descent & straight flight. The male did this about 10 times, back & forth, over a distance of about 50 yds. His previous display flights to the female were only made up of trills. So, can obviously control the sound, just with its feathers & speed. Plainly…fascinating.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
 

Evening Grosbeaks still coming in to feeder, down to about 10 now. BH Grosbeaks are here in force now, males & females. Counted 11 at feeder at same time. Up to 3 male Lazuli Buntings at a time, too. No females yet. Also, seeing Bullock’s Orioles, House Wrens & Yellow Warblers. A Red-breasted Nuthatch pr may be nesting. Sure are active.

Robins are nesting now. Both Chipping Sparrows & WC Sparrows are here. And Pine Siskins are back at feeder this AM. A Black-chinned Hummingbird pr is setting up for nesting. The male was doing large U-shaped display flights for the female for 5+ mins at a time this AM. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

The male American Redstart is still present at Market Lake. Observed multiple times in the west shelterbelt, 50-150 yards from entrance. Mostly foraging on the ground. A fun, playful bird. Good photos. 

Just saw this Ebird report.