When I saw them on the ground when going into the HOM building early in the mornings over a few years would have been between 15 and 30 years ago. I was not a birder in those years and have a terrible memory for numbers so do not have specific dates. Just a memory of a number of dead birds laying around all at once.
On Jul 23, 2020, at 7:49 PM, Elizabeth Medes <liz.medes@…> wrote:
So I found this recent article. If it’s just this year, is this a climate change issue?
Ken Miracle chukar28@… 208-570-2780 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
Most frequent hummingbird visitors to feeder now are adult female & juvenile Rufous. And, adult female & juvenile Black-chinned. No adult males of either for a week. Rufous definitely “rule”, keeping others away.
Parked at the Archery Range lot and hiked up Ridgecrest Trail (20) to Buck Tail Trail (20A) to Shane’s Loop at Military Reserve Park this morning to find the Grasshopper Sparrows reported yesterday by Dondi Black. At the intersection of Buck Tail Trail and Shane’s Loop, I started the loop clockwise and very soon heard and photographed a Black-throated Sparrow!! Start listening for Grasshopper Sparrows soon after the trail intersects with Bear’s Ears Trail. I saw at least 4 in the next mile (about 2.5 from my start). In my eBird checklist I have given more details. There was a survey group out that closed Shane’s Loop after several bikers and hikers were already on it but you just need to let the bikes go by as they are timing their runs. Workers congregate at the intersection of Buck Tail and Shane’s Loop Trails—8+ people in green vests.
Golden Eagle Audubon’s Advocacy Committee has been working on an ordinance for Boise to require bird-friendly glass on new public buildings. Not sure what the status is since coronavirus issues and dealing with protests and counter protests seem to be sucking much of the air out of the room. Our goal is to work on getting such ordinances adopted across the Treasure Valley. Takes more time than anyone would like however.
In my working life I was at the Hall of Mirrors (HOM) for many meetings etc. over the years. During spring and fall migration times if I was at the HOM early in the morning before the outside clean up crew had arrived there were frequently a significant number of birds either dead or recovering from a strike. I have been retired for over 10 years now and I do know back then the issue was never high on the radar of those in charge of the building.
I do remember from training and discussion I had in preparing to help with the Boise downtown bird strike inventory program that the State had looked at retrofitting the Hall of Mirrors with bird friendly glass but it do not remember it ever having been put in the budget.
I hope that IBO and others have raised the awareness to the Dept. of Administration and the legislature but given the budget reductions going on as Tom said that is quite unlikely to happen in the near future. Heidi or Jay Carlisle or others with IBO may know if the State has ever checked into the cost or even gotten bids for retrofitting the HOM with bird friendly windows or coatings etc.. I do not remember ever hearing a cost quoted in any discussions but I have a horrible memory for numbers 🙂
On Jul 22, 2020, at 4:30 AM, Kevin Merrell <historysaver@…> wrote:
I love the vision, Tom. While the Hall no doubt was envisioned as a statement of modernity, it has turned out to be a tragic cautionary tale of unintended consequences.
Kevin
On Tue, Jul 21, 2020 at 11:06 PM bike4birds <tmccabe9@…> wrote:
I’m not sure that the state is going to want to divert resources during a pandemic, so it’s going to have to be up to birders. I wonder if there is anything that could be placed on the outside that wouldn’t affect the esthetics, but would make the building more visible to birds? I have a friend who rehabs birds (and other animals) and she has mentioned seeing lots of injured (and dead) birds around that particular building, but the Outdoor Idaho video really brought it home.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the only building in Boise that has a reflective exterior.
I googled “bird friendly glass” and there’s quite a bit of info out there. The problem is going to be retrofitting a building that is known as “The Hall of Mirrors.” If we can figure out a way to do it, we could start a go-fund-me page.
From: Cliff Weisse Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2020 9:15 PM To: IBLE@groups.io Subject: Re: [IBLE] Hall ofmirrors
Let’s leave Trump out of this OK?
Cliff
On 7/21/20 8:53 PM, Robert Kiernan wrote:
I agree Tom I’m glad you brought that up I wonder how many birders like I are aware of the problem most idahoans wont speak up about what trump is doing in :re virus but think they would speak up for birds let’s do some thing birders about this
On Tue, Jul 21, 2020, 8:29 PM bike4birds <tmccabe9@…> wrote:
In case you haven’t seen it, “Outdoor Idaho” on PBS, has an episode called “Urban Wildlife.” It’s about the interaction between wildlife and humans in Idaho. I recorded it a few days ago and just got around to watching it. I was quite pleased to see our very own Heidi Ware Carlisle and Jay Carlisle in the episode. Heidi even got a speaking part, Jay just got a cameo.
I’m not sure when it will air next, but if you have PBS Passport, I’m sure you can find it. Passport is available to folks who contribute some bucks to our Idaho Public Television.
The saddest part of the show is the sidewalk around the Hall of Mirrors, littered with dead Western Tanagers. (We need to do something about that bird killing machine.)
Ken Miracle chukar28@… 208-570-2780 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
I love the vision, Tom. While the Hall no doubt was envisioned as a statement of modernity, it has turned out to be a tragic cautionary tale of unintended consequences.
I’m not sure that the state is going to want to divert resources during a pandemic, so it’s going to have to be up to birders. I wonder if there is anything that could be placed on the outside that wouldn’t affect the esthetics, but would make the building more visible to birds? I have a friend who rehabs birds (and other animals) and she has mentioned seeing lots of injured (and dead) birds around that particular building, but the Outdoor Idaho video really brought it home.
Unfortunately, that isn’t the only building in Boise that has a reflective exterior.
I googled “bird friendly glass” and there’s quite a bit of info out there. The problem is going to be retrofitting a building that is known as “The Hall of Mirrors.” If we can figure out a way to do it, we could start a go-fund-me page.
Tom McCabe
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
