Have been hearing a raptor call incessantly for last few days. Today walked up Howe to Colorado & there it was atop a pine tree. Didn’t have binos with me so not completely sure of ID but sounds like a kid’s whistle over & over again. Large & brown…Swainson’s?
Monthly Archives: August 2020
New pesticides impacting US birds
Whatever happened to the old saying, “Better living through science?” Coating seeds with neonicotinoid appears to be a two-edged sword.
New Breeding Bird on Place
Got a new breeding bird & an example of nest parasitism all in one setting, just a bit ago. Was watching my Hummer feeder & kept hearing a persistent “zzz zzz” call. Looked on the ground beneath seed feeder & saw 4 Lincoln’s Sparrows & one larger brownish-streaked bird. And one of the Lincoln’s was busy feeding the larger bird. Took me a minute to figure out what was going on.
Finally, realized a Lincoln’s Sparrow was doing everything it could to keep up with the appetite of a juv BH Cowbird! So, my first documented Lincoln’s Sparrow nesting on place, plus another species being parasitized by BH Cowbird on place. All in one setting.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Calliope Hummingbirds
Yesterday, the first Calliope Hummingbird appeared at the feeder. Today, at least 2 more have come in. 1 adult female & a couple of juveniles are hitting the feeder regularly. The Black-chinneds are still present but haven’t seen a Rufous since Fri. And no Broad-taileds as of yet.
Also, watched a Cedar Waxwing family up in the cottonwoods, yest. At least 3 juveniles being fed by a couple of adults.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Re: Less.g.finch
Southeast Boise near Bown Crossing.
Lorraine Poor
Lorraine Poor
Re: Lesser Goldfinches — Again
Southeast Boise close to Bown Crossing.
Re: Lesser Goldfinches — Again
Sorry! I meant to include southeast Boise not far from Bown Crossing.
Re: Lesser Goldfinches — Again
Odd… they won’t come directly into our backyard but hang around the perimeter. They are thick along the canal banks behind us, and north of us on Shalerock Road. I just hung a DIY thistle feeder thinking I might be able to entice them closer, and the garden is full of all different sorts of sunflowers so we shall see. They do seem to love the lead plant and locusts along the canal. I see them in small flocks at unpredictable times now, throughout the year, and they certainly brighten up those last cheerless days of winter.
Liz Medes
Emmett, the east side
Re: Lesser Goldfinches — Again
I’m in the North End of Boise and I have the same thing happening. Only here
they hang out in the top of our maple and beg from up there. Right now most
of them have gotten around to feeding on their own, but some still beg.
And my wife has Rudbeckia all over the yard, which is just now starting to
bloom. The LEGO’s are already hanging out in the plants, and all winter they
feed on the seeds. What’s amazing is when they land on a slender stem and it
barely bends.
Right now they also have to deal with a very aggressive male Black-chinned
that seems to think he owns the yard. Sitting out on the deck for dinner has
produced some really close fly-bys.
Tom McCabe, Boise
they hang out in the top of our maple and beg from up there. Right now most
of them have gotten around to feeding on their own, but some still beg.
And my wife has Rudbeckia all over the yard, which is just now starting to
bloom. The LEGO’s are already hanging out in the plants, and all winter they
feed on the seeds. What’s amazing is when they land on a slender stem and it
barely bends.
Right now they also have to deal with a very aggressive male Black-chinned
that seems to think he owns the yard. Sitting out on the deck for dinner has
produced some really close fly-bys.
Tom McCabe, Boise
Less.g.finch
For lab chick what city are you in.