In Nampa yesterday I had 2-3 lesser GF, in my native wildflowers, this being a first non winter backyard observation.

I meant to add some thoughts to the messages a week ago, but I had to find the document with the notes I wanted to pass on. First, I would say that Lesser Goldfinches have, over the last 20 years, undergone the largest range and population expansion of any bird in, at least, the Boise/Treasure Valley area. It also has a very special place on my life list as, I believe, the only bird where I saw my “lifer” in my yard. I remember looking out one day and saw a small group feeding in lavender plants in our front yard.

As far as the notes I wanted to pass on – I have a copy of a 1986 publication “The Status of Historically Rare or Unrecorded Birds in Idaho” by Daniel Taylor and Charles Trost. The description of the Lesser Goldfinch is as follows: “This goldfinch is causal in Oregon, Wyoming, and British Columbia. It has been reported without detail to occur at Minidoka NWR as a rare spring and fall visitor. One was at the Portneuf Gap near Pocatello on 21 May 1976. Four were at Caldwell, Canyon Co. on 12-15 April 1980 and a pair (same birds?) were at nearby Nampa a month later. One was in Shoshone Basin, Lincoln Co. on 19 May 1982. They have been observed in Twin Falls Co. at T. 12S, R. 17E, Sec. 21 on 16 June 1979 and at Mullen Creek on 24 August 1979.” So, 35 years ago, more or less, Lesser Goldfinches were so uncommon in Idaho that individual records were still being recognized. And, today, as I type this one is in the tree outside my window and more are coming into my thistle feeders than the sum total of the records mentioned in the 1986 publication. Pretty interesting.

Scott Tuthill

Personally, I’ve found that Doppler Radar isn’t as useful in our region during the spring months. Spring migration seems more sporadic compared to fall migration, when birds tend to stage in larger groups. However, watching coastal Dopplers of TX, SE US & FL radars, you can see both spring mass arrivals & fall exodus. 

My best Doppler Radar findings for birds have been fall mass gatherings of mixed swallow species, mainly Rough-winged, Cliff & Bank by the thousands, gathering on power lines. The mass winter Bohemian Waxwing irruption, I described, & summer evening little brown bats flying over the Snake River. Given our spring storms, I don’t seem to find as many “biologics” on radar in our region as I do summer & fall.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Great question, Robert. Short answer is, yes. But, in our region, west of Continental Divide, it can be very hit or miss. Unlike, coastal areas of TX or Eastern Flyway, where radar can pick up literally millions of migrating bird congregations, the Rocky Mt Flyway is more sporadic. 

One of my hobbies is as a NWS weather spotter for my area. And, I’ve been able to locate sev large groups of birds via the Doppler Radar dome out of Springfield. Once, on a very clear winter AM, checked radar & it showed a large radar “cloud” down the road from me along the Snake River. I drove to the location & found literally thousands of Bohemian Waxwings picking through Russian Olive berries. 

So, you can use Doppler Radar to sometimes locate migrating birds & even, clusters of bats & river insect hatches. It’s enjoyable to bring up the NWS site for an area & watch the Doppler Radar map in real time. I try to “ground truth” “biologics” if the radar signal doesn’t match the actual weather, when I can. Hope this helps. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot