Carl is correct, there are no other reports of either species on
19 August.
Cliff
On 8/13/24 04:21PM, Carl Lundblad
wrote:
Many people saw and photographed the Ruddy on 18
August, but Jon’s bird from the 19th is not the same bird and is
an unequivocal Black Turnstone. There were no other photos of
either species submitted from the 19th, I don’t think, so the
Ruddy may or may not have still been present.
———- Forwarded
message ———
From: Trent
Bray via Inland-nw-birders<inland-nw-birders@…>
Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 1:10 PM
Subject: [inland-NW-birders] 2023 – Canyon County,
Idaho : BLACK TURNSTONE
To: Inland-nw-birders@…
<Inland-nw-birders@…>
Birders –
Last night from bed, I ‘found’ daho’s first BLACK
TURNSTONE, while looking through inland records of
Ruddies.
Many people saw and photographed the Ruddy on 18 August, but Jon’s bird from the 19th is not the same bird and is an unequivocal Black Turnstone. There were no other photos of either species submitted from the 19th, I don’t think, so the Ruddy may or may not have still been present.
———- Forwarded message ——— From: Trent Bray via Inland-nw-birders<inland-nw-birders@…> Date: Tue, Aug 13, 2024 at 1:10 PM Subject: [inland-NW-birders] 2023 – Canyon County, Idaho : BLACK TURNSTONE To: Inland-nw-birders@… <Inland-nw-birders@…>
Birders –
Last night from bed, I ‘found’ daho’s first BLACK TURNSTONE, while looking through inland records of Ruddies.
Some of you may have heard that Boise’s Ruth Melichar Center. For those of you who haven’t heard the news or don’t know about this place, they are a non-profit, volunteer based organization that helps rescue & rehabilitate sick & injured birds. They completely rely on donations for their funding source.
The local news just did a story on Ruth Melichar saying that this place is temporarily closing due to funds running low because of increasing costs. Their hopes are to get enough funding & donations by the beginning of next April which is when peak rescue activity begins.
As bird fans who care about the well-being of these feathered creatures we’ve come to enjoy, I thought it was important that I help get this news out to all of you. I can tell you from many personal experiences that Ruth Melichar does amazing work & has helped me save many orphaned ducklings, goslings, & several songbirds. Below is the news link which gives more details on this organization’s situation & how people can donate.
Thank you so much for your time. I apologize for the lengthy email, but I thought it was important to get this news out to all of you. Hope you’re staying cool during these hot summer days, & happy birding!
Today, was slightly cooler, overcast with a few sprinkles. And, a few more migrants on the move. A male Western Tanager came through and paused long enough to do some fly-catching from a backyard cottonwood.
This evening, a female Calliope arrived at the nectar feeder. So, today: male & female Black-chinneds, a female Rufous & the female Calliope. A few times, all 3 species present at once.
Your point of productive area is well-taken. Loads of midges & mayflies this year. Have read where 80% of a hummingbird’s diet is insect-based. They need the insects for protein & fat. And, no question, the hummers are not nearly so active at the feeder during the hottest part of the day. So, maybe they’re busy fly-catching.
One article I read is in-line with your comment about hummingbirds taking in some alcohol. Another, stated it was life-threatening, from the standpoint of the alcohol itself, plus also resulting in more collisions with widows or predation, secondary to intoxication. In any case, your point about fungal growth is definitely a concern.
As long as it’s so hot, I’ll clean daily. I’m just doing the one feeder & it’s in full sun all day. Where I got the whiff of alcohol smell was at the ports of the feeder &, suspect, nectar would do same in a flower, at times. Just curious how others approached hummingbird feeders. Thanks for your thoughts!
My feeders usually empty in about two days at most, except at end of season.
I can get bacterial or light mold growth inside feeder in real hot weather, which I rinse and scrub out before refilling. No characteristic fermentation smell so far in years. Feeder and surface is aerobic so I think fermentation is unlikely. So what’s bad about a little alcohol as an energy source anyhow. Someone will likely tell me.
In addition to fresh seeds for birds to eat, there’s loads of bugs to eat. Just wish someone got a taste for wasps. I guess I view shutdown in feeder visits as a sign of a productive area.
Was hoping you’d give insight to your area, Bill. Maybe, the hummingbirds, esp, have just gone to higher & cooler elevations. Certainly, not much in bloom along stretch of river I’m most familiar with. Still getting a couple of Rufous ea day & a few Black-chinneds. But, can go an hour or more between sightings.
Also, would appreciate thoughts. Have read some articles stating that the fermentation of sugar to alcohol in the feeder isn’t a huge cause for concern, as nectar in a flower will do the same. And, hummingbirds have adapted to the consumption of a bit of alcohol. Personally, esp with the excessive heat lately, also just like to keep the feeder clean. Even, in best of conditions, I don’t let the feeder stay out more than 48 hrs between cleanings. Thoughts, anyone?
Cool a bird that we have not had come through our apartment complex here off Parkcenter bordering Loggers Creek, lot’s of deer but no Turkey’s at least while we were looking 🙂
On Aug 4, 2024, at 6:53 AM, Virginia Rivers via groups.io <riverscapes@…> wrote:
Got this shot of one that’s part of a ‘roving band’ in my neighborhood…Garden City close to the river in Riverside Drive area.
I’m in the North End of Boise, and I have a ton of birds coming to the feeders. House Finches, Lessers, RB Nuthatches, BC Chickadees, Mourning Doves, and yes, American Goldfinches. Our Hummers are still substantial,
sometimes fighting over the feeders. Plus, we have a roving band of Wild Turkeys in the North End, but they have yet to visit my yard. 🙁
Agree with your identifications of species & Louisa’s comments as to molting, etc.
On the east side of Idaho, I spend a lot of time along Main Snake River riparian regions & a fair amount on Henry’s Fk & South Fk of the Snake. Overall, I would have to say, bird numbers seem decreased to me. In my backyard, the only exceptions
would be Black-headed Grosbeaks & House Finches, numbers of which are still solid. But, as you’ve noted for your area, my hummingbird numbers are visibly decreased. Compared to this time last year, 75+% fewer. I can’t necessarily chalk it up to the heat &
wildfire smoke, as in 1988 (yr of Yellowstone Fires), we had record numbers of hummingbirds. I was filling three 8 oz nectar feeders daily.
Now, I’m only filling one feeder with 6 oz (to prevent waste), as I’m cleansing & re-filling the feeder daily, because of the heat. And, I don’t want the sugar to turn to alcohol. Even with filling only 6 oz, I’m still wasting 2-3 oz daily.
Suspect, many factors are at play which are not necessarily good for our feathered friends.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
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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
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