I know this Winter Raptor Survey is in Oregon but I can see Idaho from many stops along the route, so perhaps some have an interest. Judy, jmeredit@…
Another count done for the month. Drove 87.1 miles on the route, 9 hours, 151 raptors. Light on diversity.
75 Red-tailed Hawks
60 American Kestrels
11 Northern Harriers
3 Prairie Falcon
2 unidentified raptors, highway too busy to ID
No eagles, accipiters, owls. Small Horned Lark flocks, 3 large Western Meadowlark flocks (25 to 50).
good birding, Judy, Jmeredit@…
I’ve put a hold on filling my platform feeder. There’s a Sharp-shinned Hawk, & occasionally 2, that has taken up residence at my feeder. As evidenced by feather piles, the hawk has been taking a junco about every 3-4 days & perches nearby for hours at a time. The only birds that will brave the platform feeder are BC Chickadees, while the Sharpie is around. The hawk is only doing what it’s designed to, but I don’t have to regularly supply its meals. The Sharpie needs to expand its territory. And, have my feeder simply become a stop along its wanderings, not its primary meal source. I’ll restart feeding in a couple of weeks.
Along the river, I was pleasantly surprised to see a Bald Eagle flyby with nesting material in its talons. I know their last nest blew down in an early Fall windstorm.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
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