Re: Muskovy Duck at Ann Morrison Park
There are a large number of domestic ducks that are “set free” aka dumped at parks. People get them as ducklings for the kids or as a pet and when they get tired of the mess and feeding them they dump them at a park.
On Nov 6, 2025, at 4:08 PM, Kevin Merrell via groups.io <historysaver@…> wrote:
While wild Muskovy Ducks in the wild are native to Mexico, Central and South America, they apparently show up in domesticated stocks in the US. If anyone is interested, there is a fine, friendly example at the Ann Morrison Park duck pond in Boise. Anyone know the history of this chap? It walked right up to me and walked right up to a nearby parked car as if expecting a treat.Kevin MerrellBoise<DSCF1468 – 5 x 7.jpg>
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
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
Re: Muskovy Duck at Ann Morrison Park
The one at Esther Simplot Park has been there continuously since at least September. It’s there every day. There is also a pair of domestics, he’s black, she’s white. The Mallards tend to ignore them.
Tom McCabe, Boise
Re: Muskovy Duck at Ann Morrison Park
There seems to be a pattern of sorts here, Stephanie. Someone also reported a sighting of a Muskovy Duck five years ago at Fuller Park in Boise.
On Thu, Nov 6, 2025 at 4:12 PM Stephanie Youngerman via groups.io <ssyoungerman=gmail.com@groups.io> wrote:
Re: Muskovy Duck at Ann Morrison Park
Kevin,
I don’t know the history of this duck, but I believe we saw the same one on September 18 at Esther Simplot Park here in Boise.
Stephanie
Muskovy Duck at Ann Morrison Park
While wild Muskovy Ducks in the wild are native to Mexico, Central and South America, they apparently show up in domesticated stocks in the US. If anyone is interested, there is a fine, friendly example at the Ann Morrison Park duck pond in Boise. Anyone know the history of this chap? It walked right up to me and walked right up to a nearby parked car as if expecting a treat.
Kevin Merrell
Boise
Re: Raptor surveys
Hi Jeff,
Mike Koob, Boise, here…. I’m interested in the Jordan Valley route, but not sure I/we can fit it in this month (November)(I’m pretty familiar with that area also). Also, this is our first time doing a survey (we’re signed up for Emmett – Horseshoe Bend,
and we plan on getting out next week when the weather is good), and we’d like to see “how it goes” with the route we’ve already signed up for before we commit to an additional route. So… I’d say – if you get other takers, go ahead and let them have it,
but if you still need someone for the rest of the survey period, let me know. Looking forward to partaking in this survey!
and we plan on getting out next week when the weather is good), and we’d like to see “how it goes” with the route we’ve already signed up for before we commit to an additional route. So… I’d say – if you get other takers, go ahead and let them have it,
but if you still need someone for the rest of the survey period, let me know. Looking forward to partaking in this survey!
Mike Koob, Boise
Raptor surveys
Hi Everyone,
Tomorrow, November 1, is the beginning of our 22nd survey season for the Winter Raptor Survey Project sponsored by the East Cascades Bird Alliance based in Bend, OR. I recently posted route vacancies on IBLE that I still have need of volunteers for but I would like to focus on one route in SE OR that might interest one of you living in the greater Boise area. It is my Jordan Valley route which is roughly 75 miles in length and covers some prime raptor habitat in and around Jordan Valley east to Arock. I checked google maps and from the junction of Highways 95 and 55 west of Boise near Marsing down to Jordan Valley is roughly 45 miles on Highway 95. If there is anyone interested in taking this route on for our project this winter, I would love to get this area covered 🙂 You would have to plan on a full day to get down there, do the survey, then return to home. I ask our project volunteers to commit to doing one survey each month for December through February and these surveys can be done on a day of your choosing each month. November and March are also available for surveys but they are optional. If you wish to do surveys on this route this winter, please contact me as soon as you can so I can get you prepared for what you will be doing. Thank you!
Jeff Fleischer
Project Developer / Manager
Winter Raptor Survey Project
East Cascades Bird Alliance – Bend, OR (project sponsor)
Townsend’s Solitaires
After one of the best Yellow-rumped Warbler fall migrations I’ve had in years, place is quieting down with less bird song, as winter approaches. BC Chickadees & House Finches are the primary feeder visitors now, with an occasional RB Nuthatch. One of my faves has made its altitudinal migration, from lonely mtn canyon haunts, down to our Snake River Bottoms & its supply of Rocky Mtn Junipers filled with berries this year.
I always enjoy the Solitaires staking out certain junipers & actively defending them against intruders: mainly other Solitaires & Am Robins. And, they’re masters of voice projection with their 2-note repetitive call. It’s like they’re purposely trying to keep me looking elsewhere, when the bird can be directly overhead! Occasionally, one will break out in its thrush-type song, which puts a Robin’s to shame.
Last winter, I only found a couple of Solitaires, sporadically, around the place. So far, I’ve counted at least a half dozen individuals, in past 2 wks. Maybe they know something I don’t, about upcoming winter?!
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Winter raptor surveys
Hi Everyone,
About 10 days ago, I posted the attached message in hopes of getting some help filling some vacant raptor survey routes for our Winter Raptor Survey Project sponsored by the East Cascades Bird Alliance based in Bend, OR set to begin on November 1. I am happy to say that I have gotten some filled but not all of them so here is a list of routes still needing an interested volunteer to do the surveys 🙂
Craigmont-Mohler
Nezperce
Churchill-Oakley
Richfield
Heyburn
Minidoka NW
Rupert North
Burley East-Lake Walcott
Burley SW
American Falls-Rockland
Ashton
Dubois
If you live near these areas and have a desire to do some survey work this winter for birds of prey, please email me as soon as you can so I can get you prepared for what you will be doing. Thank you 🙂
Jeff Fleischer
Project Developer / Manager
Winter Raptor Survey Project
East Cascades Bird Alliance – Bend, OR (project sponsor)
Begin forwarded message:
From: Jeff Fleischer <raptorrunner97321@…>Subject: Winter raptor surveysDate: October 19, 2025 at 8:00:44 AM PDTTo: IBLE <ible@groups.io>Hi Everyone,Over the years, I have advertised vacant winter raptor survey routes in Idaho on IBLE. In two weeks we are about to embark on our 22nd season of surveys for the Winter Raptor Survey Project sponsored by the East Cascades Bird Alliance (formerly Audubon Society). Surveys will be conducted on 629+ survey routes covering more than 35,000 miles of transects throughout all of ID, OR, and WA, throughout the northern tier of CA and UT, throughout western MT, and in southern BC Canada. More than 500 primary volunteers will do once a month surveys from December through February, with additional options to survey in November and March.
I would like you to know that the following survey routes, with their mileage lengths, are still available for volunteers to be assigned to this winter :
Lake Lowell South 85Emmett South 66Emmett – Horseshoe Bend. 84Weiser West 32
Craigmont – Mohler. 60
Nez Perce 71 Churchill – Oakley 68
Richfield 44
Heyburn 41Minidoka NW 85
Rupert North 69
Burley East – Lake Walcott 67
Burley SW 51American Falls – Rockland. 75Arimo – Virginia 56Ashton 76Dubois 51The fact that we have 153 routes throughout Idaho and that we only need these 17 routes to fill the entire state for this project says volumes regarding the dedication that Idaho volunteers in this project put forth 🙂
To participate, I ask that our volunteers commit to doing one survey per month during the primary survey period from December through February. Volunteers can select survey dates each month to dovetail with their own life schedules. November and March are also available for surveying but these are optional months as they do contain migrational activity and this is a wintering project. You should have at least a pair of binoculars to help you find and ID the birds, spotting scopes are encouraged but not mandatory and you should be comfortable with IDing the common raptor species in these areas.
If this sounds like something that you would like to do, I encourage you to email me soon so that you can hopefully cover the route(s) of your choice, I will necessarily fill these on a first come first served basis. If you make that decision, I will provide additional information and instruction to get you properly prepared for what you will be doing on these surveys. This is a fun way to enjoy winter birding while at the same time collecting valuable population data for this wonderful family of birds, I hope that you will join us this winter! :). Thank you,
Jeff Fleischer
Project Developer / Manager
Winter Raptor Survey Project
East Cascades Bird Alliance – Bend, OR (project sponsor)
Re: Posting private emails
Whew, glad I am not the only one, yes, IBLE is different and I go through this every time during the recruiting period :). Hope all is well with you, been one busy body this fall, have added 15 new routes in some cool places, including 4 in BC :). I keep piling it on to myself but getting even more new bodies involved in this project is a reward unto itself. I am ready for whatever I need to do to keep making this thing work ! Thanks Judy 🙂
Jeff