Thank you!

That dirt road is a private farm access road. In addition to looking for No Trespassing signs, you need to look for orange paint on things like fence posts, trees, and tires.  Under Idaho law that also means No Trespassing. —

It’s all private property.  Those roads are from long ago before the no trespassing signs went up.  The playa was used by people flying model planes.  And birders used to walk along those roads to get closer to the birds.

We’ve been to Dry Lakes a couple times. We are always cautious to follow posted signs (and even so if there are no signs) not to trespass. The last time we were there, we  noticed a what appears to be a ‘well traveled’ dirt road with telephone poles all along it. The no trespassing sign off of Stage Coach ‘appears’ to be marking the land off to the side of the road but not the dirt road…but as I said, we are always very cautious not to trespass. So, I wanted to ask if this dirt road with all of the telephone poles is private or just the land off of the road? I’m including a photo of the dirt road I’m referring to. 

Lynda Ackert
Eagle, ID

Always enjoy reading your hummingbird observations, Bill. Today, have had visits to the feeder by adult male & female Rufous, a female Calliope & the resident Black-chinneds. Again, for my specific location, the Rufous & Calliope are early, but pleasant surprises! Have noted the same in our Lazuli Buntings, too. A bit less flashy.

Interesting about your moose & deer. As we’re seeing exact same along the Snake. Other day, we watched a cow moose & calf spend from 11AM until 5PM, feeding amongst willows by backyard stream & bedding down in sight of back deck for most of the afternoon. We get both muledeer & whitetail deer & numbers of both have been quite scarce on the place since last Fall. We did have a mtn lion take advantage of last year’s deep snows & was taking about one muledeer a week for 6-8 wks. Found 3 carcasses on our place alone & neighbor found a few on his, too. Have yet to see a single fawn this summer. Usually, have seen 4-5 by now. Hoping for a bit less “harsh” winter this year & see if deer numbers rebound. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot 

As I’ve researched hummingbird migration, wondering, if perhaps, I’m “training” some birds to come through the yard. Maybe the Rufous & Calliope have been migrating this time of year, within a few miles of my area…always. And, the primarily juveniles of those species, which do arrive Aug/Sept, are now, of course, adults this season. Perhaps, as adults, they’ve “adjusted” their usual migration flight route to include my feeder.

“Remembering” that when they came through last Aug as juveniles, there’s a chance that nectar in a feeder would be available for them, as adults, on their way back south during July. Research has shown that hummingbirds have a good memory for nectar sources, including feeders. Plus, it doesn’t  appear that nectar feeders “harm” hummingbirds by keeping them in a location too long to disturb their overall migration. Difficult to make conclusions from a single season. But, succeeding seasons will be interesting to observe.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Ok, something’s definitely up. Just had an adult male Calliope Hummingbird come into the feeder. Calliope Hummingbirds don’t usually show here until late Aug/early Sept & are primarily juveniles. 

Looking at range map for Rose-breasted Grosbeak, which appeared yesterday at seed feeder, think something has started an early push southward by at least some of the breeding birds to our north. No matter the cause, exciting. 

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot