Loon still present at 1:45 PM on Wednesday
Tom Rennebaum
Boise
Re: Juncos & White-crowned Sparrows
A white-crowned sparrow paid our ground-level feeder a visit late this afternoon.
Re: Strange Blackbird
I’m a few miles north of Idaho Falls on highway 43 and just south of Ucon.
Juncos & White-crowned Sparrows
Past few days have seen arrival of a few more White-crowned Sparrows each day, searching for scattered black-oil sunflower seeds beneath the feeder. Most common DE Juncos with them have been Oregon forms. This evening a beautiful Gray-headed form is present, with its rufous-red mantle, black lores & full yellow bill.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Re: Strange Blackbird
Should have proofread my previous reply. I recall when living in Anchorage, Alaska that Chickadees were observed with deformed bills.
Diann Stone
Boise Depot Bench
“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” Rachel Carson
Re: Strange Blackbird
I recall living in that there were numerous Black-capped Chickadees with beak deformities. Studies were begun to try to understand this phenomenon. Here is a link to information about this Avian Keratin Disorder. If you read quite a ways through it, you will find a Reporting Form that you can use to submit your observation.
https://blog.nature.org/2020/10/06/deformed-beaks-what-we-know-about-an-alarming-bird-disease/
What is your location?
Diann Stone
Boise Depot Bench
“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.” Rachel Carson
Re: Strange Blackbird
Maybe Avian Keratin Disorder.
Wendy Dandridge
Santa Rosa
iPhone. iTypos. iApologize.
Strange Blackbird
I’ve seen my share of one-legged birds, and other oddities, but how about this one? This RW Blackbird showed up in my yard early this spring. His lower bill is normal, but the upper bill is about an inch and a half longer, and it decurves. When I throw out cracked corn for them, the only way he can eat is to lay his head on the ground and kind of scoop it in. Very strange. What causes this? 
Re: Zeiss Victory SF 8X42 Binocular for Sale
What did you pay for them?
Zeiss Victory SF 8X42 Binocular for Sale
I am the original owner of a Zeiss Victory 8X42 binocular which I purchased new several years ago. This binocular is registered with Zeiss and covered under the company’s Limited Lifetime Transferable Warranty for the new owner. It comes with the original box, product materials, neck strap, eye covers and a new Zeiss case; and so would also make a nice present. I can attest that it lives up to its billing as “the world’s best birding and wildlife observation binocular.” As a consequence it is pricey, the least expensive retail price I can find is a listing for $2,800 plus sales tax. Im asking $1,950 for this like-new pair.
For more information and/or a photo contact Tad Blank, tadblank@…, located in Boise (I’m on eBird and my profile is public).