Had this bird in our yard earlier today. Don’t ever recall seeing a bird this wet before. It was around for about half an hour and then flew off. Seemed to have strength and full mobility. At first, I thought
it was some sort of sparrow, but the more I look the more I doubt that. Seems too much black on the head.
I would welcome thoughts on what it is and if it is just wet, or ill.
Today found me heading west from the Garden City West Bridge. A hooded merganser and ducklings in the river. Yellow warblers heard but seen only as an occasional flash of yellow. The local mom great horned owl presiding over her three owlets. Three brown-headed cowbirds in an extended conversation. Several cormorants on the wing. A chat with a group of cyclists yielded a hitherto unknown tidbit: an Irish fellow told us that in England, birders are called “twitchers.” Well, there you go. Twitchers all.
It was delightful to hear yellow warblers once again, but I didn’t see a one them! Did catch sight of a dusky flycatcher (thank you Merlin for the sound ID) and later saw one “catching dinner on the fly” in my backyard! Pear trees in bloom, and there’ll be proper leaves on the trees any day now!
Instead of talking about birds I’ve seen, I want to highly recommend a book. The title is “The Bald Eagle, The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird,” by Jack E. Davis. It combines natural history with our country’s history in a blend that
is compelling. There are dark moments, such as when Alaska offered a bounty for the talons of dead Bald Eagles or when DDT was killing the species slowly, but there are uplifting moments as well. For me, the final section, about a Vietnam Vet who gets over
his PTSD by a return to nature and a connection to the eagle, was very close to home. I had been back from Vietnam, back in “the world’ (aka the U.S.) about 6 months when I started birding. It definitely helped me to adjust. That section of the book was an
unexpected emotional end to a great book.
I had the pleasure of birding with Ann Swanson today. Highlights were the FOY Lewis’s Woodpeckers and Lazuli Buntings at Foote Park and W. Kingbirds, Bullock’s Orioles and Western Tanagers at Lucky Peak-Discovery Unit. Surprised to see IBO diverted the Boise R!!!
For those of you in Boise, especially the North End, keep an eye out for Lazuli Buntings at your feeders. The bunting came on the heels (tail?) of another Cassin’s Finch, which was a treat in and of itself. I can’t remember the last time
I had a Lazuli in the yard, but I know it’s been quite a while. Once, years ago, late 70’s or early 80’s, we had a week where Lazuli Buntings seemed to be dripping from every tree in the North End.
The rest of my day list was pretty typical for this time of year, with another tally of 40+ birds.
On May 4, 2022, at 7:27 AM, Laura Mahrt <lmahrt@…> wrote:
Hello,
I am a board Member of the Friends of Ladd Marsh and I was hoping you could post the following about our upcoming Bird Festival.
Let me know if you have any questions,
Laura
We would like to remind everyone about the Ladd Marsh Bird Festival 2022 scheduled for May 13-15. Check the FOLM website for a list of activities, www.friendsofladdmarsh.org.
Plan on visiting the opening night social/registration event that will be held at the La Grande Senior Center from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. This casual drop-in event will feature music, food, merchandise for sale, and registration for the festival events. Those
who pre-register online will have a packet of materials and passports waiting for them to pick up at the Senior Center or Saturday at Tule Lake on the Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area. You can also register at the Friday night event and sign-up for any field trips
that might still have openings. Registration will also be available 6:00 am until noon at Tule lake, LMWA on Saturday the 14th. Packets and passports will be available both Friday night and Saturday morning for those who have not pre-registered. Remember,
each participant will need to have a passport for entrance into most areas of the LMWA during the Bird Festival.
Directions to Ladd Marsh HQ:
From La Grande: Take the Union Highway (203) to Pierce Road (near B&K Auto Salvage). Turn right (south) on Pierce. Continue for approximately 1.25 miles to HQ on the right.
From Union: Turn left on Pierce Road and continue for approximately 1.25 miles to HQ on the right. HQ can be reached from I-84: Take exit 268 (Foothill Road) then turn east. At the “T” with pierce Road, turn left (north).
Continue about 1.5 miles to HQ on the left.
As a reminder: Thank You to those that have already renewed their Friends of Ladd Marsh Membership for the 2022 year. If you have not renewed, the membership link can be found at
Today was the 25th day in a row that I have identified 40 or more species, with two days of 50 or more. Highlight today was a pair of Swainson’s Hawks flying downriver with talons locked, screaming as they flew. They then released
and flew one circuit over me and were gone. Way cool.
Ruddy Ducks continue at Quinn’s Pond and Silver Lake, Cinnamon Teal showing up at various ponds, Cooper’s Hawks starting to nest, an Orange-crowned Warbler today, as well as a Spotted Sandpiper working the shore at Esther Simplot park.
Swallows have increased my count, as well as BH Cowbirds, a Brewer’s Blackbird, and lots and lots of YR Warblers. Plus, I still have Pine Siskins coming to my feeder, but not in their winter numbers.
Now if the people on electric bikes would start giving warnings before they pass me. 😉
Tom McCabe, Boise
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
