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Birds on the greenbelt


With all the ice and snow, we’ve been reluctant to bike. And since I long ago decided that I can’t count birds if I burn gas, hauling our bikes to the greenbelt was not an option. But finally the streets in the North End cleared up enough
to make it to the greenbelt on 2 wheels.

Yesterday was fine, an average day, but today was exceptional. The flyover by a Bald Eagle was a great welcome to Esther Simplot Park, but the Cackling Goose in the ditch next to Veterans Pond was incredible. I scan every flock of geese
for anyone different, but this is the first time I’ve found a Cackling Goose in several years.

Then, just past where the street Willow Lane hits the greenbelt, I saw a flock of angry BB Magpies. At first, I thought they were harassing a RT Hawk, but the bird turned out to be an immature Northern Goshawk, another bird I haven’t seen
along the greenbelt in several years. He was sitting high in a tree and the BBMA’s were making quite a ruckus.

So, by this time I can’t decide if I should just be happy that the bird gods have smiled on me or if I should expect something special. The answer came when I spotted an American Dipper working the rapids just upstream from Plantation Island.
Again, a bird that I’ve only seen on my regular route once before. I’ve looked for them by Diversion Dam, where RL sees them regularly, but they don’t seem to come down my way much.

Anyway, my second day out on a bike this year, and it was a truly great day. Final tally was 35 species in 10 miles and no frost bite.

Tom McCabe, Boise

Listserv Posts

Re: Northern Mockingbird near Barber Dam in Boise

Thanks for reporting on this bird Lucian. To add to the location – there are three large sets of powerlines that run North/South. The bird was skulking around on the south side of the river under the most upstream (eastern) set of powerlines. As mentioned, lots of berries, and a group of several larger trees. There were 2 Hermit Thrush following each other around in the same shrubs.

Danette Henderson
Boise

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Re: Northern Mockingbird near Barber Dam in Boise

Had a question about parking for this bird so I figured I’d just reply to the whole group. 
There’s parking either along E Sawmill Way (drive until you get to the entrance to a wide path heading towards the dam) or at a pullout along Eckert Rd, just north of the bridge. If you just want the mockingbird, Sawmill is quicker, but I had the White-throated Sparrow between the mockingbird spot and Eckert. 
Good luck to anyone who looks for it! Updates would be appreciated. 🙂 
-Lucian 
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Northern Mockingbird near Barber Dam in Boise

I just found a Northern Mocking in Boise, along the Boise River just below Barber Dam. It was initially seen on the north side of the river and the large island (accessible right now with low water levels) below the dam, then flew across the island and landed on the south side of the river, just across the river from these coordinates: 43.56141° N, 116.12529° W
There were also three Common Redpolls in the same area on the big island, and a White-throated Sparrow closer to Eckert Bridge on the north side of the trail, in a pile of large logs, here: 43.562683, -116.128951

Listserv Posts

Re: pine siskin, anyone?

Watch out for Salmonellosis outbreaks… Washington and Oregon are already reporting outbreaks to winter on large scales.

Thank you,
Tempe
________________________________
From: Andrea King <aking0601@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, January 5, 2022 12:53 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io
Subject: Re: [IBLE] pine siskin, anyone?

I’m kind of late to the conversation here, so I hope this helps. I’m in college earning a degree for fisheries and wildlife management, and I actually wrote a research paper on bird feeders and whether or not to use them during the Winter – the general findings in this area are that it is supplemental, helpful, and doesn’t cause any real harm to the birds! 🙂 So long as the feeders/hulls are regularly cleaned up! Anyway, I saw there were some questions about that, and though I’m far from an expert (truly, I’m a student so I’m learning), I thought I’d share what I know 😀

Have a great day everyone!

On Tue, Jan 4, 2022 at 6:12 PM Rob Danielson via groups.io<http://groups.io> <robdanielson=ymail.com@groups.io<mailto:ymail.com@groups.io>> wrote:
Cool.

<https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS>

On Tuesday, January 4, 2022, 4:35 PM, bike4birds <tmccabe9@outlook.com<mailto:tmccabe9@outlook.com>> wrote:

I think they must be rotating between your yard and mine! There were about 40 in my 2 tray feeders and on my sock feeder and tube feeder this morning. That’s when I looked down and saw a crowd like yours under the feeders. Then I noticed small flocks coming and going to the maple tree above the feeders. I gave up trying to count them.

BTW, great picture.

Tom McCabe, Boise (North End)

From: IBLE@groups.io<mailto:IBLE@groups.io> <IBLE@groups.io<mailto:IBLE@groups.io>> On Behalf Of Kerry Fitzharris
Sent: Tuesday, January 4, 2022 3:27 PM
To: IBLE@groups.io<mailto:IBLE@groups.io>
Subject: [IBLE] pine siskin, anyone?

This is about a fourth of the pine siskins that are feeding in my backyard right now.

Happy New Year!

Kerry Fitzharris

North End, Boise

[cid:17e2bcb449f4ce8e91]

Listserv Posts

Re: pine siskin, anyone?

I’m kind of late to the conversation here, so I hope this helps.  I’m in college earning a degree for fisheries and wildlife management, and I actually wrote a research paper on bird feeders and whether or not to use them during the Winter – the general findings in this area are that it is supplemental, helpful, and doesn’t cause any real harm to the birds!  🙂  So long as the feeders/hulls are regularly cleaned up!  Anyway, I saw there were some questions about that, and though I’m far from an expert (truly, I’m a student so I’m learning), I thought I’d share what I know 😀

Have a great day everyone!

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