Folks, this was an interesting bit of reading….
LArnold

On Behalf Of Dan Smith
Subject: [texbirds] Migrating land birds in Tiger Shark diets

I ran across an interesting bit in one of the science newsletters I get daily. It seems that cross-Gulf migrant songbirds are a regular part of the diet of young tiger sharks, which are known to be very opportunistic foragers.. They had been assumed to eat seabirds such as resting gulls or petrels, but an examination of their stomach contents (pumped and released, not killed), revealed that young sharks show up in large numbers in the Gulf during the twice-yearly migration and dine on birds that have simply tired or been forced down by storms.

[ https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/tiger-sharks-eat-songbirds | https://cosmosmagazine.com/biology/tiger-sharks-eat-songbirds ]

From the article:

” Of the 105 sharks examined, 41 (39%) contained bird remains. The DNA analysis facilitated conclusive identification of 11 species. And what that revealed was weird.

“They included types found in many American backyard, including songbirds such as the house wren ( Troglodytes aedon ) and eastern kingbird ( Tyrannus turannus ), and even a species of woodpecker, the yellow-belled sapsucker ( Sphyrapicus varius ).

“Most of the birds were eaten by tiger sharks in the autumn, although some remains showed up in young sharks during spring. The team examined a large online database of bird sightings known as [ https://ebird.org/home | eBird ] to assess the movements of terrestrial songbirds at these times of year.

“The twice-yearly migration of songbirds across the Gulf of Mexico involves [ https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.14540 | in excess of two billion ] birds each season. The team found that these migration periods coincide with a peak of young sharks in the Gulf.

“ “In every instance, the timing of the tiger shark eating the bird coincided with the peak sighting for that species of bird off our coast,” says Drymon.

“Feldheim adds: “The tiger sharks scavenge on songbirds that have trouble flying over the ocean. During migration, they’re already worn out, and then they get tired or fall into the ocean during a storm.”

“The findings suggest that exhausted songbirds are an easily accessible and seasonally predictable pulse of nutrients for the young sharks. The inclusion of terrestrial birds in their diet is an unusual trophic interaction between land and sea ecosystems, because unlike [ https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061284 | seabirds and guano ] , the energy exchange is reversed from land to sea.”

Thanks Larry for thinking of me as I do need this for the state. I did make a run for the Plover on Monday based on information from Steve Kahl (thanks) but was unable to find it. As Steve K. Indicated this a very interesting Playa as it reminded me of the habitat along the Bear River Auto loop in Utah where I located the first Snowy Plover ever saw. In all I did have 27 species which included the Short-eared Owl, Phalaropes, Killdeer, Snipe, Avocets and Curlew mentioned in Steven Kahl’s post to Ible. I have always thought that is probably the most under birdied easily accessible areas of the state. Thanks again Larry for remembering that.

Steve Butterworth
Idaho Falls

Went into Yellowstone for 3 days this last wkend &, on the way, near Harriman Pk saw 3 adult Trumpeter Swans on Swan Lk. In the Park saw more Harlequin Ducks, all paired up, than I’ve ever seen. At least 25 prs. Also, had a great look at a lone black bear crossing a ridge area.

Returning home have found most of the summer residents now: Bullock’s Oriole, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Yellow, Yellow-rumped & Wilson’s Warblers, BH Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting & Cedar Waxwing. Before heading to Yellowstone last Fri, around our place I had started to see fairly good numbers of Painted Lady butterflies, as others have reported, but appears the cold, wet weather pattern has curtailed their numbers.

Still waiting to see W Tanager come through.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

On Saturday at the Idaho Botanical Garden up Old Penitentiary Road from
Warm Springs Avenue, I also witnessed an amazing butterfly migration. They
flowed downhill looking much like leaves on the wind. The person in the
garden gift shop told me it started Friday afternoon even with the heavy
clouds and lack of sun. He told me they were Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
butterflies. If you read about them, I think you’ll find them fascinating.
I’m wishing a lepidopterist were at the Gardens with me Saturday. I have
many questions!

Diann Stone Boise Depot Bench

On Mon, May 20, 2019, 6:42 PM Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible] < ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
>
> I sent this Saturday but it didn’t go out as far as I can tell. I was in
> awe today at what I witnessed.
>
> I walked outside this afternoon and noticed 20 butterflies flying through
> my yard in Eagle in the time I walked out to my truck. I then drove up to
> Avimor (a foothills community north of Boise along hwy 55). In the five or
> so miles I noticed 1000’s of butterflies including 100’s dead on the road.
> Later in the evening I was at Dry Creek Cemetery and still noticed 100’s of
> Butterflies passing through. I’ve never witnessed anything like this before.
>
> I was in the foothills on a long hike early this morning in the Five-mile
> Gulch vicinity and witnessed hundreds of birds. The sound was almost
> deafening early in the morning with all the singing from the birds. I
> counted 53 species and my checklist only included a five mile loop. My hike
> included a 10 mile loop up to tree line and back but I didn’t enter all
> numbers due to the 5 mile eBird limit. There were large numbers of Chats,
> Black-headed Grosbeaks, Spotted Towhees, Lazuli Buntings and warblers (7
> species of warblers). I love doing this hike each spring. I’m amazed every
> time I do it.
>
> I was at Dry Creek Cemetery yesterday and had a flock of 15 Western
> Tanagers. I had never seen this many before just standing there for a
> minute. A singing Anna’s Hummingbird male continues. I’ve just seen the 1
> male so far.
>
> It’s a great time to be in the outdoors!
>
>
> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
>
>
>

love those emps!! i saw that ……. “yard-breeding” ja baby !!
WTSP ain’t bad either 😉
eh?

[ http://www.birdpop.org/docs/misc/Alpha_codes_eng.pdf | http://www.birdpop..org/docs/misc/Alpha_codes_eng.pdf ]

moi

From: “Carl Lundblad carl.lundblad@gmail.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE” , “inland birders”
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2019 7:20:44 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Moscow WHITE-THROATED SPARROW

This evening I was pleased to find a late WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (lousy pic in eBird: [ https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56555130 | https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56555130 ] ) in the UI Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Moscow. It was in the Spirea hedge due west of the 3 big Prospector Elms in the upper end of the Arb. This appears to be only the third May record in eBird for north Idaho. I detected no other migrants, but did pick up my FOY mosquito bite. 1-2 Towsend’s Warblers, a Wilson’s Warbler, Western Tanager, and newly-arrived Chipping Sparrow rounded out the migrants in my Moscow yard this morning. At least one of my yard-breeding Western (Cordilleranish) Flycatchers arrived on the early side, May 18.
Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID

Steven, awesome find, pls tie down that plover because I think Steve Butterworth needs it for the state? yes?

what a great birding place that is =)

a few yrs ago we had yummylicious mud over here at Bruneau, a rare thing in spring apparently??

for some reason i feel talkative today

Heidi, thx for speaking with Missy, ja? oui? si? i couldn’t do it

From: “‘Kahl, Steve’ Steve_Kahl@fws.gov [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2019 9:25:06 AM
Subject: [IBLE] Snowy Plover – Oxford Slough

I was fortunate to find a snowy plover in Bannock County yesterday. There is a large alkaline playa at the upper reaches of Oxford Slough, southeast of the intersection of Oxford and Coulam Roads. The bird was at the north end.
Interestingly, I have been drooling over this playa all spring because of extensive mud/wet sand flats. It was superb for waterfowl back in late March and early April, but has largely been disappointing for shorebirds. I was hoping for lots of stilts, long-billed dowitchers, and maybe a peep or two. But when I arrived it only harbored 1 killdeer, 1 American avocet, and 4 Wilson’s phalaropes. I was scanning it a 3rd time in disbelief that it was so empty when the plover flew in. I took notice of it right away as something that could be interesting because of it’s overall small size and light coloration. Wasn’t expecting this species though!

Other noteworthy sightings include a steady stream of hundreds of white-faced ibis flying back and forth out of their nesting colony at Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area, out toward Swan Lake Slough and Marsh Valley. Displaying and calling long-billed curlews, willets, and Wilson’s snipe were a treat to enjoy. There was also a daytime short-eared owl along Coulam Road and a great-tailed grackle at Swan Lake Slough.

Steven F. Kahl
Deputy Project Leader
Southeast Idaho National Wildlife Refuge Complex
4425 Burley Dr., Ste. A
Chubbuck, ID 83202
C (208) 252-0805
P (208) 237-6615 ext 112
F (208) 237-8213

Like and follow us on [ https://www.facebook.com/Southeast-Idaho-National-Wildlife-Refuge-Complex-405198399878257/ | Facebook ] !

This evening I was pleased to find a late WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (lousy pic
in eBird: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56555130) in the UI Arboretum
and Botanical Gardens in Moscow. It was in the Spirea hedge due west of
the 3 big Prospector Elms in the upper end of the Arb. This appears to be
only the third May record in eBird for north Idaho. I detected no other
migrants, but did pick up my FOY mosquito bite. 1-2 Towsend’s Warblers, a
Wilson’s Warbler, Western Tanager, and newly-arrived Chipping Sparrow
rounded out the migrants in my Moscow yard this morning. At least one of
my yard-breeding Western (Cordilleranish) Flycatchers arrived on the early
side, May 18.

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID

Slight correction for clarification – it would be refunded if the tour was cancelled due to not enough individuals. I am waiting to hear from Rockjumper on a current count…fyi…Jonathan

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

________________________________
From: ible@yahoogroups.com on behalf of Robert Kiernan photobirder@gmail.com [ible]
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2019 6:26:04 PM
To: Cliff Wiese
Subject: [IBLE] Brazil tour

I’ve got people who have taken up my offer on my $2000 hopefully we will get enough for the trip without my having
To spend too much.you can be on list as backup you will have to register @ rock jumper bird tour Brazil October 4=11. $ 800 deposit by end of this month which will be refunded if you don’t go

Jason I love it when you post
you inspire dude!
more please

and i *think* i know that you love the Sawtooths, like us, feels like home, yes?

another place you inspired us to go = Seven Devils

you had no idea, eh?

From: “Jason Talbot jason.talbot1@yahoo.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2019 6:40:32 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Migration

I sent this Saturday but it didn’t go out as far as I can tell. I was in awe today at what I witnessed.

I walked outside this afternoon and noticed 20 butterflies flying through my yard in Eagle in the time I walked out to my truck. I then drove up to Avimor (a foothills community north of Boise along hwy 55). In the five or so miles I noticed 1000’s of butterflies including 100’s dead on the road. Later in the evening I was at Dry Creek Cemetery and still noticed 100’s of Butterflies passing through. I’ve never witnessed anything like this before.

I was in the foothills on a long hike early this morning in the Five-mile Gulch vicinity and witnessed hundreds of birds. The sound was almost deafening early in the morning with all the singing from the birds. I counted 53 species and my checklist only included a five mile loop. My hike included a 10 mile loop up to tree line and back but I didn’t enter all numbers due to the 5 mile eBird limit. There were large numbers of Chats, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Spotted Towhees, Lazuli Buntings and warblers (7 species of warblers). I love doing this hike each spring. I’m amazed every time I do it.

I was at Dry Creek Cemetery yesterday and had a flock of 15 Western Tanagers. I had never seen this many before just standing there for a minute. A singing Anna’s Hummingbird male continues. I’ve just seen the 1 male so far.

It’s a great time to be in the outdoors!

[ https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS | Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone ]

I sent this Saturday but it didn’t go out as far as I can tell. I was in awe today at what I witnessed.
I walked outside this afternoon and noticed 20 butterflies flying through my yard in Eagle in the time I walked out to my truck. I then drove up to Avimor (a foothills community north of Boise along hwy 55). In the five or so miles I noticed 1000’s of butterflies  including 100’s dead on the road. Later in the evening I was at Dry Creek Cemetery and still noticed 100’s of Butterflies passing through. I’ve never witnessed anything like this before.
I was in the foothills on a long hike early this morning in the Five-mile Gulch vicinity and witnessed hundreds of birds. The sound was almost deafening early in the morning with all the singing from the birds. I counted 53 species and my checklist only included a five mile loop. My hike included a 10 mile loop up to tree line and back but I didn’t enter all numbers due to the 5 mile eBird limit. There were large numbers of Chats, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Spotted Towhees, Lazuli Buntings and warblers (7 species of warblers). I love doing this hike each spring. I’m amazed every time I do it.
I was at Dry Creek Cemetery yesterday and had a flock of 15 Western Tanagers. I had never seen this many before just standing there for a minute. A singing Anna’s Hummingbird male continues. I’ve just seen the 1 male so far.
It’s a great time to be in the outdoors!

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone