Here’s the latest set of records IBRC has completed voting on. Of note
is the removal of Swamp Sparrow from the Review List for the Panhandle
region in Winter. Seems birders have figured out when and where to
locate them so they are now being reported regularly. Thanks to all who
clarified the species’ distribution in the region by submitting
documentation.

Cliff

Accepted in first round (7-0):
Whimbrel 13-B-2017
Hudsonian Godwit 12-B-2016
Dunlin 4-B-2016
Say’s Phoebe 77-B-2015
Hermit Warbler 40-B-2016
Red-flanked Bluetail 1-A-2017
Williamson’s Sapsucker 44-B-2016
White-rumped Sandpiper 43-B-2016
American Bittern 41-B-2016
Winter Wren 39-B-2016
White-winged Dove 40-B-2016
Great Crested Flycatcher 3-A-2017
Brown-headed Cowbird 2-B-2017
Swamp Sparrow is removed from Review List for Winter/Panhandle

Not Accepted in first round (0-7):
Greater Roadrunner 1-A-2016

Accepted in second round:
Little Blue Heron 59-B-2015 (7-0)
Red-shouldered Hawk 35-B-2016 (7-0)

Not Accepted in second round:
Winter Wren 4-A-14 (0-7)
Glossy Ibis 24-B-2016 (1-6)
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper 31-B-2016 (2-5)

Not Accepted in third round:
Red-shouldered hawk 39-B-14 (4-3)
Black-throated Blue Warbler 19-B-2016 (1-6)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I’ve been asked a few times about the meaning of the alpha-numeric codes
shown after the species name in the list of reviewed records I send out
in these updates.  All records are in this format:
Species name, Record Number, (Vote).
Species name is self explanatory.
The record number is in 3 parts separated by hyphens.  The first part is
the number of the record within a given year.  The second part is a
letter, either A or B, which designates whether the report is for a
species with previous Idaho records (B), or if the report is for a
species not yet documented in Idaho (A).   The third part is the year in
which the report was submitted.
The numbers in parenthesis are the final vote arrived at by IBRC for the
record, with the first number for “accept” votes, the second for “not
accept” votes.  First round votes must be unanimous to be decisive so
any record Accepted/Not Accepted in first round is necessarily 7-0 or 0-7.

Here’s an example:
Lincoln’s Sparrow 11-B-13 (7-0)
In this case the species is Lincoln’s Sparrow.
The record number, 11-B-13, shows that this is the 11th report submitted
to IBRC during the year, the “B” shows that there are previous records
for Lincoln’s Sparrow, “13” is the year, 2013.
The numbers in parenthesis, (7-0), are the final vote on the record.  7
votes to Accept, 0 votes for Not Accept.

Accepted in first round:
Bewick’s Wren 15-B-13

Accepted in second round:
Lincoln’s Sparrow 11-B-13 (7-0)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

-Report rarities to the Idaho Bird Records Committee via the online form
at:
http://www.idahobirds.net/ibrc/rarebirdreportform.html or you can email
your report to rarebirdreport@idahobirds.net
-Helpful tips for preparing your report can be found in this article:
http://www.idahobirds.net/ibrc/documentation.html
-Don’t forget to check the Review List before taking the time to prepare
a report:
http://www.idahobirds.net/ibrc/reviewspecies.html
-You can contact the Secretary via email at this address:
secretary@idahobirds.net
-As always you can email any Committee member with questions. Addresses
can be found here:
http://www.idahobirds.net/ibrc/members.html

—
Cliff and Lisa Weisse
Island Park, Idaho
cliffandlisa@octobersetters.com

Well, Tom let’s keep that seed trail going from SE ID to Boise & back. ‘Cause it was fun having the Pine Siskins so close. They practically did eat out of my hand, as they were clinging to the thistle feeder, while I was still holding it. Tame & ravenous little birds! My sister sent me a photo of an Anna’s Hummingbird visiting their feeder outside Gig Harbor, WA with 6 inches of snow in the background. Interesting winter!

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

Tom –

Same thing on my FOY Pine Siskins yesterday. Caught them going and coming
on my morning walk to Hyde Park. I noted on my eBird checklist for the day
that I also had other flocks of finches, though strangely no American
Robins, European Starlings, or House Sparrows, in addition to other “sure
things”. Blowing snow and cold temps, in my analysis, seemed to contribute
to the absences. (That’s a data point of one of course!)

—
Jim Lyons
jflyons@gmail.com
208-340-0533

On Sun, Feb 10, 2019 at 10:38 AM ‘Tom McCabe’ tmccabe9@cableone.net [ible] < ible-noreply@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

>
>
> Apparently the trail of bread crumbs and seeds that I put out from my
> house to Brian’s in Blackfoot has finally worked. Today I had my first Pine
> Siskin in ages. He didn’t stay long, but now I know they’re here. I’m
> hoping we’ll get the numbers we had a few years ago where they would eat
> out of my hand. 😉
>
> Tom McCabe, Boise
>
>
>

Apparently the trail of bread crumbs and seeds that I put out from my house
to Brian’s in Blackfoot has finally worked. Today I had my first Pine Siskin
in ages. He didn’t stay long, but now I know they’re here. I’m hoping we’ll
get the numbers we had a few years ago where they would eat out of my hand.
😉

Tom McCabe, Boise

Just got home from spending Fri & Sat taking our annual winter trip by snowcoach into Yellowstone. One of the birding highlights was seeing a total of 30 Trumpeter Swans yesterday, scattered along the Madison & Firehole Rivers. For those keeping up with the Trumpeters, Yellowstone summer nesting success numbers have dropped significantly the past few years.

That’s believed to be related to lake trout in Yellowstone Lake. (Hope I understood the dynamics correctly, Ruth Shea). The lake trout eat cutthroat trout, which the Bald Eagles usually eat. Hence, Bald numbers are down & those remaining have been eating Swan Cygnets. To the point, that last year, not a single Trumpeter Cygnet survived. Hopefully, as the lake trout numbers are continued to be exterminated, cutthroats &, hence, Eagles, Osprey & Swans will rebound. And the Eagles will move back to cutthroat trout & leave the young Swans alone.

So, it was good to observe a number of Trumpeters wintering in the Park and, might explain, why I see almost daily overhead flights of Trumpeter Swans here along the Snake River. No lake trout.

This morning, I went out to fill my empty feeders. While walking out with a scoop of thistle seed, to fill the feeder, I was bombarded by a half dozen Pine Siskins. They literally landed on the feeder while I was filling it within inches of my hands! Could hardly focus on them with my bifocals, they were so close. Quite a satisfying homecoming.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot

can anybody give me tips on how to improve this videohttps://youtu.be/qynt3SqzkXk

It’s been a quiet winter on Hoot Owl RD, sounds like a Prairie Home Companion lead in. We have goldfinches, siskens and chickadees, one or two Mountain rest Black Capped. I’m going through a fraction of the sunflower seed I’ve fed in previous years. The Goldfinch numbers are starting to increase, but not massive. We had a lone Rosy Finch for a day or two, but it’s moved on. Other usual visitors have not shown up. I abandoned one feeder in deep snow as other two can keep up with customers. If I had to I could put on my big boy boots and snowshoes to get to it, but too lazy.

One new and interesting behavior I’m seeing for the first time this year is with our resident Magpie flock. In the past, they worked the sunflower and millet feeders some and were increasingly working the ground under the feeders. This year in addition to working at and under feeders, they’ve added a new food source, dog poop. I don’t know if it’s the semi-digested kibble or the remains of sunflowers the dogs eat from under feeders, but poops in yard, field and driveway get worked on. The Magpies look to be thriving on their expanded diet or maybe they are just fluffed in cold.

Any one else see this? Is it documented?

By the way we also have at times a kettle of 15 – 20 Ravens in the area and an immature Golden working the hills.

At least there may be less for me to clean up in Spring.

Bill Moore
Hoot Owl RD
Inkom

Yesterday Amy and I saw just 3 Mallards and one Great Blue Heron on the lake at Blacks; but 4 American Tree Sparrows showed themselves nicely in the bushes to the right of the main entrance below the dyke. At Indian, several duck species seen, plus 2 Killdeer, including Redhead and Pintail, also found several female Red-winged Blackbirds. The real surprise as we left was seeing a single male Mountain Bluebird. This is the earliest in the year we have seen this species, plus I have never seen it at this location before.
Happy birding!
John Shortis 

On right fortboise wide live wild area

A Typical Day-in Rhyme

By Tom McCabe

The Screech Owl sings in the middle of the night

The Juncos are feeding at first light.

Goldfinches come-American and Lesser

I grab the binos from the dresser.

A Robin whinnies and a House Finch sings

Mourning Doves come and flutter their wings.

A Nuthatch calls as I head out the door

Bundled for the cold, but happy to the core.

Yellow-rumped Warbler greets me daily

Cedar Waxwings whisper gaily.

A Downy Woodpecker calls to me

I know it’s him though I cannot see.

At State Street the “Church Pigeons” sit on a cross

While a group of Crows decide who’s boss.

Magpies and Collared Doves make their noise

While Ruby Crowned Kinglets look like toys.

Then on to the river and the many water birds

They gather in numbers that look like herds.

Mallards and Wigeons and Gadwalls, oh my,

Plus both kinds of Mergansers, then a Heron flies by.

A Bald Eagle sits in a tree by the river,

Every time I see him it gives me a shiver.

The pleasure at showing him to any and all

Who wouldn’t have noticed him though he sits so tall.

I hear the Geese honk and the Kingfisher rattle

While down in the brush the Wren seems to tattle.

A Red-tail sits and surveys a field

Though often to a Kestrel he must yield.

The Wood Ducks are plenty and pretty as can be

And Common Goldeneye are a sight to see.

A Northern Pintail is an occasional star

And sometimes a Merlin appears from afar.

These are my friends that I look for each day

Though often when they see me, they fly away.

But I still keep biking and looking around

Hoping to find one that no one has found.

A daily quest that keeps me going

Although I never go out whenever it’s snowing.

It makes me happy in these crazy times,

Watching birds and making rhymes.