I’ll just quickly add that Idaho Fish and Game did this in part in response to concerned folks on the birding forums (this and Facebook) as well as after communication with folks at the Ruth Melichar Bird Center, Golden Eagle Audubon, and Intermountain Bird Observatory.
Michael Young (listed in the article), Jamie Utz (the SW region Wildlife Diversity Biologist), and others put a lot of research and effort into how to do this correctly and I’m very appreciative for their efforts!
I know people had seen it in flight several weeks ago but the fact it hadn’t departed the pond since the spring strongly suggests that this relocation was the right thing to do.
Paul … I understood your directions perfectly but then I had been at that spot when you were there before 🙂
On Nov 18, 2021, at 10:53 AM, Paul GRABE <grapeape1041@…> wrote:
My checklist #S97722532 has my track map attached.Â
Sorry for the confusion – R.L. called me and I explained my thinking on directions, which worked in my mind, but didn’t make sense to others.
From the upper south parking lot (with restroom) walk north on the trail and turn right (east) before crossing Elmer’s Creek (dry wash) and walk on the path between the willows and the cut bank.  You’ll come to a bench of dirt which juts out from the cut bank with a broken 2 x 4 on top; this is where I sit to scope the eastern portion of Reserve, there used to be two 2 x 6’s, but they disappeared last year.  It’s my makeshift handicap bench.
I would guess the board bench Paul is referring to is just below the cut bank to the east of the path leading down from the main parking lot to the dry wash. Paul and I ran into each other there last year and I saw and photographed my first Common Redpoll’s very close to that board bench.
On Nov 17, 2021, at 7:59 PM, Robert Kiernan <photobirder@…> wrote:
I don’t remember a bench that you mention where in relation to main. Parking area its been awhile since I have been thereÂ
Ken Miracle chukar28@… 208-570-2780 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
Ken Miracle chukar28@… 208-570-2780 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
This morning they were more in the middle. Had a few flyovers and then 6 of them landed right in front of me in some bushes on the other side of the main canal (further north than the one Paul is talking about). They flew to the NE corner after that, and I think I had a flock fly over me in the parking lot before I left. Also had a Northern Shrike, and 10+ American Tree Sparrows. Not much in the reservoir besides some Mallards and Canada Geese.
My checklist #S97722532 has my track map attached.Â
Sorry for the confusion – R.L. called me and I explained my thinking on directions, which worked in my mind, but didn’t make sense to others.
From the upper south parking lot (with restroom) walk north on the trail and turn right (east) before crossing Elmer’s Creek (dry wash) and walk on the path between the willows and the cut bank.  You’ll come to a bench of dirt which juts out from the cut bank with a broken 2 x 4 on top; this is where I sit to scope the eastern portion of Reserve, there used to be two 2 x 6’s, but they disappeared last year.  It’s my makeshift handicap bench.
I would guess the board bench Paul is referring to is just below the cut bank to the east of the path leading down from the main parking lot to the dry wash. Paul and I ran into each other there last year and I saw and photographed my first Common Redpoll’s very close to that board bench.
On Nov 17, 2021, at 7:59 PM, Robert Kiernan <photobirder@…> wrote:
I don’t remember a bench that you mention where in relation to main. Parking area its been awhile since I have been thereÂ
Ken Miracle chukar28@… 208-570-2780 “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” 2COR 3:5
Blacks Creek Bird Reserve – found the flock of Common Redpolls (seven) and also two American Tree Sparrows with White-crowned Sparrows and House Finches. I stayed seated on the broken board bench and the flock came within fifteen feet of me.Â
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