Yes, we’ve had 7-8 Steller’s hanging around for a month or more now, Moonlight Mine area east of Pocatello. Unusual. Normally we’re lucky to see one or two as they pass through. They’re eating sunflower and suet (w/ sunflower seeds).
Also the usual suspects: dozen+ Evening Grosbeaks, lots of goldfinches, a few house finches, downy, hairy, etc.
Thanks for the responses. A bit more detail. Yes, I follow the Fall Finch Forecast to get an idea as to cone crops & general forecasts. As winter arrives, then I follow the individual species range maps on eBird. And, also, I’m on a single social media site: Bluesky. There, I follow birders, wildlife photographers & nature enthusiasts. Sev of the Canadian & Montana observers started reporting good numbers & movements of Redpolls & Snow Buntings, this past week. Just reading some overall trends that may, hopefully, indicate a good winter finch year for ID. I’m a big believer in “citizen science” & find that good observers are, often, the first at seeing trends before more formal formats. Hope this helps.
I’m aware of this report, which his mostly about the east and comes out once in late fall, but Brian implies there are updated reports available somewhere.
I have a single stellar jay coming about every afternoon around 2 here in Idaho Falls. Last time I had stellar jays, I had two blue jays. The Blue Jays would hang on the feeder and drop peanuts, the stellar jays were essentially ground cleanup crew. It’s been 5 years since I have had both.
I had a Stellers Jay for a couple hours last week. It worked the mostly picked over crabapple and avoided sunflower seed feeder. I heard there were some on Pocatello Creek Rd high up. Magpies and Downy have figured out how to hang off feeder to get seed. Two really cute squirrels hanging out in garage wood pile and Pyrenees and cat haven’t figured out how to get them, or not really trying.
We have 5ish Steller’s Jays hanging out this winter in Idaho Falls. Had a group a couple years back and they came back this year. They REALLY like it when I put small peanuts in a tube feeder and they like our black oil sunflowers as well. Wonderful bird to have visiting.
Another (or maybe same one seen in Nov???) Steller’s Jay this AM in backyard. Haven’t seen it come into the sunflower seed feeder. Both observations have been around Rocky Mtn Junipers & Colo Blue Spruce trees. Definitely, a rarity for our elevation along the Snake.
Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot
Home of Idaho Birding and the Idaho Bird Records Committee
