Guessing there are folks in Idaho who plant for hummingbirds….??

we’ve been in Boise 5+ yrs and we’re finally ready to do *more* planting for hums, as in from seed and using grow lights…. mostly salvias, some agastache

Nancy (post below) is a long time friend and one of the earliest of “master banders” and she’s still at it….. =)

Larry

To: “Larry Arnold”
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 10:34:48 AM
Subject: FW: [HUMNET-L] Tryin’ New Plants

The latest news from Nancy…

—–Original Message—–
From: BB for Hummingbirds and Gardening for them in the Southeast [mailto:HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU] On Behalf Of Nancy L Newfield
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 9:15 AM
To: HUMNET-L@LISTSERV.LSU.EDU
Subject: [HUMNET-L] Tryin’ New Plants

Mornin’ Humnetters,

The horticulture industry strives to offer plants that are new and

different every year. We humgardeners make sure to give these offerings a

try in our effort to find flowers that are an added enticement to our

favorite birds.

I have been at this quest for a long time, aided and abetted by all the

humgardeners I’ve met over the years. We always know that there will be

winners and losers among the plants and among our own group.

This spring season, I have 3 new Salvias to work with:

Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’, Salvia ‘Skyscraper Pink’, Salvia ‘Mystic Spires

Blue’

Te only one I’ve tested nectar of is Salvia ‘Skyscraper Pink’ – 2 flowers

yielded about 25 µL of 26.2% nectar. Hummers have been sparse this spring,

but it has been used.

Salvia ‘Mystic Spires Blue’ has been used as well, but the refractometer

fails to give a reading [2 attempts this morning].

I was given Salvia ‘Love and Wishes’ last fall but I forgot to take a

nectar reading. Will try to remember when it comes back into flower.

Happy Hummingbirdin’,

*Iron Nan*

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nancy L Newfield

Casa Colibrí

Metairie, Louisiana USA

nancy@casacolibri.net

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Birds were popping this morning! Beginning with several sp singing in the dark, it got better, louder, faster, happier, and I’m hoping this was a widespread “fallout” so that Tom and others get to enjoy similar action! Hundreds of swallows were swirling, hovering, covering our 14+ ponds along this three-mile section of greenbelt, and “inspired warblers” were debating their hearts out, mostly Yellow-rumps, but Orange-crowned as well.

I’m never sure what combination of variables produces these birdiest of moments that we live for, but when I arrived home from my short bike ride at 11 a.m., local conditions were 53F, partly cloudy, calm, 68% humidity, barometric pressure steady at 29.71, following 0.01” precip overnight, but with 1.7” for the month, 8.24” for the year, and more is forecast this evening..….

Spring fever has arrived!?

Larry

I birded on Sunday in Latah, Nez Perce, and Clearwater Counties beginning
at Spring Valley and Moose Creek Reservoirs, which finally had 100% open
water but no unusual birds. More exciting were my Latah County first
SANDHILL CRANES near the east end of Hog Meadow (on the north side of
Highway 8 between Helmer and Bovill). Sandhill Cranes were observed at
this location (always while I was away from Idaho) each year from
2015-2017, and may nest nearby. Driving Little Bear Ridge between Troy and
Kendrick produced a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, my FOY CINNAMON TEAL, a flock of
TUNDRA SWANS with one SNOW GOOSE, and a continuing REDHEAD (locally
uncommon, a second one was near Vassar, Idaho). Migrant MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS
were in a couple of locations in eastern Latah Co. In downtown Juliaetta,
I had my FOY VAUX’S SWIFT flying with swallows.

At the Dworshak Reservoir Dam/Bruce’s Eddy, I had 4 COMMON LOONS and a
flock of Scaup that looked pretty good for Greater but were too far away
for me to feel confident before they were flushed by a boat. I stopped at
the Lewis-Clark Canoe Camp to look at lots of (mostly California and some
Ring-billed) gulls feeding near the confluence of the North and South Fork
Clearwater Rivers (and near the outflow pipes of the Clearwater and
Dworshak Hatcheries). Here I found a group of 5 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, 2
BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, and a few other ducks. I see only one previous
Clearwater County record of Red-breasted Merganser in eBird (and not
particularly well documented). A second VAUX’S SWIFT was over the Orofino
Cemetery and my FOY Cliff Swallows were on the Clearwater near Spalding
Site. Mann Lake produced small flocks of Snow Geese, American White
Pelicans, and both Greater and LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Finally, another SNOW
GOOSE was in a field southeast of the Genesee Sewage Lagoon.

Good Birding,

Carl Lundblad
Moscow, ID

thx for reminder Denise! =)

Lanny Chambers ( St Louis MO ) began tracking / mapping spring sightings abt 20 yrs ago, but had given it up i think for technical reasons, and I had forgotten about this other website.

we’re getting excited, and Missy is itching to put out a couple humfeeders!!

here hummer, hummer, hummer……

LA

Curtis and Carol, I hope this reaches you guys as well

From: “Denise Hughes deniseh449@gmail.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Friday, April 12, 2019 4:49:18 PM
Subject: [IBLE] Hummingbird map

Just in case anyone is interested. There are maps for both the Ruby throated and Western hummers. Broad-tailed and Black chinned Hummingbirds have been reported in Salt Lake City.

[ https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2019-map.htm | https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2019-map.htm ]

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

Just in case anyone is interested. There are maps for both the Ruby
throated and Western hummers. Broad-tailed and Black chinned Hummingbirds
have been reported in Salt Lake City.

https://www.hummingbirdcentral.com/hummingbird-migration-spring-2019-map.htm

Denise Hughes
Caldwell, Idaho

Absent a local robust data set like a state Breeding Bird Atlas, I can only guess as to Western Screech-owl breeding phenology here in west Boise. Can eBird yield these data? I keep hearing what sounds like fledged birds, but according to the BNA account and nearby state BBA’s, the earliest reported / published / dates are 15 April. Maybe nestlings are calling from a nest site I can’t see on private property? Happens to be a place I’ve encountered them almost every year, but I’m suspicious of what I’m hearing until I can see the ‘lil fluffernuts. Could be something else I’m hearing? Thing is, they sound so distinctive to my ears……

The challenges and surprises of birding, eh?! =)

Larry

Missy and I had good luck on this drizzly, muddy day in SW Idaho (Ada, Owyhee, Elmore Counties) —

Indian Creek Reservoir yielded one each Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, and Long-billed Curlew
Ted Trueblood gave us a Swainson’s Hawk
Jack’s Creek treated us to six Caspian Terns and a Wilson’s Snipe
And Avocets were everywhere

But our quest birds were Black-necked Stilt and Barn Swallow, which we didn’t find anywhere…… such is birding, eh? 😉

More migrants, please
Larry

Y – nice sightings!
wish we could say “ditto” on Swainson’s, but we can’t……..yet

Missy and I *were* surprised by all the RL hawks on our drive to Swan Falls Wednesday, and I doubt we counted/entered them all in eBird
Larry

From: “Yvonne Motherwell birdnerd_motherwell@yahoo.com [ible]”
To: “IBLE”
Sent: Saturday, April 6, 2019 6:07:27 PM
Subject: [IBLE] FOS Swainson’s Hawk

On Cloverdale Road today, April 6, between Meridian and Kuna, I saw my FOS Swainson’s hawk!

Also had three rough-legged hawks out in the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation area.

Good birding!

-Yvonne Motherwell
Meridian, Idaho

On Cloverdale Road today, April 6, between Meridian and Kuna, I saw my FOS Swainson’s hawk!

Also had three rough-legged hawks out in the Snake River Birds of Prey Conservation area.

Good birding!

-Yvonne Motherwell
Meridian, Idaho

Brian, I saw 2 tundra swans just east of Cascade, Valley County, on a frozen pond on Sun 3/31.
Happy trails, Rich Nampa

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

From: lcarrigan_55@yahoo.com [ible]
Sent: Friday, April 5, 2019 10:30 AM
To: ible@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [IBLE] Tundra Swans

 
Last night about 10 PM heard my first-of-season migrating groups of Tundra Swans flying overhead. Enjoy hearing their flight calls.

My most common feeder bird is American Goldfinch. And, alas, haven’t seen nor heard the Blue Jay since Wed. It may have used the brief break in weather to head back East. I’ll keep an eye out but usually the jay is the first morning feeder visitor.

Brian Carrigan
Blackfoot