-RBA

* northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
* April 14, 1995
* IDWA9504.14

-birds mentioned

FERRUGINOUS HAWK
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE
MUTE SWAN
DUNLIN
AMERICAN AVOCET
CASPIAN TERN
GLAUCOUS GULL
SAGE GROUSE
SHORT-EARED OWL
LONG-BILLED CURLEW
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER
raptors galore


-transcript

HOTLINE: northern Idaho / eastern Washington / northeastern Oregon
Date: April 14, 1995
Phone: (208) 882-6195
Compiler: Kas Dumroese
Transcriber: Dale Goble
gobled at uidaho.edu

This is Kas Dumroese with the northern Idaho / eastern Washington /
northeastern Oregon bird hotline for Friday, April 14, 1995.

On April 8 Mike Denny observed a pair of FERRUGINOUS HAWKS on the
eastern edge of Odessa, Washington. Also in the vicinity were
GRAY PARTRIDGE. See Washington DeLorme p. 70, b-3.

Mike also reports 270+ GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GEESE at the east end
of Burbank Slough, along Humorist Road, in McNary NWR on April 9.
Humorist Road connects with US 12 near Burbank. Also in the
vicinity were 11 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. At the McNary
headquarters display pond Mike saw the single, adult MUTE SWAN, 2
GREATER SCAUP, and 2 EARED GREBES. See Washington DeLorme p. 40,
c-1.

According to Mike Denny, on April 9 at the Walla Walla River Delta
were 6 DUNLIN, 4 AMERICAN AVOCET, 2 CASPIAN TERNS and a GLAUCOUS
GULL. Another GLAUCOUS GULL and AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were on
Badger Island, across from the Wallula pulp mill. The delta is
just north of the junction of US 12 and US 730 in western Walla
Walla County. See Washington DeLorme p. 40, d-1.

I observed 5 SAGE GROUSE, including a booming male, along the
Indian Valley Road on April 12. Also along Indian Valley and
Farm-to-Market roads were 3 SHORT-EARED OWLS, 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS
and in the farm fields at either end of these roads, numerous
LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. These roads are south of Council, Idaho, and
east of the Midvale, Cambridge area. If you're travelling south
on US 95, Indian Valley Road heads south at mile post 126. See
Idaho DeLorme p. 42, the bottom half.

John and Amy Roberson also report numerous LONG-BILLED CURLEWS in
the Umatilla NWR in northern Oregon on April 8.

Cindy McCormick reports a pair of RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS on Banks
Lake near Coulee City, Washington on April 8. The birds were
observed from the Coulee City Community Park. See Washington
DeLorme p. 85, a-8.

Russ Roundy reports raptors galore east of Enterprise, Oregon on
April 8. Head south from Enterprise about 3 miles and turn left
onto Swamp Creek Road. Follow it 12-14 miles and scan the?
hillsides and soaring birds. The raptors move in to feed on
carcasses of still born cattle. Russ counted 22 BALD EAGLES, 11
GOLDEN EAGLES, 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS, 22 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2
AMERICAN KESTRELS, 1 PRAIRIE FALCON, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 1
FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 7 NORTHERN HARRIERS and 1 SWAINSON'S HAWK. Not
a bad tally for the day. See Oregon DeLorme p. 87, c-8.

The USDA Forest Service in LaGrande, Oregon is seeking information
on VAUX'S SWIFTS, especially migration and roosting data,
especially from late April through May. Any sighting data would

on VAUX'S SWIFTS, especially migration and roosting data,
especially from late April through May. Any sighting data would
be appreciated, including old sightings from previous years. If
you have information, you may call Diane Weber in Pullman at
509-334-3817 for copies of the appropriate forms.

Paul Adamus says the Oregon Field Ornithologists and several
Audubon chapters are sponsoring an Oregon Breeding Bird Atlas
Project. The project will go for 5 years, and the group is
interested in any observations of birds in June and July, even
earlier if breeding is suspected, especially in eastern Oregon.
Your commitment would be extremely flexible -- they would
appreciate your observations even if you're just travelling
through the area. To get the appropriate forms, you may call toll
free 1-800-440-5454 and leave your name, address and phone number
on the machine. You may also contact Paul Adamus via e-mail
at ADAMUS at UCS.ORST.EDU.

Good birding!