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> TAA36314
>Date: Tue, 28 Apr 1998 20:38:26 -0600
>Reply-To: D Gettinger <gettinger at WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
>Sender: "National Birding Hotline Cooperative (West)"
> <BIRDWEST at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU>
>From: D Gettinger <gettinger at WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
>Subject: [BIRDWEST] South Idaho RBA
>To: BIRDWEST at LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU
>
>Hotline: South Idaho Rare Bird Alert 208-236-3337
>To Report: Chuck Trost 208-236-3337
>Compiler: Diana Gettinger 208-378-9325
>
>
>This is the South Idaho Bird Alert, brought to you by the Idaho Museum of
Natural History. This alert was updated on Monday, April 27th.
>
> Highlights for this week include a SNOWY PLOVER at Sterling WMA and
several other shorebirds along River Road near McTucker Springs. Last week
there were over 140 COMMON LOONS at Twin Lakes, near Preston. Several
BLACK-NECKED STILTS, WILLETS, and many WHITE-FACED IBIS as well as
SHORT-EARED OWLS have been seen at Oxford Slough.
>
> Yesterday we found a SNOWY PLOVER in the Orth Segment of the
Sterling WMA. It was with several AMERICAN AVOCETS, BLACK-NECKED STILTS,
and a LEAST SANDPIPER in the drained creek about a quarter mile from the
entrance parking lot. This is about half way between B-C and 5-6 on page 29
of the Idaho DeLorme Atlas. To get there take Strang Road to the east off
of Idaho 39 about four miles of Aberdeen. Drive four miles on Strang, then
turn left on Yuma Road for about a mile and a half, and turn into the signed
parking lot. We are hoping this plover may nest here, so please do not
disturb it or cause it to fly.
>
> Several other shorebirds, including 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 5
SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, WESTERN and LEAST SANDPIPERS, and MARBLED GODWITS have
been seen on the northeastern end of American Falls Reservoir. This is near
B-6 on the Idaho Atlas. To get there take Stecklein Road south off of Idaho
39 about three miles east of Springfield. Turn west on River Road and
follow it for about two miles until you see mudflats through the bushes on
the left. There are also both CASPIAN and FORSTER'S TERNS as well as
BLUE-WINGED TEAL and GREAT EGRETS in this area.
>
> COMMON LOONS are moving through the area now. A week ago we
counted 143 on Twin Lakes, and another 36 were on Devil Creek Reservoir just
north of Malad. To get to Twin Lakes drive south from Downey on US 91 and
turn west at the town of Banida, and follow the Sportsmans Access signs to
the lakes. This is at about C-3 on page 22 of the Idaho Atlas. Hundreds of
GREEN-WINGED TEAL are massed at Oxford Slough. To get there take the spur
road off to the right about three miles south of the town of Swan Lake and
look out on the flooded alkali flats on each side of this gravel road.
BLACK-NECKED STILTS, AMERICAN AVOCETS, and several WILLETS have been using
these drying ponds. Look for migrating WILSON'S PHALAROPES in these ponds.
There are also flocks of WHITE-FACED IBIS and a few SNOWY EGRETS as well as
thousands of FRANKLIN'S GULLS in the area. At least four SHORT-EARED OWLS
have been seen hunting over the marshes.
>
> Finally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been putting neck
collars on TRUMPETER SWANS in the area. If you see any marked birds please
try to read the alpha-numeric numbers on the collar and report it and the
location to Steve Bouffard at (208) 237-6616 or e-mail at
steve_bouffard at mail.fws.gov.
>
>Have a good day birding.
>
>

Deb Beutler
Department of Zoology
P.O. Box 644236
Washington State University
Pullman (Whitman Co.), WA 99164-4236
dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu