South Idaho RBA
September 9, 1998

This is the South Idaho Bird Alert for Tuesday, Sept. 9th, brought to you by
the Idaho Museum of Natural History. To report a sighting call (208) 236-3337.
Highlights for this week include warbler movements in the area, especially
at Market Lake WMA and shorebirds at the upper end of American Falls
Reservoir. A female Indigo Bunting is at Pocatello's North City Park. A
LEAST TERN was recently seen at C.J. Strike Reservoir, near Mountain Home.
Many warblers and sparrows as well as hawks are now migrating at Lucky Peak,
just north east of Boise.
Several species of warblers were seen Sunday, the 6th, at Marker Lake WMA.
The warblers included YELLOWTHROATS, MACGILLIVRAY'S, ORANGE-CROWNED,
YELLOWS, and BUTTERBUTTS. These birds are concentrated in several isolated
olive trees on a dike at the north end of the last impoundment. Species
composition changes daily, so this spot should be watched closely. There
were also several GREATER YELLOWLEGS and several SOLITARY SANDPIPERS in pond
#4, which is being drained now. To get there take the Roberts exit of I-15
north of Idaho Falls make a right, go to the stop sign, then turn left and
drive north out of town. Follow the signs on the right fork for about 6
miles out to the marsh.
There are several locations on American Falls Reservoir with lots of edge
now showing. A good place to look is at the northeastern end, in from
Springfield, which is at about B-6 on page 29 of the Idaho DeLorme Atlas.
About two miles west of Springfield on Idaho 39 take Sterling North Road to
the south, and just before crossing the railroad tracks take a left on Bower
Road. In about a quarter mile you will come to some bluffs overlooking
mudflats, where over 100 AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen on Sunday. Stay on
Bower Road to Vambaur Road, take a right, then another right in about a mile
and go to the parking area near the waterfalls of Danielson Creek. Several
other shorebirds were seen here Sunday, including BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS and
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Now is the time to keep your eyes open for a jaeger
- watch any bird chasing gulls or terns.
A female plumaged INDIGO BUNTING has been found along the bike path at North
City Park, on the west side of Poactello. To find it walk from the parking
lot at the park, take the first right, then the first left and watch the
willows along the Portneuf River. It was last seen on Friday, the 4th.
A LEAST TERN was reported at the Jack's Creek access to C.J. Strike
Reservoir last Thursday, the 3rd. To find the area drive to the Sportsmans
Access just west of the town of Bruneau. This is near C-5 on page 25 of the
Idaho Atlas.
Many warblers (including NASHVILLE. MACGILLIVRAY'S and TOWNSEND'S, as well
as two BLACKPOLLS) and sparrows (CHIPPING, LINCOLN'S and BREWER'S and
GOLDEN- CROWNED) have been caught and banded in the last week at Lucky Peak,
just east of Boise. The accipiters and buteos are starting to migrate past
the peak also, especially in the afternoon. Over 130 were seen one day last
week, including an early BROAD-WINGED HAWK. You can find out how to get
there by calling Greg Kaltenecker at (208) 377-1440.
Deborah K. Beutler
Department of Zoology
Washington State Univeristy
Pullman, WA

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu