South Idaho Bird Alert
September 21, 1998

This is the South Idaho Bird Alert for Monday, Sept. 21st, brought
to you by the Idaho Museum of Natural History. To report a sighting call
(208) 236-3337.
Highlights for this week include an ARCTIC TERN near American Falls Dam, as
well as raptor and warbler movements in the area. In western Idaho there are
also many passerines and hawks migrating near Boise.
An adult ARTIC TERN was seen Friday resting on a point along the
south side of American Falls Reservoir, not far from Pacific Pond. To get
there take Marina Drive off the By-Pass east of town, take a left on Pacific
Road just after crossing the railroad tracks. Drive past the dry ponds on
the right and out onto the beach, then right for a quarter mile to a rocky
peninsula. There are also COMMON and FORSTER'S TERNS as well as FRANKLIN'S
GULLs feeding and resting in the area. Several BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, a
MARBLED GODWIT, some AMERICAN AVOCETS and two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS are
feeding in the area too. At least 14 GREAT ERGRETS were counted near the
dam. Now is the time to keep your eyes open for a jaeger - watch any bird
chasing gulls or terns. For a good vantage point to see the egrets you can
park along the By-pass right by the dam and walk on the sidewalk out on the
south side of the dam.
Several species of warblers were seen yesterday at Willow Bay Marina
and at the American Falls Trout Farm. The warblers included WILSON'S,
ORANGE-CROWNED, AUDUBON'S, and YELLOWS, but it is the right time to find
rarities among them. Many birds are concentrated in the willows along the
bike path near the beach access just before the Willow Bay Marina. To get
to the Trout Farm, cross the dam, take the first left, then left again
immediately and follow the Sportsman's Access signs. A BARN OWL was also
flushed from a Russian olive on the east side of the trout farm. Several
warblers were in the olives and also in the willows right by the river.
Twenty FERRUGINOUS HAWKS, as well as many SWAINSON'S and RED-TAILs
were seen last weekend southwest of Kilgore. This is near C-3 on page 48 of
the Idaho DeLorme Atlas. To see them take the Spencer-Kilgore road west of
the ghost town of Idamon. There are also many raptors around Henry's Lake,
which is at about B-5 on page 49 of the Atlas.
Many warblers (including 4 BLACKPOLLS) and sparrows (including
GOLDEN-CROWNED) have been caught and banded in the last few weeks at Lucky
Peak, just east of Boise. Accipiters and buteos are migrating past the
lookout also, especially in the afternoon. Over 130 were counted in one
day, including several BROAD-WINGED HAWKs. You can find out how to get
there by calling Greg Kaltenecker at (208) 377-1440. A PRONTHONOTARY
WARBLER as well as several more GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were spotted last
week along the greenbelt near the Crow's Nest Inn Restaraunt on the east
side of Boise. You can call Dave Trochell at (208) 385-9202 to find out
exactly where he saw them.
Deborah K. Beutler
Department of Zoology
Washington State Univeristy
Pullman, WA

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu