On Monday, Feb. 15, 1999, Charles Swift wrote:
>In southern Idaho over the weekend, an Osprey was reported by an
>experienced birder. Presumably an early migrant.

Actually, Osprey occasionally winter in southern Idaho. When I lived in
Pocatello, I observed Osprey almost every month of the year, particularly
around Springfield, Bannock Co., Idaho, around American Falls Reservoir.
They are extremely rare in the winter but one or two do winter there when
the water stays open. Most Osprey migrate out of Idaho during the winter
but a very few individuals seem to stick around. However, I've never seen
one around here (northern Idaho/ eastern WA) in the winter.

Deb Beutler
Dept. of Zoology
Washington State University
Pullman, Whitman Co., WA

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Swift <charless at umich.edu>
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, February 15, 1999 10:06 PM
Subject: Lewiston/Clarkston owls, signs of spring


>tweeters,
>
>In the Lewiston, ID area, 4 species of owls remain at Hell's Gate State
>park as of this weekend and a Barred Owl has been roosting at the Spalding
>area of the Nez Perce, National Historic Park, just east of Lewiston. One
>or two Northern Saw-whet Owls and a Long-eared Owl have been present at
>Hell's gate State Park, in the picnic/beach area since at least early
>January and up to 7 Barn Owls can usually be found. Additionally an adult
>Harris's Sparrow has been present in the park just south of the marina for
>the same period of time. At Chief Timothy park, just west of Clarkston, up
>to 14 Barn Owls have been seen on recent visits.
>
>In southern Idaho over the weekend, an Osprey was reported by an
>experienced birder. Presumably an early migrant. In this area Red-winged
>Blackbirds are begining to sing and stake out territories as I assume they
>are on the west side. Killdeer, Northern Shrikes, Varied Thrushes, and
>Townsend's Solitaires are also apparentley on the move in the Idaho
>panhandle. Sure signs of approaching spring.
>
>Thanks, Charles.
>Charles Swift
>Moscow, Idaho
>charless at umich.edu
>