South Idaho Bird Alert
January 11, 1999

This is the South Idaho Bird Alert, brought to you by the Idaho Museum
of Natural History. This alert was updated on Monday morning, January 11th.
Highlights for this week include another sighting of a FERRUGINOUS HAWK,
and a COMMON LOON, GREATER SCAUP and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERs on the Snake
River, west of American Falls. A WINTER WREN and several PINE GROSBEAKS were
seen yesterday on Scout Mountain, south of Pocatello. One GREAT GRAY OWL was
spotted recently near Tetonia.
Another FURRUGINOUS HAWK was spotted at the Raft River Exit off I-86 on
Saturday. To find it take Exit 15 and head north, following the signs toward
Gifford Springs. The hawk was in a plowed field beyond the huge storage
shed. Several ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIERS, and a PRAIRIE FALCON
were also in the area Saturday. Another FERRUGINOUS HAWK was just north of
I-86 about three miles east of American Falls last week, and yet another was
seen a week ago near River Road east of the McTucker Springs area, on the
north side of the Snake River.
A wintering COMMON LOON was sighted Saturday in the calm water just
above Duck Point, which is about 5 miles west of American Falls. To get
there take the frontage road west of town, then take Eagle Rock Road when
the frontage road heads back to I-86 (Exit 33). Go about a quarter mile past
the first house on the right and take the first road to the right. Duck
Point is an old lava dam across the Snake River and many ducks winter
upstream of the rapids. On Saturday there were several GREATER and LESSER
SCAUP, both BARROW'S and COMMON GOLDEN-EYES, RED- BREASTED MERGANSERS, as
well as DOUBLE-CRESTED COMORANTS feeding in the Snake River.
Several PINE GROSBEAKS and a WINTER WREN were seen yesterday on the East
Fork Road, which is the main road up to Scout Mountain and Justice Park,
about 10 miles south of Pocatello. The gate is still closed, so you have to
walk about two miles up to see them. The WINTER WREN was near the creek just
past the Crestline Trail turn off, and the PINE GROASBEAKS were on the spur
road to the archery range, about a half-mile further on.
Finally, one GREAT GRAY OWL was spotted recently at dusk in the
cottonwoods near Tetonia, which is on US 33 between Rexburg and Driggs. You
can call Mike DeLate at (208) 456-2231 for the latest information on their
sightings.
For further information, to report a bird sighting, or to reach Chuck
Trost, you can call 208-236-3337 and leave a message at the sound of the
beep. Or you can call Chuck at home at 208-233-4538.

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

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu