South Idaho Bird Alert
January 19, 1999

This is the South Idaho Bird Alert, brought to you by the Idaho Museum of
Natural History. This alert was updated on Tuesday morning, January 19th.
Highlights for this week include both the GREATER and LESSER SCAUP as well
as RED- BREASTED and HOODED MERGANSERs on the Snake River, west of American
Falls. A flock of BUSHTITS were seen on Sunday in the same area. A WINTER
WREN was seen and both a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were
heard calling last week on Scout Mountain, south of Pocatello.
On Sunday there were several GREATER and LESSER SCAUP 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 second 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. Both BARROW'S and COMMON GOLDEN-EYES, RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS, as well as DOUBLE- CRESTED COMORANTS feeding there too. Last
week a wintering COMMON LOON was sighted in the calm water. A flock of 12
BUSHTITS were seen with BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES in the junipers about a
hundred yards west of Duck Point, also on Sunday morning.
Several HOODED MERGANSERS can be seen just below the dam at American Falls.
To see them drive to the overlook and the small park off of Falls Avenue on
the west side of town.
A WINTER WREN was seen last week 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 it, near the creek just past the Crestline Trail turn off. Several
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were calling last week at dusk further up the road.
Also, a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL was heard and seen by the side road to the summer
homes near Justice Park.
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.
Deborah K. Beutler
Department of Zoology
Washington State University
Pullman, WA

dbeutler at wsunix.wsu.edu