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THE FISH HAWK
HERALD
Coeur d’Alene Chapter of the National Audubon Society
February
2005 Volume 14 Issue 6
THE FISH HAWK
HERALD
Coeur d’Alene Chapter of the National Audubon Society
February
2005 Volume 14 Issue 6
(Editors note:
This is the forth in a series of articles on bluebird conservation and
bluebird trails)
By
Ray Harris, Reprinted as is from "Bluebird Tales" the newsletter of
Mountain Bluebird Trails, Inc. (MBT). (Their website is www.mountainbluebirdtrails.com)
Duncan, in his travels around southern
Alberta, recognized the paucity of Mountain Bluebirds and decided to do what he
could to help them recover. He realized the shortage of nesting availability,
changes in farming procedures, land clearing, and introduced non-native bird
species were all possibly contributing to the decline of MOBLs (Mountain
Bluebirds). In 1975 he placed 43 nest boxes in the Lethbridge vicinity.
By 1978 he observed 17 nestlings fledge. Buoyed with this small success
he began traveling the rural roads of southern Alberta placing boxes in any
area which he thought might be suitable MOBL habitat. At the same time he was
doing “Bluebird Missionary Work,” he was gradually enlisting volunteers to
become monitors of the miles of trails he established. By the time of his death he had established
722 miles of trails, 4,000-plus nest boxes, with an estimated 10,000 nestlings
fledged.
Duncan began banding in 1978. He
had the Master Permit in his name, in 1994 he arranged to have the Master
Permit transferred to Mountain Bluebird Trails Society. At this time he
had 30 sub-permit banders and 60 non-bander trail monitors.
My discovery of Bluebirds was in 1981,
the year after our purchase of 32 acres “away up at the end of nowhere.”
Several days after my first bluebird spotting, an article appeared in the Calgary
Herald featuring the NABS (North American Bluebird Society). This item told
me all about bluebirds. Like most neophytes I didn't know an Eastern from
a Mountain or that there were three species, and I believed every word as
gospel.
Diligently, I built my trail and boxes
following the plan as given by NABS. Using 1/4 or 3/8-inch plywood, 4x4
inch outside dimension, 1-1/2 inch entry, slightly sloping roof fastened to the
front by a narrow brass screw. Not easy fastening to narrow plywood without
splitting same. Where the roof met the back portion, one nailed a 1/2 inch
dowel to stop rain from running into the nest (ha).
I was out on my trail when to my anger
and consternation a tall man with reddish hair was putting up humongous boxes
between my NABS boxes. I stopped and was rather cool and standoffish. His
voice came across with a strong Scottish accent. My boxes were all wrong,
too small, poor thin wood, 1-1/2 inch opening, poor design, lousy roof. I was
devastated that he would humble my NABS boxes. After all NABS should be a
recognized standard.
This
was my introduction to Duncan. He soon enhanced my humble knowledge and like
his early monitors I became a confirmed disciple. I destroyed and replaced the
NABS boxes with Duncan's boxes which now have become the standard box as
used by most Alberta monitors.
The close ties between MBT Alberta and
MBT Montana were forged by Duncan and Art Aylesworth. They fostered
cooperation, shared knowledge and jointly operated as if there were no
international border. They started two-year regional rotating conventions
which were alternated in venues such as Great Falls, Plains, Lethbridge and
Pincher Creek. This cooperation between the two MBT's continues as a
legacy to these two bluebirders. On more than one occasion Duncan told me
he and Art Aylesworth had been trying to convince NABS there was more than one
species of bluebirds besides Eastern. The never ending debate they
waged concerning entrance hole size needed to be 1-9/16 and the interior
dimensions larger. He said they (NABS) don't listen to us, so we just go
ahead and do our own thing.
One of my most treasured experiences with Duncan occurred in 1989.
The federal government requested a unique display by every province to
celebrate Canada Day, July 1 (comparable to your July 4) in the nation's
capital. Duncan was asked to represent Alberta with a display and
explanation of Mountain Bluebirds. He asked me to accompany and assist him. We
were set up in front of the Parliament Buildings on Capital Hill, before an
estimated crowd of 100,000 who wandered around our exhibits. It was a once in a
lifetime experience for me to share with my bluebird friend.
In 1992, Duncan's dedication was
recognized by The Alberta Federation Naturalists Association with their annual
Loran J. Goulden Memorial Award, one of the most valued awards of its kind in
Alberta.
He was also a director of NABS and
received the John and Nora Lane (NABS) Award in 1989.
Mountain Bluebird Trails was presented with the Province of
Alberta “Emerald Award,” which annually recognizes outstanding conservation
contributions. Although it was in MBT's name, it was really through Duncan's
dedication and labors we received same.
MBT planted a tree in Lethbridge's
Henderson Rose Garden area as a living memorial to Duncan. The
mayor, David B. Carpenter, spoke at the dedication and said “The loss of
someone close is the most traumatic of human experiences, and this tree will
grow as a permanent reminder of Duncan Mackintosh.”
Bird Tracks
Audubon Members Make a Difference
News
Release from Bird Source (website)
The Great Backyard
Bird Count is Back!
8th ANNUAL GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT INVITES EVERYONE TO
GO OUT AND COUNT FOR THE BIRDS IN AMERICA'S GREAT BACKYARD
New York,
NY & Ithaca, NY, November 2004--During the weekend of February 18 through 21, people across the North
American continent are encouraged to count the birds in their backyards and
report them over the Internet, as part of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC),
one of the world's largest volunteer efforts of its kind. In addition to its
value as a research study, the GBBC allows people of all ages and backgrounds
to celebrate birds and provide vital information about North America's
birds.
This is the eighth year of the popular
event, developed and managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National
Audubon Society, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited store owners. This
year's theme, "North America's Great Backyard," was chosen as a way
to celebrate the beauty of birds found across the continent. People are
encouraged to enjoy the birds around them by going out into the "Great
Backyard" during any or all of the count days and keeping track of the
highest numbers of each bird species they see. People then report their
sightings over the Internet at www.birdsource.org/gbbc
"We call it the Great Backyard Bird
Count to make the point that anyone can participate," says John
Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "But really, a
'backyard' can be anywhere you happen to be, a schoolyard, a local park, the
balcony of a high rise apartment, a wildlife refuge. No matter where you go in
this 'Great Backyard,' you're almost certain to find birds in all their beauty.
By participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, you can help researchers
better understand bird population numbers and distribution across the
continent."
An important part of North America's
Great Backyard is the 730 million acres of land (around one-third of the land
area of the United States) held in trust by federal agencies. The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Parks Service,
Department of Defense, and Bureau of Reclamation are among the stewards of
lands that support significant populations of wild birds. For this year's Great
Backyard Bird Count, Cornell and Audubon, along with these federal agencies,
are encouraging families and individuals to visit their local national wildlife
refuge, national forest, national park, and other federal wild lands, in
addition to reporting the birds they see in their own backyard.
"In addition to counting the birds
in your own backyard, this remarkable event gives you the opportunity to visit
some of our most special places and wild lands," says Bob Perciasepe,
Audubon's chief operating officer. "In this way, the Great Backyard Bird
Count reminds us that North America's birds consider the whole continent to be
one great big backyard; and in a sense, it is our backyard as well."
To encourage the public to enjoy their
public lands, federal agencies are getting involved in the Great Backyard Bird
Count by encouraging visitors in what can be a slow period for visitation.
"Although the Great Backyard Bird Count takes place during just four days
in February, our public lands are important areas for birds at all times of
year," Perciasepe says. "Many act as important breeding areas, some
as stop-over sites, and some as winter residences. They also serve as wonderful
places for people to connect with the birds and other animals that are part of
our great natural heritage."
The Gret Backyard Bird Count helps
everyone prepare for their trip to the backyard, whether they choose to watch
birds only around their home or make the effort to see which birds are using
public lands. The web site is full of tips of all kinds, including information
on bird feeding; how to use binoculars; how to make your yard bird-friendly;
and how to identify birds, especially those tricky, similar-looking species.
There are even tips on how to be a bird-friendly family.
"Kids are the future caretakers of the environment upon which
we all depend," says Fitzpatrick. "The Great Backyard Bird Count is a
terrific way to nurture their inborn curiosity about birds and nature."
Educators and parents alike will find the bibliography, vocabulary, and
geography sections useful and handy, and there are suggestions on how to
conduct the count with groups of children.
Researchers hope that by learning more
about the birds and habitats in their own backyards, families will decide to
become part of Project FeederWatch, a winterlong survey of birds that visit
feeders. FeederWatch data have been instrumental in our scientific analyses of
winter finch movements and Varied Thrush cycles, and have even helped
researchers discover a new avian disease, mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, or House
Finch eye disease. These findings were possible thanks to dedicated
FeederWatchers.
"Taking
part in the Great Backyard Bird Count takes as little or as much time as
participants wish," says Audubon's director of citizen science Paul Green.
"The important thing is to just take part, count for the birds, and enjoy
North America's Great Backyard."
Instructions
for participating can be found at www.birdsource.org/gbbc. There's no fee or registration. Those who would like
to participate but who aren't online can try their local library, and many Wild
Birds Unlimited store owners who are online will be accepting observations made
by their customers. Libraries, businesses, nature clubs, scout troops, and
other community organizations interested in promoting the GBBC or getting
involved can contact the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at 800/ 843-2473, 159
Sapsucker Woods Road, Ithaca, New York 14850.
|
Species and Individual # |
Highest Number Observed and year
Observed |
|
Coeur d'Alene Dec. 18, 2004 13th year - 18 field obs.
& 7 feeders Compiler: Shirley Sturts |
|
|
68 8905 |
80 (2001-2002) 8908 (2004-2005) |
|
Indian Mountain, Jan. 2, 2005 38th year - 15 field obs.&2 feeders Compiler: Don Heikkila |
|
|
75 11,127 |
75 (2004-2005 12,665 (1999-2000) |
|
Spirit Lake, Jan. 4, 2005 9th year - 10 field
obs.& 3 feeders Compiler: Shirley Sturts |
|
|
47 1500 |
57 (2002-2003) 1555 (2002-2003) |
New
species added to the counts this year:
Pacific Loon - CDA
Bonaparte's Gull - Indian Mt.
L. Black-backed Gull - Indian Mt.
White-br. Nuthatch - Spirit Lake`
Black and White Warbler -CDA
Brewer's Blackbird - CDA
Birds
setting new high numbers:
Coeur
d'Alene
Pied-billed Grebe 54
Horned Grebe 76
Double-crested Cormorant 18
Common Goldeneye 348
Bufflehead 562
Cooper's Hawk 4
Merlin 6
Wild Turkey 367
California Quail 467
Steller's Jay 26
Black-billed Magpie 115
Black-capped Chickadee 254
Mountain Chickadee 86
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 37
Red-breasted Nuthatch 94
European Starling 1628
Song Sparrow 64
Red Crossbill 141
House Sparrow 264
Indian
Mountain
Tundra Swan 54
American Kestrel 5
Great Horned Owl 2
Black-billed Magpie 84
Black-capped Chickadee 178
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 22
Red-breasted Nuthatch 71
European Starling 508
Song Sparrow 53 (tied with '01)
House Finch 116
Spirit
Lake
Wild Turkey 110
California Quail 86
American Crow 41
Common Raven 187
Red-breasted Nuthatch 88
House
Sparrow 105
see
our website for the complete list www.cdaaudubon.org
EDUCATION
committee REPORT
Kris Buchler
Education
Committee members, Kris Buchler and Janet Callen, traveled to Kellogg this
month to present a program titled "Adaptations" to third graders at
Sunnyside Elementary School. This is the third year we have been invited
to the school by teachers Michelle Kilbourne and Sue Webb.
"Adaptations" introduces
students to the special physical features groups of birds have developed in
order to survive in their particular habitat and environment. The program
compares types of beaks, feet and plumages that birds use to feed, travel and
hide. The students also listened to calls and songs of some species of
birds, focusing on owls and the variety of sounds they make. The program
was highlighted by a visit by Barb, a Short-eared Owl used as an educational
bird. Barb was injured when she was impaled on barbwire when attempting
to land on a fencepost.
Each class received a single Audubon
bird. This year it was the Bald Eagle, which the students learned does
not make the sound of a hawk.
Audubon Adventures goes to 121 Area Classrooms.
Janet Callen
Audubon
Adventures is a full-color set of four newsletters published by the National
Audubon Society. The 2005 series
includes four different publications: Native Plants, Naturally; Flutter By,
Butterfly; Sharing the Earth; and Birds of Prey, Hunters of the Air. The
newsletter is aligned to national teaching standards for both science and
language arts and written for third through sixth-grade students.
The education
committee of our chapter acts as the coordinator of this annual event. We contact each school, get the names of the
third and fifth grade teachers who want to receive the Audubon Adventures
series, do the requisite forms and mail all into National. However, none of this would be possible
without the generosity of Scott and Mary Lou Reed and the Margaret Reed
Foundation. They provide the funds to
make this all happen, reaching more than 3500 students. We cannot thank them
enough.
This
year Audubon Adventures reaches
students in the following school districts:
Coeur d Alene, Post Falls, St. Maries,
Harrison, Worley, Lakeland, Kellogg, Mullan, and Wallace.
|
|
"If I were to make a study of the
tracks of animals and represent them by plates, I should conclude with the
tracks of man"
Henry David
Thoreau
Idaho Bird Observatory
An
Introduction for
Northern
Idaho Birders
Idaho Bird Observatory
(IBO) is a non-profit research and education organization affiliated with the
Biology Department at Boise State University (BSU). Our mission is to
contribute to the conservation of western migratory birds and their habitats
through cooperative research and public education. We conduct
conservation-related bird research in southern Idaho and hope to expand our
research into other parts of the state in the near future.
Our work began in the early 1990s with
initial efforts aimed at establishing raptor migration monitoring in southern
Idaho; these efforts were pioneered by students and faculty of the Raptor
Biology graduate program at BSU. This work has since grown into a long-term
migration monitoring and research project located in the Boise Foothills of
southwestern Idaho where we focus on autumn migration of diurnal raptors,
landbirds (mostly songbirds but also humming-birds and woodpeckers), and owls.
Each year we count, trap, and band migrating raptors as well as capturing and
banding migrant landbirds and owls. In addition to the long-term monitoring
efforts, our research so far has focused on issues revolving around
identification of habitats important to migrants, migration timing, and
stopover ecology.
Research at Lucky Peak, our main
migration research site (see directions on the website – below), has been
conducted by a number of grad students (many at BSU, one at University of
Idaho, and one at University of South Dakota) as well as field assistants that
we hire each year. In addition, volunteers and visitors from the local area and
across Idaho come each year to observe and aid us in our research and education
goals.
Landbird migration research extends from
16 July to 15 October while raptor and owl migration work takes place between
25 August and 31 October each year. We welcome visitors at any time; for larger
groups we recommend scheduling with us since we often host school, scout, and
other groups – especially on weekends. While we know that the research we’re
conducting is necessary for conservation and management of migratory birds, we
feel that our interactions with visitors and the experiences we share in the
presence of the 
birds is just as important.
Lastly, aside from our migration project,
we also have a handful of other projects in southern Idaho. For five years, we
have been surveying birds of shrubsteppe habitats in order to contribute to a
better understanding of their habitat and conservation needs. We’ve
investigated the relationships between fire and bird abundance in three
habitats during both summer and fall in the Boise Foothills. Other work has
included monitoring of waterbirds at Deer Flat NWR and winter monitoring of
Bald Eagles along the Boise River.
In closing, we hope to see you at Lucky
Peak (or maybe another future research site). Feel free to contact us for
further information.
Contact information
Director:
Greg Kaltenecker, gkalten@internetoutlet.net
Landbird
Research Director: Jay Carlisle, jcarlisl@usd.edu
Idaho
Bird Observatory, Department of Biology, Boise State University
1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725 Phone: (208) 426-3262
http://www.boisestate.edu/
biology/ibo/
Jay
Carlisle has directed landbird migration research at Lucky Peak for IBO since
1997. By summer of 2005, he will finish his PhD in Biology (entitled ‘Habitat
Use and Stopover Ecology of Autumn Landbird Migrants in the Boise Foothills of Southwestern Idaho’) at the University of South
Dakota and return to Idaho for continued research with IBO.
BROWN BAG BIRDING
Lynn Sheridan
Tuesday, December 14
Lynn Ellen Terwilleger, a new Audubon
member but longtime resident, joined Roland Craft, Steve and Nels Johnson and
myself at the west-end of Fernan Lake.
On this damp, drizzly day, a Redhead popped up and down among the many
resident Mallard, giving us all a good view. On the patches of ice, 3
California Gull mingled with the Ring-billed. A few Bufflehead, Common
Merganser and Common Goldeneye kept their distance. Overhead, 4 black long-necked
birds went by us, the Johnson boys being sure they were Cormorant!
Heard or seen
in the trees and bushes were Song Sparrow, European Starling, House Sparrow,
Black-capped and Mountain Chickadee, Black-billed Magpie and Northern Flicker.
Driving along the lake, a Common Loon, 2 Northern Shoveler and 3 Hooded Merganser
females were seen.
Dozens of Common Goldeneye took flight in a whirr of wings,and many Bufflehead
dotted the water.
At the east end, a lone Belted
Kingfisher perched overlooking a pond with Mallards. Standing in the
rain, noting the beaver lodge, we saw
no other birds and decided to call it a day. Thank
you all. Lynn
January 18. 2005
At noon, 40
degrees F and raining, just Steve Johnson and I observed the 100+ Canada Geese
gathered at Independ-ence Point. We
talked about learning how to distinguish Canada from
"Cackling"! Walking
through slushy snow as far as the boathouse and back, peering into the
mist over the lake, we were able to
find: a few Common Goldeneye, a Red-necked Grebe, a Bufflehead, a pair of
Common Merganser, and a Common Loon. Along
the way, 3 California Gull sat on the beach with the many Ring-billed Gull, a
Bald Eagle flew above us, and a lone Great Blue Heron hunched on a
piling. The only "tree" birds were the sounds of Golden-crowned
Kinglets identified by Stephen.
Rain or shine,
we keep scouting! Lynn
Observaton
Post
Anna's
Hummingbird: 1 immature male at a
feeder in Bonners Ferry, Oct-Jan. 5.
Identified and photos taken Dec. 29, Terry and Christine Grey (a first
sighting north of Moscow. Spokane has
had them show at feeders in winter.)
2004 Kootenai County Big Year - Total on Dec. 31 - 207
(last 6 birds)
Pacific Loon: 1 Hayden Lake, Dec.
18, Lisa Hardy, Ellen Scriven, Kolby Clarke
Snow Goose: 1 Cataldo Mission
area(Sawmill Ponds), Nov. 15 and
22. Lisa Hardy
Cackling Goose: 1 Independence
Point, Coeur d'Alene, Dec. 24, Gina Sheridan, Garrett MacDonald, Larry and
Matthew Moskwik.
Long-tailed Duck: 1 Hayden Lake,
Dec. 13 and 28, Lisa Hardy and Michael and Roger Woodruff; Dec. 18 Spokane
River near Post Falls, Paul Wik and Jennifer Soules
Canyon Wren: Post Falls area,
Dec. 18 , Paul Wik and Jennifer Soules
Black-and-White
Warbler: 1 Coeur d'Alene City Park, Dec. 18 (CBC), Paul Wik and Jennifer Soules; Dec. 19, Nancy Mertz, Steven Johnson, Shirley Sturts.
2005
Kootenai County Big Year - as of Jan. 22 we already have 92 species on our
list (go to our website for a
complete list)
Red-breasted
Merganser: 1 female
off
of NIC beach, Jan. 17, Lisa Hardy
Sharp-shinned
Hawk: 1 Armstrong Hill, CDA, Jan. 1, Ed Buchler
Merlin:
1 Post Falls, Jan. 8, Stephen Lindsay
Gray
Partridge: 1 Hwy 95 just north of Lake Creek, Jan. 8,
Kas Dumroese
Wilson's
Snipe: 2
Indian Mt. CBC, Jan. 2, Dick Cripe and Ellen Scriven
Mew
Gull: 1
Wolf Lodge Bay, CDA Lake, Jan.
21, Kris Buchler, Lisa Hardy, Stephen Johnson
Lesser
Black-b Gull: 1 Indain Mt. CBC, Jan. 2, Lisa Hardy, Roland
Craft
Great
Horned Owl: 1 Post Falls, Jan. 4, Stephen Lindsay
Blue
Jay: 1 16th Street , CDA Jan. 10, Lynn Sheridan
White-b
Nuthatch: 1 Spirit Lake CBC. Jan. 4, Janet Callen and Roland Craft
Brown
Creeper: 1 Fernan Lake,
Jan.
1, Shirley Sturts
Bewick's
Wren: 1 Indain Mt. CBC, Jan. 2, Dick Cripe, Ellen
Scriven, Lisa Hardy, Roland Craft
Varied
Thrush: 1 Fernan Lake,
Jan.
9, Shirley Sturts
Black-and-White
Warbler: 1 CDA City Park, Jan. 1, Stephen Johnson
American
Tree Sparrow: 3
Indian Mt. CBC, Jan. 2, Dick Cripe and Ellen Scriven
Pine
Grosbeak: 5 Harrison, Jan. 3, Lisa Hardy, Janet Callen,
Shirley Sturts, and again Jan. 21, Wolf Lodge Bay, Stephen Johnson, Kris
Buchler, Lisa Hardy
