Audubon
Members Make a Difference
GREEN TIPS 
Green tips will be a monthly feature in
our newsletter. It is designed to give
you ideas for taking personal
conservation action to improve the environmental health and habitat quality of
our yards and neighborhoods. (Members
are encouraged to send tips into the editor for inclusion in future
newsletters.)
Building materials
Habitat for Humanity has opened a new
retail store on Highway 95 north of Hayden Ave. The store sells doors, windows,
flooring materials, furniture, appliances and other items donated by builders
and the general public - some of the items are used, some are new.
Habitat for Humanity runs the store to generate funds for its building
projects, but you might peruse its offerings with the mantra of
"Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" in mind. Plus, you might save some money on
your next home project. Habitat for
Humanity Discount Building Supply Center
176 W. Wyoming (next to Ziggy's) 667-3116
chemical-free
lawn care
Do you have tips about chemical-free lawn
care, or know of good organic products for use on lawns, gardens and around the
home? Do you know of local sources
for buying these products? We welcome comments.
e-mail jgoldfinch@adelphia.net
Conservation Committee
The Coeur d'Alene Audubon Society has an
active Conservation Committee that is involved in projects that protect or
improve habitat for birds and other wildlife. We are also available to
answer questions from any citizen or visit sites where problems occur. We
do, however, stay within our field of expertise, rather than try to cover every
problem. A few of our on-going projects
are:
1) Farragut State Park - participate in public meetings with Park officials
about the long-range plan for thinning thickets of young trees to increase the
percentage of desirable species, plus other projects that occur.
2)Fernan Lake Preservation
Association - work with this committee to preserve
water quality of the
lake during and after road renovation.
3) Mica Bay - follow road relocation and bridge renovations
4) Participate in the planning process for activities on U.S. Forest Service
lands.
5) Participate in discussion about land use and open space on the Rathdrum
Prairie.
6) Cleanup of the Coeur d' Alene River basin - work with EPA and
agency\technicians for improving the environment of the basin, particularly the
reduction in danger from heavy metals due to past mining.
7) Assist or advise
in the development of a birds of prey education center in Wolf Lodge Bay.
8) Put up signs at public boat launches about
fishing line posing a danger to birds. Birds
can become tangled in it and die.
The Audubon Conservation Committee
meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Little Seattle Coffee
House,
2310 N. Forth. The committee is always open for new
volunteers. Just call one of the committee members:
Mike Mihelich 664-4741
Roland Craft
457-8894
Dick Cripe 665-0010
Ed Buchler 664-4739
Farmers Market, August 27, 2005
Janet Callen
Management of the Kootenai Farmers Market
again provided Coeur d Alene Audubon with a free space at the market to promote
our chapter. The Pygmy Nuthatches were
twittering in the Ponderosa Pines and the weather was wonderful. Lynn Sheridan, Judy Edwards and I answered questions about birds, our
chapter, and generally had fun talking to birders and want-to-be birders. We sold a few posters and Audubon birds
and a lot of Lynn’s beautiful hand-made cards.
Lynn’s cards are attracting repeat customers.
Thanks Lynn and
Judy.
Board Meeting summary
SEPTEMBER 19, 4:30
Dick Cripe
led the meeting as President Lisa Hardy was out out town.
Ed Buchler, nominee to the board, attended the meeting and was officially
elected to the board by the membership at the regular meeting held later that
evening. Ed has volunteered to serve on
the Conservation Committee.
Laura Bayless will stay on the
Board, but will give up as Hospitality Chair due to lack of time. Who
would like to volunteer for that task?
One does not have to be a board member to chair hospitality.
Jennifer Soules has resigned from the
board. She is moving to Lewiston.
There was a discussion about increasing
the reimburse-ment of mileage/gas costs for trip, and survey leaders. A
committee will study the issue and come up with an easy formula for the board
to vote on at the October meeting.
A Rathdrum store owner has asked for a
program about backyard bird feeding.
The education committee will follow up this request. The owner will donate .50 cents from each
bag of bird seed he sells.
BIRD TRACKS
"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
Top
of Page
2nd in a series of articles about lawn
care
The Beautiful Lawn
Judy Waring, Janet
Callen
with assistance from
Lisa Hardy
The following discussion of lawn
maintenance assumes a lawn is in
reasonably good condition to start with.
If a lawn is so seriously deteriorated that it must be completely renovated
or a new one needs to be established, contact:
University of Idaho Extension
Office,
1000
W Hubbard, Ste 140
Coeur d Alene ID, 83814
(208) 664-1085
Dorothy Kienke, Master
Gardener and Program
Coordinator.
Northwest lawns are of the cool-weather variety and are usually
a Kentucky Bluegrass blend and Perennial Rye mixture.
WATERING
An Idaho lawn generally needs 1 inch to 1
1/2 inches of water a week. This can be
applied in approximately 1/2 inch applications, with the objective of putting
down enough water at a time to penetrate the soil 6 inches. The key is to wet
the root zone and then allow it to dry some before irrigating again. Test the soil with a screwdriver to see if
it is dry, if the screwdriver goes in easily, the soil is moist. Water 2 times a week, maybe 3 in hot
weather. Sandy soil will require water
more frequently than clay or rocky soil.
Test your sprinklers to determine how
long to run them. This can be done with
several rain gauges or tuna cans. Set
the gauges or cans along the water arc of several sprinklers and run the
sprinklers 30 minutes. Measure the water in every gauge you are using, average
the amount and multiply by 2. This will
determine how many inches per hour your sprinklers put down and a watering
schedule can be then devised.
Many homeowners tend to overwater
lawns, especially with an automatic sprinkler system. Frequent light watering creates a shallow root system and a lawn
that is weak. Watering deeply and less
frequently promotes a healthier lawn.
Water only in the early morning as evening and night watering promote
problems with pests and diseases.
During the heat of the day water evaporates and is wasted.
Problem watering areas include slopes,
lawns with adjacent sidewalks and even those aforementioned swales between a
sidewalk and street pavement. Runoff
easily happens in these locations.
Mowing
When mowing, remove
only 1/3 of the top growth at a time. A sharp mower blade is essential. During the summer months cut the lawn no
shorter than 2 inches, with a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches being
preferable. Do not pick up grass
clippings. Not only are they a
slow-release fertilizer, they also help hold in moisture. A mulching mower is nice to have, but not
necessary. It chops up the clippings
into smaller pieces, and they decompose faster. If the lawn is mowed frequently enough, regular clippings rapidly
disappear into the turf. Both time spent bagging the clippings and landfill
space are saved. Contrary to popular
opinion grass clippings DO NOT cause thatch.
Clippings add nitrogen. A
University of Missouri study shows that grass clippings can supply 25 percent
of a lawn’s total fertilizer needs.
Grass clippings are banned from
landfills in half the states in the U.S. where previously they made up 10 to 20
percent of the solid waste collected.
Left on the lawn, they decompose rapidly feeding soil organisms, recycling
plant nutrients, and contributing organic matter. Less fertilizer is needed and water is conserved.
There are two times during the year
when clippings should be removed. In
the early spring and late fall, mow the lawn at 2 inches, bag the clippings and
add them to a compost pile if you have one.
Top dress a lawn with compost every few years as this process helps
rebuild soil.
Fertilizing
Use a balanced
fertilizer, one with 3 parts nitrogen to 1 part phosphorus to 2 parts potassium
and 1 part sulfur. The ratio need not be
exact, the 3:1:2:1 ratio is a guideline.
The number which appears on a bag of fertilizer represents the
percentage in the total bag.
Nitrogen produces healthy, lush blades of grass and Idaho lawns need
between 2 to 4 pounds per 1000 sq. feet per year. Use a slow-release product in early spring and fall. Slow release fertilizers are generally not
very soluble in water, so they are less likely to pollute water by runoff or
leaching. Up to 1/3 of the required
nitrogen can be supplied by grass recycling.
The
University of Idaho Extension Office recommends the homeowner apply
fertilizer at Easter, Memorial Day and Labor Day. However, if one wants to
fertilize less often, then apply half in the spring and half on or around Labor
day. From personal experience (JC),
early May and late September are adequate.
A "Spokesman Review"
article written by David Bauer, Executive Officer of Home Builders: “Minimize fertilization. Over-fertilized and over-watered lawns tend
to lack the wherewithal to thrive under stress. This spells trouble during a drought because the lawn hasn’t
developed a deep root system Heavily
fertilized lawns also require more water, so homeowners may want to wait until
fall to fertilize.”
Phosphorus promotes strong root growth
and helps lawns thicken rapidly.
Phosphorus levels are often low in northern Idaho soils. It does not move through soil as readily as
nitrogen and therefore is more erodible. Phosphorus is the key culprit in the
mix that starves lakes and rivers of dissolved oxygen, making minimal use and
runoff control essential.
Potassium is necessary for disease and
insect resistance, helps lawns stand up to heavy traffic, and also promotes
winter hardiness. Potassium is adequate
in our soils. Too much results in
accumulation of salts.
Sulfur is needed in most northern Idaho
areas. One pound per 1000 sq. ft is
adequate for a year. This might need to be purchased separately and added to a
mix.
Next month, we’ll scoop organic
fertilizer.
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BIRDING THE CENTENNIAL TRAIL IN NORTH IDAHO
Kris Buchler
Many people using the Centennial Trail
are whizzing by on bikes and roller blades and don’t have time to enjoy the
view and natural surroundings. Walkers
get another kind of enjoyment from the trail.
They have time to soak up the beautiful vistas as well as see and hear
the wildlife in the various habitats that border the path. Forest, lake, river, meadow and grasslands
are home to a variety of avian life.
Coeur d’Alene Audubon has nominated the Centennial Trail in Coeur
d’Alene to be part of the statewide Idaho Birding Trail. A publication will highlight birding spots
throughout Idaho.
Winter is always good for observing
waterfowl. Lake Coeur d’Alene hosts a
variety of grebes (Western, Red-necked, Horned, Pied-billed) and Common Loons
during spring and fall migrations. Look
for waterfowl in bays, near marinas and along the Spokane River. Species of ducks 
commonly
seen during this season are Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Common and Barrow’s Goldeneye,
Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Mallard and American Wigeon. Spring brings the return of Wood Ducks to
the marshy areas of the lake where Great Blue Heron can be seen. Canada Geese form large flotillas in the
winter and are often seen with large families of goslings in late spring.
There are a few songbirds seen during
winter months and these are Black-capped Chickadee, Song Sparrow, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco and Northern Flicker, a woodpecker. Pygmy Nuthatches live and nest on Higgen’s
Point. This eastern end of the trail is known for the Bald Eagle which comes to
feed on spawning Kokanee salmon from mid November to mid January.
The trail comes to life in the
spring. Violet-green, Barn, Tree,
Northern Rough-winged and Cliff Swallows use the rocky cliffs, snags, bridges
and highway underpasses for nesting.
Several warblers add their song to morning walks, including Yellow,
Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned, MacGillivray’s and Townsend’s, which is fond of
the conifers on Higgen’s Point. The
Osprey return to their nest above the highway and Blue Creek Bay at the same
time the Spotted Sandpiper flutters along the rocks at the point.
Less obvious but known to birders are the
flycatchers, Spotted Towhee, Black-headed Grosbeak and flocks of Cedar Waxwing
found in the willows and other shrubs.
Those who walk alone probably hear these birds even if they don’t look
for them.
There are rarities to be found. Summer of 2004 recorded two Rock Wrens for
the first time on the cliff faces above the boat launch area of Higgen’s Point.
Uncommon loon species such as Red-throated or Pacific are sometimes seen. A Parasitic Jaeger was found on the beach
near NIC several years ago. Horned
Larks like the fields just south of the trail and the Outlet Mall in Post
Falls. The grassy areas are good places for various sparrows and Western
Meadowlark. Occasionally a rare gull
will join the myriads of Ring-billed and California Gulls found everywhere.
If you see birds from the Centennial
Trail that you would like to report, call or email Shirley Sturts,
664-5318, s.sturts@verizon.net. If you have questions about birding in North
Idaho or the Idaho Birding Trail, call or email me, 664-4639 eagleroost@adelphia.net.
Top of Page
BIRDING TUBBS HILL
Kris
Buchler
The Idaho Birding Trail is a statewide
project that will soon highlight birding sites for travelers and residents
alike. Tubbs Hill is included as part
of the City of Coeur d’Alene and is the site’s most central and accessible
location. The hill is ideal for many
reasons. It contains several different
habitat types including mixed coniferous forest, Ponderosa Pine forest,
riparian areas, open water and borders parkland and residential
neighborhoods. It is easily accessed
any season and can provide short or longer trips. Birding Tubbs Hill isn’t
always easy. Birders often need to use
their sense of hearing to locate small songbirds in forest habitats and will
find early morning hours in spring and summer most ideal. Spotting scopes are sometimes necessary to
identify waterfowl out on the lake.
When searching for song- birds, I
recommend an early start on the east side.
I like the trail that takes off just west of the north end of the
parking lot. It switchbacks up the
north side to the main trail and then if one turns east, you can cross the
suspension bridge and continue south.
This area of mixed coniferous forest often produces some of our early returning warblers in late April
and May. Listen and watch for
Nashville, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Orange-crowned and MacGillivray’s
Warblers. Winter Wren is always in the vicinity of the bridge on the east side
or along the trail on the north. This
bird is loud, musical and sounds like a
wind-up toy. It is often seen on snags
or windfall timber and brush piles.
Spotted Towhees may often be heard trilling or mewing in these same
areas.
Other small songbirds that are hard to
see but easily heard are Warbling Vireo, Cassin’s Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
and Western Tanager. Swainson’s Thrush can be found most anywhere on the hill
and adds an especially beautiful trill up the scale morning and evening.
As one progresses towards the south side
of the hill, the habitat changes to Ponderosa Pine. This is a good area for Red-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped
Chickadee and most important, Pygmy Nuthatch, a species of concern. These little gray and white short-tailed
nuthatches usually travel in flocks and keep up a constant twitter and
chatter. This is the easiest area in
which to spot woodpeckers such as the Northern Flicker or Hairy and Downy
Woodpeckers. A lucky birder may spot
our largest woodpecker, the Pileated.
Any of the areas of the hill may host species of finches such as House
and Cassin’s Finch, Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill and Evening or Black-headed
Grosbeaks.
Waterfowl around Tubbs Hill will vary
depending on the season, with fall and winter being the best for numbers. However, May and October can be good for
migrating Common Loon. A pair spent
several days this May off Sander’s Beach near the marina and treated hikers to
beautiful vocalizations. We have four
species of grebe seen including Pied-billed, Horned, Western and Red-necked.
The Herring Gull and California Gull join our common Ring-billed Gull in the
winter. More diving ducks such as
Common Goldeneye, Buffle-head, Common Merganser join flocks of Canada Goose on
the water in the fall.
When hikers reach the backside of the
hill they can observe the Osprey nesting above the lights over the ball
fields. Bald Eagle nest in several
locations on Lake Coeur d’Alene and may be observed flying over. One can not ignore the raucous Common
Ravens, American Crows, Black-billed Magpies or Steller’s Jays, all in a group
called Corvids that are noted for scavenging and intelligence.
This is an overview of some of the birds
of Tubbs Hill but there are many others. Over the years there have been rare and
unusual sightings. Check out the
Audubon webpage: www.cdaaudubon.org.
for scheduled bird walks.
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Chain
o’ Lakes
Bike Trip
Saturday,
September 10
Dick Cripe
We had a fun
time riding bicycles on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes and looking for birds
along the way. We started from Medimont and cycled to Harrison where we
had lunch in the park, then returned to Medimont. The weather was
perfect, about 65 degrees, high clouds, no wind. No one had any serious difficulties with their cycle and the pace
was not strenuous; everyone got home safely. We saw a number of expected
birds, but did not see any shorebirds or unusual species migrating through.
Participants were Phil and Judy
Waring, Bill Gundlach, Janet Callen, Roland Craft, and Dick Cripe.
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BROWN BAG BIRDING
Lynn Sheridan
Sept 20, Tuesday, Fernan Lake
Walking
to the rendezvous point, Fernan Lake (west end), I counted over a dozen
American Crow at the cemetery on Sherman
Avenue. Roland Craft met me
at noon, and we scouted the area,
waiting for possible participants.
Among the resident Mallards was a Pied- billed Grebe and a couple of
Ring-billed Gull. Two Osprey flew overhead, one diving for a fish.
A Great Blue Heron waited patiently, and a painted turtle sunned itself on a watery log. A half dozen Red-winged
Black Birds thronged in a bush with a Song Sparrow. We heard Pygmy and
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee and a Belted Kingfisher. There were no
Great Blue Heron sitting on their nests. At the eastern end of the lake Roland
spotted two Turkey Vultures overhead. A Great Blue Heron and a male Wood Duck were found among the water lilies.
Thank you
Roland.
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BIRD QUOTE CORNER
"I hope you love birds, too.
It is economical.
It saves going to heaven."
Emily Dickinson,
In Martha Dickinson Blanchi, ED.,
The Single Hound
"It is remarkable that only small
birds can properly sing."
Charles Darwin, "The Decent of Man"
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Observaton Post
Shirley Sturts
2005 Kootenai County Big Year - as of September
26 we have 195 species
Shoshone has 146. Check out our website to see county lists.
OTHER SIGHTINGS
Common Loon: 1 Turner Bay,
CDA Lake, Sept. 17, Janet Callen, Roland Craft, Judy Waring. (they also got a quick look at what was
probably a White-headed Woodpecker on the Emerald Creek Road.
Double Crested Cormorant: 1 visited Fernan Lake mid September Shirley
Sturts.
Dowitcher (sp):
13 Dredge Road near Cataldo, Sept. 23,
Lisa Hardy
Blue Jay: 1 Rathdrum Prairie,
mid September, Stephen Johnson.
White-crowned Sparrow, a female Western Tanager
and Pygmy Nuthatch visited the yard of Kris Buchler in
Sept.ember
THE FISH HAWK 
