tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14273084473987284432024-03-05T01:22:40.802-08:00Birds of Madison CountyThis is an attempt to identify and photograph all birds I observe in Madison County, IdahoBill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-79232925451142345452012-03-12T20:25:00.000-07:002012-03-12T20:25:43.059-07:00Great-horned owls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have located seven Great-horned owl nests this spring so far. They sit on those nests through snow, wind, rain and sunny weather. What a dedicated bunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaas3NBzoIJ3cIFtUZmoTf5MZvkLRbi2OCSrQf4Opj2aygfdAgDhztqw1G-NBRxuW9T6KJfVa81IJk-NqrBDj7JKzE_umPUoP1fe9y1WxTKnLtWso47nt458DMh0UKpbAX4kVROzbwEg/s1600/Greathorned34-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUaas3NBzoIJ3cIFtUZmoTf5MZvkLRbi2OCSrQf4Opj2aygfdAgDhztqw1G-NBRxuW9T6KJfVa81IJk-NqrBDj7JKzE_umPUoP1fe9y1WxTKnLtWso47nt458DMh0UKpbAX4kVROzbwEg/s320/Greathorned34-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5m0phXbHzg9c1SViVAfxppEHVLSiwJNekvTaF2m5-WZFs_LToL_0kxj-Cuwf2C7ST7ilh70cyYBriqm-RpA65xxPqcd1E7KihjLGsqKcTvZpj1pCq7fFODtZfLw7z3vCjLA-hKv4W6c/s1600/Great-horned31-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5m0phXbHzg9c1SViVAfxppEHVLSiwJNekvTaF2m5-WZFs_LToL_0kxj-Cuwf2C7ST7ilh70cyYBriqm-RpA65xxPqcd1E7KihjLGsqKcTvZpj1pCq7fFODtZfLw7z3vCjLA-hKv4W6c/s320/Great-horned31-11.JPG" width="258" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8d9J4WCzVWEec8noD7hZfSp_DFTAnT1DWHmMrzi-VODjtEaLloUrAgIxIDw3zksm5m5nrc9Dyr7PBVmswaJ9b2oOvxXG7gmAkpyiwKm_X3d5aSuduI4EbUXAahP9xjfuz2EX0TFjQhI/s1600/Greathorned42-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8d9J4WCzVWEec8noD7hZfSp_DFTAnT1DWHmMrzi-VODjtEaLloUrAgIxIDw3zksm5m5nrc9Dyr7PBVmswaJ9b2oOvxXG7gmAkpyiwKm_X3d5aSuduI4EbUXAahP9xjfuz2EX0TFjQhI/s320/Greathorned42-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-17670425897669174982012-02-28T20:41:00.000-08:002012-02-28T20:41:01.639-08:00Dark-eyed JuncosThe dark-eyed juncos are starting to show up at the local feeders and giving us plenty of entertainment. Right now there is a great variety of colors with them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiCpnsW4Fk6J9RHwKdcMGxNpCExMIsSQiLNxhgbbBQjjeETwlukAALYOlGAne_Vazet3_FGrpL_NE0Kwe_N6edI0N3NvqJBuXa0SbATUTP9gFAdsRCcOV57AQF-f3JALvRkl6zsNDV0M/s1600/junco1-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyiCpnsW4Fk6J9RHwKdcMGxNpCExMIsSQiLNxhgbbBQjjeETwlukAALYOlGAne_Vazet3_FGrpL_NE0Kwe_N6edI0N3NvqJBuXa0SbATUTP9gFAdsRCcOV57AQF-f3JALvRkl6zsNDV0M/s320/junco1-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnsvShh-x-n6Rbg2SljVYDA4I3WiasPjOt-cSEsc1ncKg7bswL0k6pGLRwgLoLJAaUv36ISwY2A5Zs_Ahl1Cs9WcYwG6UeR-g5B5Yj0cv1y4imrupdCGaXvgsRmRAAen14jT83LDPB64/s1600/junco5-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnsvShh-x-n6Rbg2SljVYDA4I3WiasPjOt-cSEsc1ncKg7bswL0k6pGLRwgLoLJAaUv36ISwY2A5Zs_Ahl1Cs9WcYwG6UeR-g5B5Yj0cv1y4imrupdCGaXvgsRmRAAen14jT83LDPB64/s320/junco5-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnDFe-eSHYLmT2PO1JmELxIYZ6pWtMSWeQEz4t9VlcpJVeZ281R5XrYzW5GAwVdPi2tI8Tt23jhe_ZWA9ARKiYMmbSYfk41K7ZqJQH9RWGxw-kU_lVDpYwUnKw7rWxP7XT5KUkZRqGFI/s1600/junco11-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnDFe-eSHYLmT2PO1JmELxIYZ6pWtMSWeQEz4t9VlcpJVeZ281R5XrYzW5GAwVdPi2tI8Tt23jhe_ZWA9ARKiYMmbSYfk41K7ZqJQH9RWGxw-kU_lVDpYwUnKw7rWxP7XT5KUkZRqGFI/s320/junco11-12.JPG" width="249" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_8fsWDXWJL9iYUhM-dijyacRvRXw2zOdLIKw6MYrJQD6txsblDVSLiZyzebuslCy4NIILJ8hvpPA6FbMUa6m1gGDd_rYvFT0lRAebnjIz5WJVePs3qO_GK2TVajlOwGlA-hNhyphenhyphenlfs5U/s1600/junco38-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm_8fsWDXWJL9iYUhM-dijyacRvRXw2zOdLIKw6MYrJQD6txsblDVSLiZyzebuslCy4NIILJ8hvpPA6FbMUa6m1gGDd_rYvFT0lRAebnjIz5WJVePs3qO_GK2TVajlOwGlA-hNhyphenhyphenlfs5U/s320/junco38-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of them were almost blue, but probably fall under the slate colored.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyAtJlFjFVb50xmSUw-zlEtZpG75EFLMnDukvsm4jaEIIQzRHV_F4GD7lCU6lVn0TU1z_H3xgJdpdmGKif-nOTEtw2ulUZ-MKwlykUH37QIbeTSLyMtA1aadPYKa5Kjm3FHga1aGBmOw/s1600/Junco41-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyAtJlFjFVb50xmSUw-zlEtZpG75EFLMnDukvsm4jaEIIQzRHV_F4GD7lCU6lVn0TU1z_H3xgJdpdmGKif-nOTEtw2ulUZ-MKwlykUH37QIbeTSLyMtA1aadPYKa5Kjm3FHga1aGBmOw/s320/Junco41-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then there was two leucistic colored ones, where the skin does not produce the color pigment to all the feathers and they have splotches of white.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIWIxZkNT1nEgzO_M2osjB3VVr-hWpRUFvX5eBup1gejsfRjdTgK1PfSdV9eLGKrkcF3jRKT9NCgiuNZVPpD-HdDebJv9MCbiJ1VYpoCHnK-gZ3v0oAbtyZ0rt-Fxsd7oIEZzTawxyY0/s1600/Junco47-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgIWIxZkNT1nEgzO_M2osjB3VVr-hWpRUFvX5eBup1gejsfRjdTgK1PfSdV9eLGKrkcF3jRKT9NCgiuNZVPpD-HdDebJv9MCbiJ1VYpoCHnK-gZ3v0oAbtyZ0rt-Fxsd7oIEZzTawxyY0/s320/Junco47-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great way to spend the day - color-coding birds.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-158901798688625062012-02-21T12:11:00.000-08:002012-02-21T12:11:09.788-08:00Pinyon Jays of Madison County<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pinyon Jays are a noisy bunch as they flock together in the winter in southeastern Madison County. They usually travel with a flock of starlings and with the two flocks, they can go through a lot of food for a friend of mine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They love sunflower seeds and are skilled at feeding on pine cones. Their long strong bill can break through the pine cones and harvest the seeds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRQlqwYYxA1zMjOID-SbsbXrmknD1VCFTdmdBhaRgZ5Uw0iWByKmgkRthVMMujQlQOXYdvI5ulETQ3vTkO7UiHhnk_hFN-xb5C-YX3XpEgkzcY0ILxCGdjqQ8eOV62tckEyNr_swB0I8/s1600/pinyon+jay6-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRQlqwYYxA1zMjOID-SbsbXrmknD1VCFTdmdBhaRgZ5Uw0iWByKmgkRthVMMujQlQOXYdvI5ulETQ3vTkO7UiHhnk_hFN-xb5C-YX3XpEgkzcY0ILxCGdjqQ8eOV62tckEyNr_swB0I8/s320/pinyon+jay6-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some people believe that they migrate to Yellowstone Park in the summer, but expert birders think they become very quiet when paired up and raising their young. Experts believe that they stay in the same general area, but scatter through the local groves of junipers for the summer.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITxgdFG-XIe_h-jkg5MOvY5EFMjwtZiV_fggK_4Czh7qwNvuQm9OR-R0G1Tsz5M4JdFpXBJQUwwH4G4PNhOiaL1gz4-NbWV3wmsOJCMHh9WZ35nZUqFjkK0aW0fPHWurj0ixkz1UixJs/s1600/PinyonJay56-12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITxgdFG-XIe_h-jkg5MOvY5EFMjwtZiV_fggK_4Czh7qwNvuQm9OR-R0G1Tsz5M4JdFpXBJQUwwH4G4PNhOiaL1gz4-NbWV3wmsOJCMHh9WZ35nZUqFjkK0aW0fPHWurj0ixkz1UixJs/s320/PinyonJay56-12.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-33444601790013975822011-10-11T10:42:00.000-07:002011-10-11T10:42:10.321-07:00Great Blue Heron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Great Blue Heron has always been a fascinating bird to me. I do not like them invading my favorite fishing areas, but they are such a beautiful graceful bird in flight. Their colors change with the season and are always beautiful. Here a young one flies along the shore of Henrys Lake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUfS5Te8gUwzr9UE6arBXqN9-tZeM2lIa3iqmjkaWuB__q5ptteKfNUQNLCcHp7N9T2p_dIUW-8427gSRjRexMLXEKqG_OlfstSycW3QV2VlBlQKJJREXxzD_V2pgw7F86OyGQq1v_vU/s1600/blueheron13-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhUfS5Te8gUwzr9UE6arBXqN9-tZeM2lIa3iqmjkaWuB__q5ptteKfNUQNLCcHp7N9T2p_dIUW-8427gSRjRexMLXEKqG_OlfstSycW3QV2VlBlQKJJREXxzD_V2pgw7F86OyGQq1v_vU/s320/blueheron13-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Several years ago this one speered a catfish and wore it for at least two days.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnl4CxOQ70LAZEocac4htr5WTilFFoeE9xTDaRsB9m-rP18vxITl1X-TowYgRG60bxOREbh1MaY03kHTZIIcOzAIgfhpW1DEBeVdbDIBkCb0883-bKLqXHdyfunQ3mFZxP0pw_ULf62g/s1600/Blueheron1-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPnl4CxOQ70LAZEocac4htr5WTilFFoeE9xTDaRsB9m-rP18vxITl1X-TowYgRG60bxOREbh1MaY03kHTZIIcOzAIgfhpW1DEBeVdbDIBkCb0883-bKLqXHdyfunQ3mFZxP0pw_ULf62g/s320/Blueheron1-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here a young one hunts for minnow in the shallows.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6zdZ2pvwyb7PLdx_K8QwwG5XpnXxshwygJJl49w8-9W9ox8Cu3VGYh1vmMbleF3bob3FTWvoiH2gROi2jMnqeIF2tSSnwvWSnhqgVnOfZh5lXCyLhk061MqjYtvo6WXz6AIAiBtz9I4/s1600/blueheron9-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR6zdZ2pvwyb7PLdx_K8QwwG5XpnXxshwygJJl49w8-9W9ox8Cu3VGYh1vmMbleF3bob3FTWvoiH2gROi2jMnqeIF2tSSnwvWSnhqgVnOfZh5lXCyLhk061MqjYtvo6WXz6AIAiBtz9I4/s320/blueheron9-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This adult is chasing a rodent in a stubble field near Rexburg, but did not catch it.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f9f8L83teWssc8d4-oev4RYLxY_eAvKkViAT1QB8UWiNVdOqvRasQsW38T4Uu4wTmYHufoDF0-Ln5v6tNMhDu5jKqBo3YJd_PmJ138LVtV49KcsDs6WjTx-fAqm9AmxoMvdcTMt7K90/s1600/blueheron6-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f9f8L83teWssc8d4-oev4RYLxY_eAvKkViAT1QB8UWiNVdOqvRasQsW38T4Uu4wTmYHufoDF0-Ln5v6tNMhDu5jKqBo3YJd_PmJ138LVtV49KcsDs6WjTx-fAqm9AmxoMvdcTMt7K90/s320/blueheron6-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Just another year around resident bird of Madison County.Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-60203641176431032842011-08-17T04:06:00.000-07:002011-08-17T04:06:57.699-07:00White-faced Ibis<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> This year with all the flooding and high water, the White-faced ibis has invaded Madison County. Flooded fields and pastures that have never been available for these birds to feed in still have water standing in them. These create new feeding area for the long billed birds looking for worms and snails to feed on. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here a flock of ibis fly into a flooded pasture to look for food.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIJgXCOPYpUk6MFC4x1E-mPVa4l7r0nLfXBxHcPr1n2njmzY6WSIUMdbWcA2Ar6FlsbuPYqNBd6FdMtaNMMS9fYfkQpLFdWamGCIYneNKQldMLgNopOmZSi_GaU9Js1naI20uh3Si0Mk/s1600/ibis36-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIJgXCOPYpUk6MFC4x1E-mPVa4l7r0nLfXBxHcPr1n2njmzY6WSIUMdbWcA2Ar6FlsbuPYqNBd6FdMtaNMMS9fYfkQpLFdWamGCIYneNKQldMLgNopOmZSi_GaU9Js1naI20uh3Si0Mk/s320/ibis36-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">They are not really black, but their iridescent body and wing feathers are set off by a rusty brown back.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vPlS-DQKfj2o-MTKJyrAWHz8Usv31IwANmRRTwG2xcbUDYgp2SIDI41jfcBTf09NZidq3CdA-dZbwAr4UHfNXknf5-zklxohYTGoi5Z4jFJsxHEt6hBvrcrHVCleJqlHoieeKBwjCcg/s1600/ibis1-10+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0vPlS-DQKfj2o-MTKJyrAWHz8Usv31IwANmRRTwG2xcbUDYgp2SIDI41jfcBTf09NZidq3CdA-dZbwAr4UHfNXknf5-zklxohYTGoi5Z4jFJsxHEt6hBvrcrHVCleJqlHoieeKBwjCcg/s320/ibis1-10+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Flocks of over 300 would gather in fields and pastures.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch5enqt5Y7mSRwSFvdSZNA4dOqnk1ueh7A5iOsmL0ML1mTsuzHgBQ5liNoU4jth1qhSEqVjAMP77QSVzbmOT-0d_AdLWXb0Y8jNm8qMZVxwhlN3p0NJpjLlHhCWyOBXYwkNOV2tRLc90/s1600/ibis60-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch5enqt5Y7mSRwSFvdSZNA4dOqnk1ueh7A5iOsmL0ML1mTsuzHgBQ5liNoU4jth1qhSEqVjAMP77QSVzbmOT-0d_AdLWXb0Y8jNm8qMZVxwhlN3p0NJpjLlHhCWyOBXYwkNOV2tRLc90/s320/ibis60-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Their long sensitive bill probes the flooded ground looking for lunch. Here one finds a snail. The trick is to get their food from the end of a six to eight inch bill into its throat. Practice makes perfect.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSHSw_j_m-1hxvytw5VhMHZlxezIPjFPOc5ziSdhFgg3KSOpGrE6XS9IZ_ap8dkq8VmgC6GT5DZQBlPYf-PgiKK1NdsKIbpH-pozFRHFnG15TOt2Zg77gM3atTJZdsNQrBmeNNKKNyrg/s1600/ibis-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSHSw_j_m-1hxvytw5VhMHZlxezIPjFPOc5ziSdhFgg3KSOpGrE6XS9IZ_ap8dkq8VmgC6GT5DZQBlPYf-PgiKK1NdsKIbpH-pozFRHFnG15TOt2Zg77gM3atTJZdsNQrBmeNNKKNyrg/s320/ibis-20.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-28973523203357295452011-07-05T05:09:00.000-07:002011-07-05T05:09:04.101-07:00Long-billed curlews of Madison CountyShore birds and wading birds have always been a challenge for me to identify. They all look the same except for their bills and sometimes I forget which way they should turn. <br />
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The Long-billed curlew is one I have always been able to identify as the bill, flight and sounds were common to me when growing up. Here three migrating curlews are displaying during breeding season.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNSLpM430T-l2-b5hshcSs8Z9DlofPmPhepZy5jmQNKpXtuyN-bfITAxNHlukfbjJalVX4MGw-b4TIVAPu2Jag0spQ0vSoEQaxLVE55YkmkCzfKyFsXJf1vZGmAnQRv58oZaDWC38SZM/s1600/Curlew3-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVNSLpM430T-l2-b5hshcSs8Z9DlofPmPhepZy5jmQNKpXtuyN-bfITAxNHlukfbjJalVX4MGw-b4TIVAPu2Jag0spQ0vSoEQaxLVE55YkmkCzfKyFsXJf1vZGmAnQRv58oZaDWC38SZM/s320/Curlew3-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They show up in Madison County in April as they search the muddy fields and marshes for worms; their probbing bills searching the soft ground. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRXKmLgxXzDS84epTLGIav5_1lMAL3LnC9VJciH3KWR68UG1pV9JhpTlN0woGgoVDtzv3la_fu8EmMxPSbHxfRXHdhUF1qU_tcSHtTrUap2XRakz3Ij8kf481IO1Ds_LXNeJMzT8hdNM/s1600/curlew3-11+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRXKmLgxXzDS84epTLGIav5_1lMAL3LnC9VJciH3KWR68UG1pV9JhpTlN0woGgoVDtzv3la_fu8EmMxPSbHxfRXHdhUF1qU_tcSHtTrUap2XRakz3Ij8kf481IO1Ds_LXNeJMzT8hdNM/s320/curlew3-11+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">By the first of June, those that have raise young here are teaching them to fly, eat and protect themselves.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoKkwa4oLad8H3whmSE1UVGWXzCzy5iEhvOsGH81izRffjwS-XsCz7R78-Zluq2v8O3WcDZiG2YdAeKEZTJASCuaYXFjU323qDFFCA2STjL_u3cgZQlmUdaJ2kc3BHAMd6oO79bKiRxs/s1600/curlew1-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoKkwa4oLad8H3whmSE1UVGWXzCzy5iEhvOsGH81izRffjwS-XsCz7R78-Zluq2v8O3WcDZiG2YdAeKEZTJASCuaYXFjU323qDFFCA2STjL_u3cgZQlmUdaJ2kc3BHAMd6oO79bKiRxs/s320/curlew1-10.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">A rather large bird, but usually a shy and ellusive one.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-83383109325098593052011-06-28T20:47:00.000-07:002011-06-28T20:51:36.010-07:00Red-napped SapsuckerMadison County has had high water and many of the areas I love to bird is still not available. But today I was able to get a picture of a Red-napped Sapsucker and will try to get some more, but for now I will use some old pictures of these beautiful birds for the Madison County bird this week.<br />
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Here a sapsucker is looking for a hollow tree to drill a nest in<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqy5qmnR_6wYvCOa8LQBPBI3wrOGeuvv_TLpxJZSOvilimi5wqfgIuT9fyYxcDiFFmGJN5vnOCFSDqhHzaTlj6wzBEpBUgr7uRQ82JIMVHTDY1f9i6xEU-8D7rg0jdZoBB-lWft2uu5UM/s1600/sapsucker10-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqy5qmnR_6wYvCOa8LQBPBI3wrOGeuvv_TLpxJZSOvilimi5wqfgIuT9fyYxcDiFFmGJN5vnOCFSDqhHzaTlj6wzBEpBUgr7uRQ82JIMVHTDY1f9i6xEU-8D7rg0jdZoBB-lWft2uu5UM/s320/sapsucker10-1.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To feed, the sapsuckers drill series of holes in the bark of trees. When the holes fill up with sap and insects, they feed on them. Each visit, they will drill another row of holes to collect the sap.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL1epuK2Sl2mj6f-sMMvTrbY-FOs3JFokk1Xd5npTGPqhJJ7GVkcUAOHeahyphenhyphenQ8q-43dghpOt_DhSj4JeFxWjTsQyny3mV7cZytKho0MyF4n29IL_Qv5wXbn-YER0A2yq6FTllzSIrgiw/s1600/sapsucker10-8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL1epuK2Sl2mj6f-sMMvTrbY-FOs3JFokk1Xd5npTGPqhJJ7GVkcUAOHeahyphenhyphenQ8q-43dghpOt_DhSj4JeFxWjTsQyny3mV7cZytKho0MyF4n29IL_Qv5wXbn-YER0A2yq6FTllzSIrgiw/s320/sapsucker10-8.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They will use any type of tree that will produce a lot of sap.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtCUBpB2tJqDRQ6F_syZodZ9RTNjdY72kOLuaLOP7ivjKg3H0XHxleejDzu9LMv5CD5ij-cGQ9se35_UcD_MbNEKE5MChSA0eQrZQoXRP9hlVu0hdCCIbXBM9pkD3BplAT-x-_gBnFhw/s1600/sapsucker10-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMtCUBpB2tJqDRQ6F_syZodZ9RTNjdY72kOLuaLOP7ivjKg3H0XHxleejDzu9LMv5CD5ij-cGQ9se35_UcD_MbNEKE5MChSA0eQrZQoXRP9hlVu0hdCCIbXBM9pkD3BplAT-x-_gBnFhw/s320/sapsucker10-7.JPG" width="261px" /></a></div><br />
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Another great bird that are summer residents of Madison County, Idaho.Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-86565254434806343592011-06-21T05:24:00.000-07:002011-06-21T05:30:22.081-07:00Western Tanagers attack orangesOranges attract orange and yellow and red as fruit eating birds fill my backyard when I put out this sweet fruit. One of the most colorful birds I enjoy at my feeder trees are the Western Tanagers. I like them and they seem to like me.<br />
Usually the first to appear are flocks of males where they fight and sqabble over the oranges and orange flavored suet cakes.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIUve2sDDMbYLDZNZBDVYm2bobRXonJ52WNorJVG6KWrKVkOvlk88vS1kxvqryXIof0yOu9E6-BI2EguB1j0OASrkMI0btsti8wL1FyZlsOT_3erYSpbcDLZ_CDYUle6cOkCEaEekSNA/s1600/DSC_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIUve2sDDMbYLDZNZBDVYm2bobRXonJ52WNorJVG6KWrKVkOvlk88vS1kxvqryXIof0yOu9E6-BI2EguB1j0OASrkMI0btsti8wL1FyZlsOT_3erYSpbcDLZ_CDYUle6cOkCEaEekSNA/s320/DSC_0040.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Individual birds prefer different food. Some fight over a certain orange half while others perfer the suet. Here you can see the tongue of this male savoring the sweet juice of the orange.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ftj6s42YM_YAEEUEimM2J2nMtV_ax11AnzMECBJuB90bpdDHPvPfzQuWYcorjreY0QQEe2NDfd9alolL_TQeffel2vv2JTqzPTwvy0lLzDNTvo_4iidTShsFasqED5X5ytafQTnr14U/s1600/DSC_1028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ftj6s42YM_YAEEUEimM2J2nMtV_ax11AnzMECBJuB90bpdDHPvPfzQuWYcorjreY0QQEe2NDfd9alolL_TQeffel2vv2JTqzPTwvy0lLzDNTvo_4iidTShsFasqED5X5ytafQTnr14U/s320/DSC_1028.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The females are a lot less colorful and come in a couple of days later than the males.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpws-TqcznUO1tZRG1LNGJ1V4Paos0_0mVVUu5PiIZL2IHdREXgsJ1LX-uMwFff4WBXz9Abj04lyoKH04meYIDxd3G3eDF6kIne7HS9sTNKihuxHKA74gW1Mfl3QfYbq51JR0wcCaTOA/s1600/DSC_0005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNpws-TqcznUO1tZRG1LNGJ1V4Paos0_0mVVUu5PiIZL2IHdREXgsJ1LX-uMwFff4WBXz9Abj04lyoKH04meYIDxd3G3eDF6kIne7HS9sTNKihuxHKA74gW1Mfl3QfYbq51JR0wcCaTOA/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They seem to enjoy the oranges more than the suet and prefer to perch above the fruit to eat.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF3lCcCsJO4Q6vF8kCOmEfw6XqgbmU5p12haC_O3gxeLg-MVSown_7_6jNAgLVGMDzpQ-ZBi2pYfHsLVI70AR4uSZegUFbKSyuEGsCZw9CtO1f-46my1NWVj5g5qX7NVK1FTVCizpavU/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDF3lCcCsJO4Q6vF8kCOmEfw6XqgbmU5p12haC_O3gxeLg-MVSown_7_6jNAgLVGMDzpQ-ZBi2pYfHsLVI70AR4uSZegUFbKSyuEGsCZw9CtO1f-46my1NWVj5g5qX7NVK1FTVCizpavU/s320/DSC_0168.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Many times they will not land on the suet to eat, but will fly to it and sally there until they get a piece. Then they will fly to a branch to eat and clean off their bill by rubbing it on the bark.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-y-YRYpC82M_SoTGk3ZnN7iLYXEiAljuVeVKECaURQhz4PwrJekzSVjEINj1IUwkdJhTXTI7BhP1q-DpJm7eljGWL71mkYmzchfswNHuuxFswIw2aBpu94VsxrURhPKRfVZirmZPFtM/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-y-YRYpC82M_SoTGk3ZnN7iLYXEiAljuVeVKECaURQhz4PwrJekzSVjEINj1IUwkdJhTXTI7BhP1q-DpJm7eljGWL71mkYmzchfswNHuuxFswIw2aBpu94VsxrURhPKRfVZirmZPFtM/s320/DSC_0325.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love trying to catch them in flight as they eat and put on a show for me.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-36233488058400673542011-06-14T06:09:00.000-07:002011-06-14T06:09:24.090-07:00Bullock's Orioles return to Madison CountyThey are the ultimate sweet-toothed or billed bird of the kingdom. Put out a halved orange or orange flavored suet cakes and they will find them. The Bullock's Oriole is one of the most sleek, beautiful birds that come to Madison County. The males range from a deep yellow to a brilliant orange.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iNCR8Nk2dF6AxfWUpqgJ2kzwK21dUD_vArySR4BKXPSFViexcYKqHefXapiYs3GVxoNRA6GGmT-O8vH4iHAWgmHdutng1s9CpU559vUgk-_89iuiDTa3QPiFZk6BShDD_whL74P1w4E/s1600/bullocks2-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iNCR8Nk2dF6AxfWUpqgJ2kzwK21dUD_vArySR4BKXPSFViexcYKqHefXapiYs3GVxoNRA6GGmT-O8vH4iHAWgmHdutng1s9CpU559vUgk-_89iuiDTa3QPiFZk6BShDD_whL74P1w4E/s320/bullocks2-11.JPG" t8="true" width="221px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The females are fairly subdued in color, but their funny little habits make them fun to watch.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MX2CuyTYdurCXlsa1CwDi_9VlKw4EWFaW71CJluoMf_TfEs8Tio6VDxVRgTZ1IbldfwBClEsDOo1TC1jTg733kvq0b9b_9_OkQJx_rXVlXescbxNKYjZ2iBUjfdrVD7tj8YdDIlZMn4/s1600/Bullocks11-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9MX2CuyTYdurCXlsa1CwDi_9VlKw4EWFaW71CJluoMf_TfEs8Tio6VDxVRgTZ1IbldfwBClEsDOo1TC1jTg733kvq0b9b_9_OkQJx_rXVlXescbxNKYjZ2iBUjfdrVD7tj8YdDIlZMn4/s320/Bullocks11-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Suet cakes, oranges and even the hummingbird feeders are emptied by these beautiful birds when they show up in flocks.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIVcHe7eLPiqp8N_g5QRe2lxVOGptZfaj9VaANosUcyGirpnh0Dqv_El5JrHAo_UZIK5rRnotk6zK1WIXokYhaUU-S2bOJ6xwibr9fwSJhAqTDdyNvxQWtWwW66uxk8NW-75s1Nv7MWw/s1600/bullocks17-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdIVcHe7eLPiqp8N_g5QRe2lxVOGptZfaj9VaANosUcyGirpnh0Dqv_El5JrHAo_UZIK5rRnotk6zK1WIXokYhaUU-S2bOJ6xwibr9fwSJhAqTDdyNvxQWtWwW66uxk8NW-75s1Nv7MWw/s320/bullocks17-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The male has a "playground" voice which is loud and very recognizable, but it very shy while feeding. To get good pictures, a blind is almost necessary.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vE_edi-KQ5wuZTH7KA5MHGcNhQ0SMZMMzJpMgyRBvQA8-eFvmU3Tt53lqc9mwKHbeb-RtiKNPhRp8llyT_7PdPPWQw0BGq9GfaJLJAFifO96dInXn1VPxI2DIbWU-85hW_GC80Ig1EA/s1600/bullocks15-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8vE_edi-KQ5wuZTH7KA5MHGcNhQ0SMZMMzJpMgyRBvQA8-eFvmU3Tt53lqc9mwKHbeb-RtiKNPhRp8llyT_7PdPPWQw0BGq9GfaJLJAFifO96dInXn1VPxI2DIbWU-85hW_GC80Ig1EA/s320/bullocks15-11.JPG" t8="true" width="251px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thank goodness for long legs. This gal uses them to her advantage. I noticed that it was a habit for most of the females to keep at least one foot on the tree while feeding - most of the time. I did catch one hanging on the lip of the cut orange while feeding.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7SajYPpyhvsrIS4a10SwBKKpiWCVo37AfzGuNg-LFo_nsodh6kFrcl_DTnyRqo_00QvG5eMOC28Oi4zFtwDkZE6eS_6z_sDBp6hddllA7Ja9BBTL4coBcfA6sPx-GYU_gAQ7VEmSDyI/s1600/bullocks19-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7SajYPpyhvsrIS4a10SwBKKpiWCVo37AfzGuNg-LFo_nsodh6kFrcl_DTnyRqo_00QvG5eMOC28Oi4zFtwDkZE6eS_6z_sDBp6hddllA7Ja9BBTL4coBcfA6sPx-GYU_gAQ7VEmSDyI/s320/bullocks19-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I have wasted a lot of time watching and photographing these lovely birds from my blind. But I guess I could have wasted my time in different pursuits.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-37393622255128926932011-05-31T18:35:00.000-07:002011-05-31T18:35:05.735-07:00Evening Grosbeaks visit my backyardA flash of yellow and black with a pale blue bill, the male Evening Grosbeak is always welcome in my backyard. What a wonderful birds as they chirp in the trees above my blind. Soon he lands on a branch and appears to be wondering what a big black eye is peering at him.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXpYv3t6aWzZe4BKVXjwRhujc7vRP9j0rsofr0Z862ZibKqCRmrzerZ8gmqvuCc94H8BZ_44_gUE2Qh97kj7g2-lN5EdoKoQGOdy0R8yxOlaF9Tph8sUkq2F_zB3kk3FpIhRAUzmwjIQ/s1600/evening8-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXpYv3t6aWzZe4BKVXjwRhujc7vRP9j0rsofr0Z862ZibKqCRmrzerZ8gmqvuCc94H8BZ_44_gUE2Qh97kj7g2-lN5EdoKoQGOdy0R8yxOlaF9Tph8sUkq2F_zB3kk3FpIhRAUzmwjIQ/s320/evening8-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is amazing to me that their eyes do not move, so they have to turn their head sideways to look at you. Soon the male is joined by four females. Not as colorful, but still a beauty.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlnJoT7brSpK-aSNbuxAKHGqO1FjyLGkJ8l__-YpKbxNqxI4ODkJV9dNEso50KvXfigCQd-wH7Iazhi9S9eB2dlbdoSZGmLhkEQWhyow4nsp92XC8Qc6rPtJdhIFq_TBEkpmyyOO6NrU/s1600/evening14-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlnJoT7brSpK-aSNbuxAKHGqO1FjyLGkJ8l__-YpKbxNqxI4ODkJV9dNEso50KvXfigCQd-wH7Iazhi9S9eB2dlbdoSZGmLhkEQWhyow4nsp92XC8Qc6rPtJdhIFq_TBEkpmyyOO6NrU/s320/evening14-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The male and one female joins Cassin's finch and House finch females at the table.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN0_DR_G-wJh9iU6jU37fJFkclPh1YCU9MNEU0ENVQNmYzMidt4w9yAHAmOLg3jhKohCy_YM1mB-EK0J2e52JAitVY1ZcWYIlnesvyy6hdhAeuvKkxZ39sCbP7tpyjvj0ppYKvmKsUds/s1600/evening9-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDN0_DR_G-wJh9iU6jU37fJFkclPh1YCU9MNEU0ENVQNmYzMidt4w9yAHAmOLg3jhKohCy_YM1mB-EK0J2e52JAitVY1ZcWYIlnesvyy6hdhAeuvKkxZ39sCbP7tpyjvj0ppYKvmKsUds/s320/evening9-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The male leaves the feeder and four females, two on each side start fighting over the sunflower seeds. One gets knocked off the feeder by the agressive one.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7u3If1RVAFQWNRkuDX5xXpwYNBd44iAk0dbRsRyg9P7UlUfRi4bBizMHnVCcgcPPHF6Hk8DOze7JOauDiAuJcS5IktYoedINLd1zKAI5W5D1mtpwFhvDD7zvxVEeuyixSm1Y7iipCbY/s1600/evening3-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7u3If1RVAFQWNRkuDX5xXpwYNBd44iAk0dbRsRyg9P7UlUfRi4bBizMHnVCcgcPPHF6Hk8DOze7JOauDiAuJcS5IktYoedINLd1zKAI5W5D1mtpwFhvDD7zvxVEeuyixSm1Y7iipCbY/s320/evening3-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the meantime, Mr. Evening watches the show and knows soon instead of fighting for food, they will be fighting over him. Hopefully these will be some that nest in Island Park, just a few miles north of Rexburg.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoY4AQLxVtbteNaP4mB69cewXsF_M9PGWbv_Dq4J7u6yjeJwpK7_XJ_NV22pB0cI40y_J_DjPOBxurySif6pipl0oVyACU6njXoSFqbit85F4F0xJHiUo1GKWNwdvr7zWfotLM7gQ9Uxs/s1600/evening5-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoY4AQLxVtbteNaP4mB69cewXsF_M9PGWbv_Dq4J7u6yjeJwpK7_XJ_NV22pB0cI40y_J_DjPOBxurySif6pipl0oVyACU6njXoSFqbit85F4F0xJHiUo1GKWNwdvr7zWfotLM7gQ9Uxs/s320/evening5-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until they leave, I will enjoy the shows and the colors in my backyard.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-55546109256260001072011-05-25T04:49:00.000-07:002011-05-25T04:51:02.489-07:00Trumpeter Swan - year around residents of Madison CountyThe beautiful Trumpeter swan, once almost gone, is a common sight in Madison County. In the winter from 400 to 600 of these graceful birds stay on the area rivers and nearby fields. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DR84rnVu6WADwF5x0GeRsUraybLTj628Y7ohMah6k8V3Mk1xKzOk6vvOcNuGUv9Inpneoo4LfR8ol3jHI_I3YhyphenhyphenX6aHv9xZz_8x4bxe7qXhUsRrLQ3APwmGg7a0IuFsW4JJ0d70NZoA/s1600/trumpeter17-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DR84rnVu6WADwF5x0GeRsUraybLTj628Y7ohMah6k8V3Mk1xKzOk6vvOcNuGUv9Inpneoo4LfR8ol3jHI_I3YhyphenhyphenX6aHv9xZz_8x4bxe7qXhUsRrLQ3APwmGg7a0IuFsW4JJ0d70NZoA/s320/trumpeter17-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When the snow starts to melt and ponds develop in the fields, others start migrating through the area.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixtAck6yDt4qyXgcLFyYIY5yMiI42mVy4U-4mS_2FnlPZdx6CWu-Yj0_HiqqaUx3SFn6MGKTJ0YteIqtuyfqEgcSM4eZJrOmcght-IeQvxyOYVpSOQIEoQsyQWUV_THFlEOZ1OsLB-fA/s1600/trumpeter45-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixtAck6yDt4qyXgcLFyYIY5yMiI42mVy4U-4mS_2FnlPZdx6CWu-Yj0_HiqqaUx3SFn6MGKTJ0YteIqtuyfqEgcSM4eZJrOmcght-IeQvxyOYVpSOQIEoQsyQWUV_THFlEOZ1OsLB-fA/s320/trumpeter45-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few will stay on area waterways,pairing up and building nests to raise their young. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y-oiF0Sl5yRhbeJj1wIh34SPXxGAXD-QlpvrUck4rLylmhArLt7R9IU46TGqjAGoNBjFMZb38H8IL9M6YKZfBSKUsAJCypeSgIXxD_x3_MRzSw1g7S5Yf0LBj561Qr-vWgwF_sJbKlA/s1600/Trumpeter45-11+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Y-oiF0Sl5yRhbeJj1wIh34SPXxGAXD-QlpvrUck4rLylmhArLt7R9IU46TGqjAGoNBjFMZb38H8IL9M6YKZfBSKUsAJCypeSgIXxD_x3_MRzSw1g7S5Yf0LBj561Qr-vWgwF_sJbKlA/s320/Trumpeter45-11+%25282%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some waters near Madison County is closed to all human activity to protect the nesting swan.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI00KPTtHbeHqkY4E6znZ4MUHHK03hFYbsDB8JB9PdAC4w1RmDQ_eiL3gYzPhYiNOk_-hpk7ZM0FJ-kETntzSa8fSQiKp4uBEOu4lVueBMBL4QveWEq96EmdYpedNu1qEaDD64p5_A17w/s1600/trumpeter19-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI00KPTtHbeHqkY4E6znZ4MUHHK03hFYbsDB8JB9PdAC4w1RmDQ_eiL3gYzPhYiNOk_-hpk7ZM0FJ-kETntzSa8fSQiKp4uBEOu4lVueBMBL4QveWEq96EmdYpedNu1qEaDD64p5_A17w/s320/trumpeter19-11.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In the fall many of these huge birds will once again migrate for the North Country to invade our waterways to winter.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z_cUkc23BfLOf5TmkT5QPhOCr1zvqjPdNSCXRrSoYp_SeX3ojxpDO7Zm3iOyHkjcNaDYYSUOBK8Q-YY6ffPqShMInFyiqIQnsoEMluxfX7HVmC39U9i6eQJQNtgFaXPkjbAS0Ud4yFk/s1600/Trumpeter50-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z_cUkc23BfLOf5TmkT5QPhOCr1zvqjPdNSCXRrSoYp_SeX3ojxpDO7Zm3iOyHkjcNaDYYSUOBK8Q-YY6ffPqShMInFyiqIQnsoEMluxfX7HVmC39U9i6eQJQNtgFaXPkjbAS0Ud4yFk/s320/Trumpeter50-11.JPG" t8="true" width="261px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These royal birds inspire and entertain those of us that chose to be outside year around.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-17125835582535264162011-05-17T20:50:00.000-07:002011-05-19T06:06:33.425-07:00Mountain Bluebirds of Madison County<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love the Mountain Bluebirds. One of the first traditions I remember growing up in Teton Valley was when the first Bluebird showed up, Mom would make us homemade donuts. We called them Spudnuts, because they were made from water saved over from boiling potatoes. It was the best springtime treat - almost as good as Christmas.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">First the flocks of males would show up, staking out their territory.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvfGh-EF0mFV_4o6Ep1oHhjk1C8c_PhNPAPcAh1UjMcze0utU5MNjerwzplqWE53A2AvmqxGlVZvx7-18SOtHwR5qbk7cif4Y-m3ri4g5bs3sO_PFG_vKAwiBo8KpMWFoA2PkLm8gM7I/s1600/bluebird-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRvfGh-EF0mFV_4o6Ep1oHhjk1C8c_PhNPAPcAh1UjMcze0utU5MNjerwzplqWE53A2AvmqxGlVZvx7-18SOtHwR5qbk7cif4Y-m3ri4g5bs3sO_PFG_vKAwiBo8KpMWFoA2PkLm8gM7I/s320/bluebird-7.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The female join them about a week later and pick out a nesting place. Boxes are great.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU87IylbqThyILxELoROnEeD_-BgOhuVTllZSl3WucQ_PNaEDSrDqz-huf6NmHosS_eI2It9Grc0wwWsCv-E0tYzzmzqCOQ2FpMJeI0joAhqcU_Nh9Jw1Dr48fkN2ge1duNHeyPIDHDMA/s1600/bluebird-1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU87IylbqThyILxELoROnEeD_-BgOhuVTllZSl3WucQ_PNaEDSrDqz-huf6NmHosS_eI2It9Grc0wwWsCv-E0tYzzmzqCOQ2FpMJeI0joAhqcU_Nh9Jw1Dr48fkN2ge1duNHeyPIDHDMA/s320/bluebird-1e.jpg" width="265px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Then the courtship begins - the sly smiles and glances followed by "accidental" bumping and touching. Finally full blown romance.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVVGwqX-1mJPan9xQZ2R8p68hdgg9WWFErFivjaIaAu57aYDJA2JOboc7w_PoQKMpS_iXF9YoifSa1P-hvrmr9czxUYeAFGt_cITFVhvim0H-EHQELSHQs8khCq0rZKwxIltEtbAuimE/s1600/bluebird-1j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVVGwqX-1mJPan9xQZ2R8p68hdgg9WWFErFivjaIaAu57aYDJA2JOboc7w_PoQKMpS_iXF9YoifSa1P-hvrmr9czxUYeAFGt_cITFVhvim0H-EHQELSHQs8khCq0rZKwxIltEtbAuimE/s320/bluebird-1j.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">A few weeks later out in a near by tree are two offspring of the two sparkers. It takes both parent full time to feed themselves and their "teen-agers."</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4DitFJSkE69v7ZYU3d02pJ0EG_ojd0g5iV5N4NZO6qLxc4xLz7HlHm1FMTlgFzvRFpJvwuLIwsjk67dZ9F6STXwSPxCJ4p3ododY7MfUoAToIiAt-eZEt4x_kww17W3l1nctk-rDpII/s1600/bluebird-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi4DitFJSkE69v7ZYU3d02pJ0EG_ojd0g5iV5N4NZO6qLxc4xLz7HlHm1FMTlgFzvRFpJvwuLIwsjk67dZ9F6STXwSPxCJ4p3ododY7MfUoAToIiAt-eZEt4x_kww17W3l1nctk-rDpII/s320/bluebird-2.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Now being empty nesters, the Mom has time to primp and rearrange her feathers. They split the nest and she was getting cleaned up for a date.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5SB3yc4MYhnA7tqk-qMvCj5Ige652NYptQywe-x7T25JygDxnbtwUVxHpP5zBbHKnr7INl23jVvd7Ku0Zcb4duRgRkObnpPdRJKNrrj7Qi60JbW5sRijIPcW8vn1qRG5AN98QIPyvk8/s1600/bluebird-1m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_5SB3yc4MYhnA7tqk-qMvCj5Ige652NYptQywe-x7T25JygDxnbtwUVxHpP5zBbHKnr7INl23jVvd7Ku0Zcb4duRgRkObnpPdRJKNrrj7Qi60JbW5sRijIPcW8vn1qRG5AN98QIPyvk8/s320/bluebird-1m.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Mr. looked a little lost with her getting ready to go out - without him. Happens all the time after a males luster fades.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIw9TJ3HJUzDqD0rv7c040vipGH0j7rMQNJGfgFpxJMaeJ4zfZxkBy3uVuggd4JOxzT15FVPQlNvAGecEH3vzX1ln8zJPiSZzByVSXDk2Q2ssJGuzmbHeLxQiOPbmdnKujrZN1pplAJ0/s1600/bluebird-1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIw9TJ3HJUzDqD0rv7c040vipGH0j7rMQNJGfgFpxJMaeJ4zfZxkBy3uVuggd4JOxzT15FVPQlNvAGecEH3vzX1ln8zJPiSZzByVSXDk2Q2ssJGuzmbHeLxQiOPbmdnKujrZN1pplAJ0/s320/bluebird-1b.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Spring will come again next year and with it new romances and a new coat of brilliant blue duds. Find a smile.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I know it is fiction, but it sure was fun. They are still very beautiful and some of my favorites.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-14365105945246264642011-05-10T05:44:00.000-07:002011-05-10T05:44:58.158-07:00Red-breasted MergansersMost of the Red-breasted Mergansers have migrated north to nest, but a few remain in Madison County. Hopefully some will nest here. I love to watch their ability to move and dive in the water and air. I never get tired of watching them. Here two males and a female fly in as they migrate through the area in late March.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhWdQkqU3FXkYGC05Dt76yq0RxW45v1f7JbDcjyCIv076VBrVXiQWZnSBd7nle2olpINszEduMLWzFsmIYJ6SU6crZAorWUkNbuGbLQ9I8gZ3ln3RgHuK_LFe7tTKWA5hTPNtW2Wfm_s/s1600/redbreasted3-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhWdQkqU3FXkYGC05Dt76yq0RxW45v1f7JbDcjyCIv076VBrVXiQWZnSBd7nle2olpINszEduMLWzFsmIYJ6SU6crZAorWUkNbuGbLQ9I8gZ3ln3RgHuK_LFe7tTKWA5hTPNtW2Wfm_s/s320/redbreasted3-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here a male makes almost a splashless dive to look for food near the bottom of a canal.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzWsNOHZGTSEmI4_KwOIGS7orzOiDxllbnPJEVoITvTFAgChjIZvxdtmO-Vwu0VPf4hMkgDQZoV37WGyhKts_h9r8sXNAekNrpkJtqvu8XGgWOfXvj3OfWSWc0Xd0BDaBYYcq3U-nFkI/s1600/redbreasted10-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglzWsNOHZGTSEmI4_KwOIGS7orzOiDxllbnPJEVoITvTFAgChjIZvxdtmO-Vwu0VPf4hMkgDQZoV37WGyhKts_h9r8sXNAekNrpkJtqvu8XGgWOfXvj3OfWSWc0Xd0BDaBYYcq3U-nFkI/s320/redbreasted10-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After a dive, this female beats the water off her wings and back as she tries to dry off. "Use a towel, lady."</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisba1OvyD0rX96CHpdIYv-QS8Ux_I1ZcyuAl7VfU2PZeHTMmVCEhgpbUYCgv1iCrPsmbmpawI65L6HRXeWVFekyNg82OD8mGFe2c3pOOihaNFhxZ1iar2OKMdwK-cZ8pyqgc86YWYl488/s1600/redbreasted16-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisba1OvyD0rX96CHpdIYv-QS8Ux_I1ZcyuAl7VfU2PZeHTMmVCEhgpbUYCgv1iCrPsmbmpawI65L6HRXeWVFekyNg82OD8mGFe2c3pOOihaNFhxZ1iar2OKMdwK-cZ8pyqgc86YWYl488/s320/redbreasted16-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This male almost bit off more than he could chew as he tries to swallow a crayfish that does not want to go down. The crayfish lost and the bird had "lobster" for lunch.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9P23jzsq6-41zdiOJ4r6FRC14WxIxoFmD4LvHVagNHtHKOo5u1ExELx-vIfQqsyCVdsxrfYTACTXemVzqlAdEge2QqRmqFrC1jHFZwRYrOZzvPdaPm4yEjB8cCT4kd5SCXu208OTNbo/s1600/redbreasted20-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ9P23jzsq6-41zdiOJ4r6FRC14WxIxoFmD4LvHVagNHtHKOo5u1ExELx-vIfQqsyCVdsxrfYTACTXemVzqlAdEge2QqRmqFrC1jHFZwRYrOZzvPdaPm4yEjB8cCT4kd5SCXu208OTNbo/s320/redbreasted20-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A raft of Red-breasted Mergansers congregate to move to their nesting ground.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuaU248Uhyphenhyphen16toGJN3X0tcRgABNixQ_l6nouGyCcOMJIKbeYP17H-W4j9-M_DnEvh1ZsSEpdgjG9X1cfZrZPhwP7pPgpP0RUMbihSRsSCyygsYNPUpyrfnLOhvqZfe89rkFz4mPjwO8c/s1600/redbreasted8-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyuaU248Uhyphenhyphen16toGJN3X0tcRgABNixQ_l6nouGyCcOMJIKbeYP17H-W4j9-M_DnEvh1ZsSEpdgjG9X1cfZrZPhwP7pPgpP0RUMbihSRsSCyygsYNPUpyrfnLOhvqZfe89rkFz4mPjwO8c/s320/redbreasted8-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I hope they have a happy flight and make it back this fall and next spring. My camera will be waiting.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-77294185263550127262011-05-03T21:12:00.000-07:002011-05-03T21:12:52.781-07:00Common Loons - visitors to Madison CountyRight now on a pond on the Teton River just outside Rexburg there are 14 Common Loons resting and eating. What are they eating? Mountain lobster locally know as Crayfish. Here one surfaces with lunch.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUNeJqswyL6_s0qZjMwG8uE_c-_WSXpqPrnPnUSpt7IgT95QezsBOoMheqGaEwaTZwsQwAqnTCvRrBAFCA-7BUs9Q7KWvS-DzlFsSIvfetdXRE0mgqBHIh3CS96eVdhG2ndxbMk57rq8/s1600/loon%252B%252B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZUNeJqswyL6_s0qZjMwG8uE_c-_WSXpqPrnPnUSpt7IgT95QezsBOoMheqGaEwaTZwsQwAqnTCvRrBAFCA-7BUs9Q7KWvS-DzlFsSIvfetdXRE0mgqBHIh3CS96eVdhG2ndxbMk57rq8/s320/loon%252B%252B1.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last week there were 26 to 22 of them working the pond as they rest and prepare to move northward.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-CVo-AOX2CjbWplzm9ma9OxZfavMjbUoe-YiOzRw4Mb3pORn73pxbWjV7xDKJKWhuJ5sOo1E4B75HFPtEU9TfznWpPFn8jByp0OEBfK8QkxUTDQ-77p3Nn8lNV5vejBeT4lKJyJTX-I/s1600/loon%252B%252B7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-CVo-AOX2CjbWplzm9ma9OxZfavMjbUoe-YiOzRw4Mb3pORn73pxbWjV7xDKJKWhuJ5sOo1E4B75HFPtEU9TfznWpPFn8jByp0OEBfK8QkxUTDQ-77p3Nn8lNV5vejBeT4lKJyJTX-I/s320/loon%252B%252B7.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It appears that they have already paired up. Some will stop in Yellowstone Park where the following were pictured last summer. They often swim around with their head under water searching for food. Once food is found, they will dive and may spend at least two minutes under water.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryeiyZs40LG9_OB7_dvpYBFSYED8XUQLybbQMyStZCJ_YG7fNmtSaHa89AoY944m8MK6B3RoEGcFOfJJWz7RsHNIPXzdKDJW3d3wkImd4dXrGyf-dDKDKxDtj2STX9rEmdXfxXdDJPu4/s1600/loon3-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryeiyZs40LG9_OB7_dvpYBFSYED8XUQLybbQMyStZCJ_YG7fNmtSaHa89AoY944m8MK6B3RoEGcFOfJJWz7RsHNIPXzdKDJW3d3wkImd4dXrGyf-dDKDKxDtj2STX9rEmdXfxXdDJPu4/s320/loon3-10.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are a striking black and white with brilliant red eyes.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWDDcRC9o3otAwh5KlnfbSsVvj3pqLu1syp-z41tjfFQemA4zLT-XhqpTqmMcNlw1a96S8ny_MWHPgSYICFTGcT3MROzdKQZgBffBRKcG9ygcd9-bo9usI4wctalJVq4B4RxnQmpl6sU/s1600/loon9-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWDDcRC9o3otAwh5KlnfbSsVvj3pqLu1syp-z41tjfFQemA4zLT-XhqpTqmMcNlw1a96S8ny_MWHPgSYICFTGcT3MROzdKQZgBffBRKcG9ygcd9-bo9usI4wctalJVq4B4RxnQmpl6sU/s320/loon9-10.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will continue watching them until they all leave the area. I wish some would stay and nest near Rexburg, but we do not have a large enough body of water to support them.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-12460152652069677212011-04-28T21:16:00.000-07:002011-04-28T21:16:27.573-07:00Henrys Fork Audubon Society Meeting.We just had our first Henrys Fork Audubon Society Meeting tonight. It was like many organizational beginnings; small in numbers but large in dreams and enthusiasm. It may have been the presenter - me - talking about sage and sharp-tailed grouse. But we are determined to make a go of it.<br />
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Our next meeting will be May 26 with a field trip on May 21 at Camas National Wildlife Refuge.<br />
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In the meantime, this afternoon I enjoyed a few minutes watching a few birds in the high winds. First was some Common Loons. There are 14 on a pond on the Teton River just outside of Rexburg.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-68V8J0MwrdEbVio7TPnWRb2QE6dv0WjOsW_R7XZUrlTzaYe_oNuM4sLjHxPmIUScsVS5ckezrJ_2JLeANwxA-W8Shf-SC-gctO8vWLC8lF8JpjXVXkxCpz9HXGQidEmfrYSCEvOZO2k/s1600/DSC_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-68V8J0MwrdEbVio7TPnWRb2QE6dv0WjOsW_R7XZUrlTzaYe_oNuM4sLjHxPmIUScsVS5ckezrJ_2JLeANwxA-W8Shf-SC-gctO8vWLC8lF8JpjXVXkxCpz9HXGQidEmfrYSCEvOZO2k/s320/DSC_0453.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Forster's Terns just showed up in the last few days and the wind would carry them right over my hiding place.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYKY2Tlrnv1GkTDh7k-elnv3syJAJpG_RQeTKDu3OFP-xF1VNPQ2TPVGw-c53Kgub0mfxzlKvCLI9HiEotT9J26O4nsmwronZeUhZ4xRHweTrstCJMZci4OcQQ24_Q5MF997V1T1n10Q/s1600/tern2-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYKY2Tlrnv1GkTDh7k-elnv3syJAJpG_RQeTKDu3OFP-xF1VNPQ2TPVGw-c53Kgub0mfxzlKvCLI9HiEotT9J26O4nsmwronZeUhZ4xRHweTrstCJMZci4OcQQ24_Q5MF997V1T1n10Q/s320/tern2-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I will keep you posted on the upcoming activities on this blog about the Henrys Fork Audubon Society activities</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-40031912338273289802011-04-26T05:59:00.000-07:002011-04-26T05:59:59.929-07:00Sharp-tailed Grouse active on their leks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the greatest shows on earth is the dancing of the Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse in the Moody Creek area of Madison County. They will fly or walk into the lek and start putting on a show. I love to watch their dance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWtlL25ErserqKbZ4rm-9VWYB6yWbLy4Fbh5oDLxOt3qMUU_Hg10mZFaUORqLDHNNEZBDnNDfcXngp9tMZ2rKki-BsidFXpz0G0YxiCyA4qslVAaqRd2YbInkXqlusTJlJu_hHcDXoho/s1600/sharptails-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWtlL25ErserqKbZ4rm-9VWYB6yWbLy4Fbh5oDLxOt3qMUU_Hg10mZFaUORqLDHNNEZBDnNDfcXngp9tMZ2rKki-BsidFXpz0G0YxiCyA4qslVAaqRd2YbInkXqlusTJlJu_hHcDXoho/s320/sharptails-6.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The males puff up their purple air sacks on their neck and their yellow eye brows stand up while they dance trying to attract a female.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEN7OPLXSv1Tl2BDNjaABJNcHN6W32rso7MUdWNE3Sgfbe5-3_62eJTIRZXtjpOf3PQg_6SPBPNtwku85Hz5wwn5zDHLZ3Soeix6EsCU_j0k7JItEiqSTDMqEmZPqZyGR6t23K68vjvs/s1600/sharptail-31%252B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEN7OPLXSv1Tl2BDNjaABJNcHN6W32rso7MUdWNE3Sgfbe5-3_62eJTIRZXtjpOf3PQg_6SPBPNtwku85Hz5wwn5zDHLZ3Soeix6EsCU_j0k7JItEiqSTDMqEmZPqZyGR6t23K68vjvs/s320/sharptail-31%252B.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their dance includes spreading their wings, stomping their feet, rubbing their two main tail feathers together to create a scraping sound, clucking and chirping and moving in circles.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGQv-9gYIE9UnbW5FCc3jpSKotzXAHSCUwTkZo4yeOStKIkTOvjk7UVvAVhXB_jxIYIpcjBWoRroYBmv1VR2cbMM0c_493RPCXqEUMGjQbVYco80Emkf2ctf-F7hW_HDd9N54VvcaSnM/s1600/sharptails-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUGQv-9gYIE9UnbW5FCc3jpSKotzXAHSCUwTkZo4yeOStKIkTOvjk7UVvAVhXB_jxIYIpcjBWoRroYBmv1VR2cbMM0c_493RPCXqEUMGjQbVYco80Emkf2ctf-F7hW_HDd9N54VvcaSnM/s320/sharptails-9.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The chief of the lek has to defend his property because most of the females will pick him for mating. This creates battles between the males that included tearing at each others air sacks, locking beaks, raking the other with their feet and pinning them to the ground.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCuQ7LywSmppCYMFEfwv53RqX_XWXXhOOBc-HtDCiXxi8s0DnaEn5ZxLMBJgDNS0izsNSVr8foDjfa8rM02cJ7qQwgHCBy22nFwaZHFWfAfn_hQK4SF5vypEvpsiqpF1edolTByz87lk/s1600/fightingsharp-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVCuQ7LywSmppCYMFEfwv53RqX_XWXXhOOBc-HtDCiXxi8s0DnaEn5ZxLMBJgDNS0izsNSVr8foDjfa8rM02cJ7qQwgHCBy22nFwaZHFWfAfn_hQK4SF5vypEvpsiqpF1edolTByz87lk/s320/fightingsharp-18.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At times the loser will fly up and land on my truck hood to get away from the violence. They usually do not stay long once they realize I am just three feet away from them.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRO2CQl2ls5_3A4tjMvPF2Hw5GbaqilgF-cmgllbfIvdqywkSiAZO_YSXIWQV2PAbxYmUq2Y20gGggMkAvgxZzKRw0L7Uo9nCynhvR7tlf2KALcAddv-9OlKNykdPx_4gUxZthsm1CxM/s1600/sharptails-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRO2CQl2ls5_3A4tjMvPF2Hw5GbaqilgF-cmgllbfIvdqywkSiAZO_YSXIWQV2PAbxYmUq2Y20gGggMkAvgxZzKRw0L7Uo9nCynhvR7tlf2KALcAddv-9OlKNykdPx_4gUxZthsm1CxM/s320/sharptails-3.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What an experience to witness these battles over women. It seems that all species are about the same.</div><div align="left"></div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-78184601460818111862011-04-19T04:10:00.000-07:002011-04-22T21:09:05.690-07:00The Stunning Ferruginous Hawk<span style="background-color: orange;">CORRECTION: I appreciate expert birders when I make mistakes and they help and teach me. Photos 2 and 5 are not Ferruginous hawks. Even though the coloring is like them, they are immature Swainson's hawks. Ferruginous hawks have feathers down their legs to their feet. Also some of the other markings are not consistant with those of the Ferrugs. Thanks to those who corrected me. It is appreciated.</span><br />
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One of the rarest hawks of Madison County is the stunning Ferruginous. Most nest and live in the desert west of Madison County, but we get visits and and fly overs from them. They are a large bird, but their coloring of white and rust while flying over you gives them a delicate appearance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOcyvSSVqhKEaLd7hpVETwpX1VkbaUv4mUgKhzjM03K45lLQ4ZEceJrb9qh-UHIYN_FCjVbtkkG9aB2Y6YHWYFpZOi3t-acZCj6h2BYZBMyEGZfpBFMEYKKOMQROGL8BKNtK9ZXJXgjg/s1600/ferrug6-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgOcyvSSVqhKEaLd7hpVETwpX1VkbaUv4mUgKhzjM03K45lLQ4ZEceJrb9qh-UHIYN_FCjVbtkkG9aB2Y6YHWYFpZOi3t-acZCj6h2BYZBMyEGZfpBFMEYKKOMQROGL8BKNtK9ZXJXgjg/s320/ferrug6-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While sitting on a fence post eating a gopher, it coloration is dominated by the rusty back.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf_A4e0tKD3Sc8WViL1kp5YLXZF2AcCM199GwkMGwXCiz48WjI6GM2SqB228Q4iWaB3JD2UCTu6MErr641rKNA0uMi_cY8OeX-TYQDQgNaYmGyDQhTVqMFelqlj5UNmFaNP6PVsR2LFk/s1600/ferruginous1-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpf_A4e0tKD3Sc8WViL1kp5YLXZF2AcCM199GwkMGwXCiz48WjI6GM2SqB228Q4iWaB3JD2UCTu6MErr641rKNA0uMi_cY8OeX-TYQDQgNaYmGyDQhTVqMFelqlj5UNmFaNP6PVsR2LFk/s320/ferruginous1-10.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">They are a dominating figure as they dive toward you if you happen to get too close. Their wingspan is the largest of the hawks of Madison County at almost five feet.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5NPgAFFfHeoyKbsViIfdGEOrPrBipPo6RfEvfCwOYocPDoKblKD0YshooqH-XywLh7t4tpAt5HpTJNXULHHl45N8PpKIdjpX9tV1qUKCon4RV4u2mASvZqg1zmvZYDjnh226PDuKNQo/s1600/ferrug4-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5NPgAFFfHeoyKbsViIfdGEOrPrBipPo6RfEvfCwOYocPDoKblKD0YshooqH-XywLh7t4tpAt5HpTJNXULHHl45N8PpKIdjpX9tV1qUKCon4RV4u2mASvZqg1zmvZYDjnh226PDuKNQo/s320/ferrug4-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">When leaving their perch on a snag, you can often hear the long wings brushing the branches.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM69sXIxUDenypJcc4PvZ7Xbr-CO7gyxh7nTIEeU6iIKg2-1-QxE34EyuXGpF_NP3hVAVzAUErpk6oBe4KWPEnrWfvY6KdGFdGg1dXydRN62mUzfnQaUkK7hNuWnyQUlQn8s6Mz4tPW98/s1600/Ferrug2-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM69sXIxUDenypJcc4PvZ7Xbr-CO7gyxh7nTIEeU6iIKg2-1-QxE34EyuXGpF_NP3hVAVzAUErpk6oBe4KWPEnrWfvY6KdGFdGg1dXydRN62mUzfnQaUkK7hNuWnyQUlQn8s6Mz4tPW98/s320/Ferrug2-11.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This summer I will be maintaining a raptor observation route. I will be counting, recording data and observing the habits of nesting pairs of raptors. Hopefully one of those will be the beautiful Ferruginous hawk.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCJQ5aS8BC-prP2YdAw_8yGxmB9T4nbB-zl1ASXFu3qeTnFVlOjQpOBNUXyPKPs6naZap2zVMtgck69mB7JxP-llJOJvej9pLi_VkZMffWxzxyPlhGXNZZu-V6JgO2I30FYzpi8H62Jk/s1600/feruginous4-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimCJQ5aS8BC-prP2YdAw_8yGxmB9T4nbB-zl1ASXFu3qeTnFVlOjQpOBNUXyPKPs6naZap2zVMtgck69mB7JxP-llJOJvej9pLi_VkZMffWxzxyPlhGXNZZu-V6JgO2I30FYzpi8H62Jk/s320/feruginous4-10.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-50152284217323964502011-04-11T18:14:00.000-07:002011-04-11T18:14:53.181-07:00Hooded MergansersOn the South Fork of the Teton River west of Rexburg in the Hibbard Community two pair of Hooded Mergansers are working hard a finding a place to nest. Large mature cottonwood trees line the bank of the twisting and turning river, making an ideal place for the Hoodies to set up housekeeping. Search as hard as I can, I have not found where they have had or will have their nests.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7zCCWEQNudaKRxetbivfMoawzl2HDs7rZ1R6Zql5KeW6TrZqHGSBoaScvbOp-xudo9hHfGdOPSGmVOqeJPHFTZzDq_E8eBRUJ4-072xt09ATABTj6peXdAB0dN3F7Ip1EAckLyX9wMw/s1600/hoody11-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib7zCCWEQNudaKRxetbivfMoawzl2HDs7rZ1R6Zql5KeW6TrZqHGSBoaScvbOp-xudo9hHfGdOPSGmVOqeJPHFTZzDq_E8eBRUJ4-072xt09ATABTj6peXdAB0dN3F7Ip1EAckLyX9wMw/s320/hoody11-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Just east of St. Anthony a few miles northeast of Hibbard, they have successfully raise young before but on private ground in nests build for wood ducks. I continue to see more each year in these areas. Eventually I will find one of their nests.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU18zWugnjyyNQOdy681g221-bfeXdBT3eDkieTwQvnB95TfqnVzsjWNc9kEjx1-SOaZosJQIru4O9inX-DQN_EmIV1WrdTfiLUxLDBXYMQf_Sz-c6VTA6CCOitBkFdmgh7f5oGJdOUHQ/s1600/hoody10-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU18zWugnjyyNQOdy681g221-bfeXdBT3eDkieTwQvnB95TfqnVzsjWNc9kEjx1-SOaZosJQIru4O9inX-DQN_EmIV1WrdTfiLUxLDBXYMQf_Sz-c6VTA6CCOitBkFdmgh7f5oGJdOUHQ/s320/hoody10-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">The male is very beautiful with the female almost a dark brown to a gray. Here crest never gets wet when she dives. Here she dives while he stands watch over her.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8qnqv1SdMFx637GxaRKAt4u7t-8T_0DU7dBFXVhTOl2do_gcbfv-Ap2M9jzGwSojy62jLrA4pb7Ds6IkSW7f_kNMn7Ru1GbklpOeszS3X6y88LfZW9iTTLMJpicixqI5iM7VS3rzoz4/s1600/hoody34-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8qnqv1SdMFx637GxaRKAt4u7t-8T_0DU7dBFXVhTOl2do_gcbfv-Ap2M9jzGwSojy62jLrA4pb7Ds6IkSW7f_kNMn7Ru1GbklpOeszS3X6y88LfZW9iTTLMJpicixqI5iM7VS3rzoz4/s320/hoody34-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Many times he will watch while she dives.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMYQOjM4GMUxtxYjvv5x5NjB2Iy_RsmEYQbEraDjdJrXOiAU5KGANopYuX_kiJtJBo_FNlqPO12Tu-WjH2Npv3D4ZEIcPqjd21mQM36pCdaPyV_tSqr_pCN7TTFqf9DRn9OEjuPcFNBE/s1600/hoody35-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMYQOjM4GMUxtxYjvv5x5NjB2Iy_RsmEYQbEraDjdJrXOiAU5KGANopYuX_kiJtJBo_FNlqPO12Tu-WjH2Npv3D4ZEIcPqjd21mQM36pCdaPyV_tSqr_pCN7TTFqf9DRn9OEjuPcFNBE/s320/hoody35-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigLMxzMX3samsNyuudn4zEq0_snG2uFl3iPkuwlElij3zmgKhm7VuacHZJHnlaJsYQtQDzFMXWIivc5R1j4O4X0Af3VQ_hyphenhyphenGi3umQTz_BKzIvKkVTdjsuhhqHEY9phNEKMOq7myA_PPI/s1600/hoody13-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigLMxzMX3samsNyuudn4zEq0_snG2uFl3iPkuwlElij3zmgKhm7VuacHZJHnlaJsYQtQDzFMXWIivc5R1j4O4X0Af3VQ_hyphenhyphenGi3umQTz_BKzIvKkVTdjsuhhqHEY9phNEKMOq7myA_PPI/s320/hoody13-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">If another merganser comes close to them as they are feeding, he will hiss and chase them off . See that story on my <a href="http://wildinidaho.blogspot.com/">http://wildinidaho.blogspot.com/</a> blog.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny0ynsbdC8UCL3DJCUsXy0pcV09DL0_CSeKjvByKycZY78pSSlwB5_yE3g9LBz9aNQMz5DSFO6BgDTkpX_nuhPQGHOBCA_5nhBu0FI5Z8SdoNfmx8DJv2w9j5t1HdTrktVllfK3KAzf8/s1600/hoody31-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgny0ynsbdC8UCL3DJCUsXy0pcV09DL0_CSeKjvByKycZY78pSSlwB5_yE3g9LBz9aNQMz5DSFO6BgDTkpX_nuhPQGHOBCA_5nhBu0FI5Z8SdoNfmx8DJv2w9j5t1HdTrktVllfK3KAzf8/s320/hoody31-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">But at other times he is the perfect gentleman escorting here around his area, making sure she get enough to eat. That is until she starts nesting. Then he is off with the other men-folks, sheding his coat of many colors, drinking, eating and doing what most men do when their are off with the fellas - fishing.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-38378878510664353032011-04-06T05:03:00.000-07:002011-04-06T05:03:34.142-07:00The Winter Hawk - Rough-legged Hawk<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The Rough-legged hawks that have spent the winter in Madison County and the surrounding areas are now being replaced by the Swainson's Hawk. The Rough-legged are making their migration above the Artic Circle to raise their young.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9ZvGEg6F4OkY4wbBP1C-m4Cd1hU48Kt2g0_KiKLTyYLE0w5Jdjx6xwxHClPT4kuKwXIt3X8dXTJHi5KsVruhpUagqzmYrrkcdBVBCPmLhlw99QchmwoWvJyTtsRuRg3aictjIqJNuBU/s1600/Rough-legged8-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9ZvGEg6F4OkY4wbBP1C-m4Cd1hU48Kt2g0_KiKLTyYLE0w5Jdjx6xwxHClPT4kuKwXIt3X8dXTJHi5KsVruhpUagqzmYrrkcdBVBCPmLhlw99QchmwoWvJyTtsRuRg3aictjIqJNuBU/s320/Rough-legged8-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">They have spent the winter harvesting rodents in fields and area marshes. They are a God-send to area farmers as they will kill and eat four to five rodents a day. They can locate their prey under the snow.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIgeFIq9rUYCN8yy_Nq9G6YXn7zWlyBXHK2-HCA7GZIDjFq3uskid7wB6KlcNxK4RSl353sxQXp3X5WNU5bf3etxxLChiQn3metHNPWwHneM5Sgo4RxPqKSEJ30MQAWEYtuoBEI_1w5E/s1600/Roughlegged7-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIgeFIq9rUYCN8yy_Nq9G6YXn7zWlyBXHK2-HCA7GZIDjFq3uskid7wB6KlcNxK4RSl353sxQXp3X5WNU5bf3etxxLChiQn3metHNPWwHneM5Sgo4RxPqKSEJ30MQAWEYtuoBEI_1w5E/s320/Roughlegged7-10.JPG" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I have seen over 20 of these beautiful birds sitting on an irrigation wheel-line waiting for dinner to be delivered or stumbled upon.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8_IkRW5-sHwBMyN8fld6BiVkWMrl3OCov8PSTGs8q9eKT2IJM9J-X3Jd1QgRkvKY6THtsj7SLGEBUkmTyYPtOK8Ptfe-B7FhhCr1sYBuPWFN4u8i4lOGqMZBWDQldNFpCnu10AzTaC0/s1600/Roughlegged1-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU8_IkRW5-sHwBMyN8fld6BiVkWMrl3OCov8PSTGs8q9eKT2IJM9J-X3Jd1QgRkvKY6THtsj7SLGEBUkmTyYPtOK8Ptfe-B7FhhCr1sYBuPWFN4u8i4lOGqMZBWDQldNFpCnu10AzTaC0/s320/Roughlegged1-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Only a few are left as they are replaced by the Red-tailed and Swainson's for the summer.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-70916380654772766942011-03-28T18:16:00.000-07:002011-03-28T18:16:38.939-07:00Greater Sage Grouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The bird that got me into bird watching was the Greater Sage Grouse, locally called Sage hens. As a kid I was able to watch the breeding displays of these huge birds only a few times, but loved each experience. The displays and battles of the males on breeding grounds called leks was always an experience that made my heart race. Then I grew up hunting these birds a few times. Mostly I now look forward to late March and early April to watch them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here a beautiful male called "Whitey" because of three white feathers on its left side, advertises his availability to area hens.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwksgIcgk5b9b1dwCDpHR7ZSrEMzB5aga4LxniLo3F5XWRLGltrDFdr8LF1Wz5GNjkL9TgJFPKKuJCGaF4O_I1-v_9ExXhYsWBv3AbN1m7Ce7NOWlF4B0nTvRzGyKKHPY2l7lkR-QawZw/s1600/sagegrouse-54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwksgIcgk5b9b1dwCDpHR7ZSrEMzB5aga4LxniLo3F5XWRLGltrDFdr8LF1Wz5GNjkL9TgJFPKKuJCGaF4O_I1-v_9ExXhYsWBv3AbN1m7Ce7NOWlF4B0nTvRzGyKKHPY2l7lkR-QawZw/s320/sagegrouse-54.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here Whitey battles the second in command of the lek, Spike. Fighting over girls has invaded all species of animals and birds around the world. Boys will be boys. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcvaKqM1ru4gawX-FmcBv6YqnjMWygQk_fvTTimz6UdAXIbbQSV16Dk9EQVu8yTGdvWZ1KvfeDAoMJBT0H7w-WEEPxkCJGCul03s8R4EVkm-7esWOCYuWMYKtbqmefs2K10t-LG1GZLg/s1600/spike-12e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJcvaKqM1ru4gawX-FmcBv6YqnjMWygQk_fvTTimz6UdAXIbbQSV16Dk9EQVu8yTGdvWZ1KvfeDAoMJBT0H7w-WEEPxkCJGCul03s8R4EVkm-7esWOCYuWMYKtbqmefs2K10t-LG1GZLg/s320/spike-12e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here a female attempts to entice Whitey to follow through with his advertising. Females picks the father of her children and Whitey will breed most of the females that come to the lek, up to seven a day.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBAbqqHkRNoCCAy7Cd4wEKuEMRofRLBCl0mEbMh7xvTXnTfh-3qEZiDxD-tdao_W_rdX5S1Ttq8FSZdSpHNCJFcq1_j-BHV9Jop9pwoApNvxW4RO6hZwRpe-a0neR7N5YElAsS5euYuY/s1600/sagegrouse10-18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBAbqqHkRNoCCAy7Cd4wEKuEMRofRLBCl0mEbMh7xvTXnTfh-3qEZiDxD-tdao_W_rdX5S1Ttq8FSZdSpHNCJFcq1_j-BHV9Jop9pwoApNvxW4RO6hZwRpe-a0neR7N5YElAsS5euYuY/s320/sagegrouse10-18.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whitey covers the acceptable female. She now will fly off, building her nest and hopefully she will hatch out six to eight chicks a few weeks later.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxdzWm8HG1ONCxBt72wAhqU226oB_jKLeRtOJowAcJqyalR2uKuX-fsR5Pu0M2Vsl1pPRkTALqj7kbhUysAgjjQxltT364T75SYIZmu_Bq9JGexUni6ZPCy6Vsujxdo7KSDEkuvKF0T0/s1600/spike-3f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxdzWm8HG1ONCxBt72wAhqU226oB_jKLeRtOJowAcJqyalR2uKuX-fsR5Pu0M2Vsl1pPRkTALqj7kbhUysAgjjQxltT364T75SYIZmu_Bq9JGexUni6ZPCy6Vsujxdo7KSDEkuvKF0T0/s320/spike-3f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A friend of mine will remind me that I am producing "bird porn." Sorry.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-56235488788552768572011-03-22T05:09:00.000-07:002011-03-22T05:09:32.253-07:00Snow Geese migrationMadison County is not visited by many snow geese because the deep snow usually remains past their migration time. But we have had thousands fly over already this year and some have even landed on the extreme southwest corner of the county.<br />
<br />
But west of Madison County in Jeffereson and Clark Counties upwards of 100,000 will spend two weeks resting and feeding in the open stubble fields and lakes. Mud Lake, Market Lake and Camas National Wildlife Refuge all have huge numbers of them visit.<br />
<br />
During their migration snow geese will be accompanied with a smaller species, the Ross's goose, on the left, the "Blue phase" Snow in the middle. I lucked into this photo a couple of years ago in their migration through Jefferson county.<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNotgnTGPBIKY67w02SCQBqTdTG8Z7UNZxNon1rmbgxOaBzs0viUapUsxO4Ybi4i_t1uS1AIwSU3vErSz_7vbrB_6riAwc0VBg1NRmlyWx6IpD7mY_RzfNjDcxHtlWUbCY5t2JjeYQmQ/s1600/snowgoose-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNotgnTGPBIKY67w02SCQBqTdTG8Z7UNZxNon1rmbgxOaBzs0viUapUsxO4Ybi4i_t1uS1AIwSU3vErSz_7vbrB_6riAwc0VBg1NRmlyWx6IpD7mY_RzfNjDcxHtlWUbCY5t2JjeYQmQ/s320/snowgoose-37.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is a flock of snows coming into rest on a pond at the Camas NWR as the sun was setting.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv9PJoq3Ti-FeMlWgujjKyeXBqcpNafaOPFFJWq-5fI99d2wr3clVJ2xvguILZ93yIAUFqZAXkd8hX_OsxjBpvVw-EUvL1oC5XoWjeWtCD7jVz49tFwUyOipVn5FVws8ZtkS_XqXf-Xg/s1600/sunset-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv9PJoq3Ti-FeMlWgujjKyeXBqcpNafaOPFFJWq-5fI99d2wr3clVJ2xvguILZ93yIAUFqZAXkd8hX_OsxjBpvVw-EUvL1oC5XoWjeWtCD7jVz49tFwUyOipVn5FVws8ZtkS_XqXf-Xg/s320/sunset-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">This year some of the flocks of snow geese have had Greater White-fronted geese accompany them in their migration.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwMlMCNhgkJT7QHTvY58nM_Wih7HQgNoGbC7_-Mm4u92FKMikMXgASjzf3oXWmN9BJ0SWcpI75zNbmD8uHvcHQdUCppIxiwzfqyKQjIUrXS4dZ5noPKdwhrWuz7Qfns_P85-J7nKTYAg/s1600/DSC_0271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwMlMCNhgkJT7QHTvY58nM_Wih7HQgNoGbC7_-Mm4u92FKMikMXgASjzf3oXWmN9BJ0SWcpI75zNbmD8uHvcHQdUCppIxiwzfqyKQjIUrXS4dZ5noPKdwhrWuz7Qfns_P85-J7nKTYAg/s320/DSC_0271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Flocks of over 10,000 will sometimes invade the fields, making one heck of a racket.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenwy4V-5sLTYhY6p9WZEvf8YBI93ZBY6es0sEmqFoKnaYC2tPYvrPscI40ZH3vjilJOsHWX1yYJ0Once5whB4vlvWRej1KJzuXeZDmoUTCDwSIY7XLiBuSnwt2ysG1WxJQzWepGVEb-s/s1600/snowgoose-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhenwy4V-5sLTYhY6p9WZEvf8YBI93ZBY6es0sEmqFoKnaYC2tPYvrPscI40ZH3vjilJOsHWX1yYJ0Once5whB4vlvWRej1KJzuXeZDmoUTCDwSIY7XLiBuSnwt2ysG1WxJQzWepGVEb-s/s320/snowgoose-32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I do wish the snow would leave sooner so more flocks would enjoy the large stubblefields in Madison County. But at least they visit us.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-5307432831635506622011-03-15T18:06:00.000-07:002011-03-15T18:06:02.215-07:00Waxwings of Madison CountyLast week I saw the first Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings in Madison County. They were at Beaver Dick Park in a large flock.<br />
Each spring we find them as they in large flocks attacking Russian olives and then they look for water. Here two Bohemian Waxwings drink while two Cedar Waxwings flank them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdfdFZ5Y3HnWQ_R9Sqh04Sru9qnBRQ1nsp1k61KYT8qZl8TLVzK4rvqp59-_OzoeSpbYwHY1SDyAOlopxiUj5fiZEMMVOUILUXK8xJMypdm898A6fzHXai4VLz1-BdYZRGqNiBwLKT0I/s1600/waxwing-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdfdFZ5Y3HnWQ_R9Sqh04Sru9qnBRQ1nsp1k61KYT8qZl8TLVzK4rvqp59-_OzoeSpbYwHY1SDyAOlopxiUj5fiZEMMVOUILUXK8xJMypdm898A6fzHXai4VLz1-BdYZRGqNiBwLKT0I/s320/waxwing-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At times they are very active while trying to swallow the Russian olives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdk3fLhKNFSsQ8HUnrBBYXKX-VFfcL4gUqzE_R62RIXDuMFej6XNRoUiWD3k6tOq3a0JIwC9V_XHzq1-fRD6AfdJx56xhGnU46oX4QQ-xWfrDWktuRq3qDjw1CDVBPRHYbmxJyvutnuo/s1600/waxwing-40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdk3fLhKNFSsQ8HUnrBBYXKX-VFfcL4gUqzE_R62RIXDuMFej6XNRoUiWD3k6tOq3a0JIwC9V_XHzq1-fRD6AfdJx56xhGnU46oX4QQ-xWfrDWktuRq3qDjw1CDVBPRHYbmxJyvutnuo/s320/waxwing-40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last summer after the currents in my backyard had matured, the Cedar Waxwings fed heavily on them. They nested in the fir trees in my yard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8992lIcjpvCXe2rg6ZCLsUONc4yz5p01_HBZNAxQA2J8dfeocutcVx1FLUljOPtN2Z0dA7GbwpwKYRwuYa5DxFsWVBUyGtAx_gtibqKVNDXTduEG2FyCNCiaMnfd20n2agMWYe0roqA/s1600/waxwing-52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8992lIcjpvCXe2rg6ZCLsUONc4yz5p01_HBZNAxQA2J8dfeocutcVx1FLUljOPtN2Z0dA7GbwpwKYRwuYa5DxFsWVBUyGtAx_gtibqKVNDXTduEG2FyCNCiaMnfd20n2agMWYe0roqA/s320/waxwing-52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-413730205473241032011-03-08T20:47:00.000-08:002011-03-08T20:47:36.488-08:00American GoldfinchBy maintaining nyger seed feeders year around, I now have between 20 to 60 American Goldfinch in my yard year around. I love these little birds. They are fiesty and beautiful. Unlike other song birds, they molt twice a year. During the winter they are kind of a dirty whitish yellow. Here they are in winter plumage as they are just starting to get their summer colors on their heads.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhufSNAeG-qnXNQvq0hti9FV-E4641BWi4NEfUqiXg1SEUKulxvIcrvapPazpNRU9KevdtpPZqbYj7wXHwLDw32leq4-lJ0V8Q16EM4IQknD1i69kaZw34alrDnB3GGxtNCYL9QV4Ciig/s1600/am+goldfinch7-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhufSNAeG-qnXNQvq0hti9FV-E4641BWi4NEfUqiXg1SEUKulxvIcrvapPazpNRU9KevdtpPZqbYj7wXHwLDw32leq4-lJ0V8Q16EM4IQknD1i69kaZw34alrDnB3GGxtNCYL9QV4Ciig/s320/am+goldfinch7-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here a male tries to keep warm as its black cap is just starting to form.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZATTi5bR4y9LkgNLoO74XwSRydI36z8pB5uCBZSJXeUCb4NhhE4tSoE3OJqiKcFUQ7Czn6AHtY-Kw-B-oOAtAJozVIwD7x5xnK19IShyie7915KRj45Rm3vyJCdvCX3iAm2aPnY6FZ4/s1600/Amgoldfinch19-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZATTi5bR4y9LkgNLoO74XwSRydI36z8pB5uCBZSJXeUCb4NhhE4tSoE3OJqiKcFUQ7Czn6AHtY-Kw-B-oOAtAJozVIwD7x5xnK19IShyie7915KRj45Rm3vyJCdvCX3iAm2aPnY6FZ4/s320/Amgoldfinch19-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As the spring progresses, their color will become brighter and they will fight more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CU4v0d5L5-gtupoHsz682vkhjpgtLsSdMWJXzbPp1kgaAGPmhdBdd86bAuGueruDO1KrVZatstl7dX9k16_MYI6umpae7a1qE0U9j2ddhhgw6_MRob-QQdqvly37BeqKfmnuCXZJn-0/s1600/goldfinch-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CU4v0d5L5-gtupoHsz682vkhjpgtLsSdMWJXzbPp1kgaAGPmhdBdd86bAuGueruDO1KrVZatstl7dX9k16_MYI6umpae7a1qE0U9j2ddhhgw6_MRob-QQdqvly37BeqKfmnuCXZJn-0/s320/goldfinch-15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Trying to catch these beautiful birds in flight is always a goal of mine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cko5_L4Y7TWZN4H_fgbbwZoaSSu1DbCajq2eSws_dbm_HREvU0iefP5VMxK2PcD_jBeV4ByFXcK_Bkp4GhNQpT79P0He2hqAbv8vjl9cddgU4iUZME6UgDo5_K_JRKCCronINtZjEoI/s1600/goldfinch-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cko5_L4Y7TWZN4H_fgbbwZoaSSu1DbCajq2eSws_dbm_HREvU0iefP5VMxK2PcD_jBeV4ByFXcK_Bkp4GhNQpT79P0He2hqAbv8vjl9cddgU4iUZME6UgDo5_K_JRKCCronINtZjEoI/s320/goldfinch-20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will add another picture after they are in full summer dress when they get there.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-86646143788744069492011-03-01T15:59:00.000-08:002011-03-01T15:59:14.860-08:00Great Gray Owls - one of my most favorite birds of Madison CountyLast Friday and Saturday evenings I was able to locate a reported Great Gray owl near the South Fork of the Snake River in the Sunnyville area. It was much too dark and the bird was too far away to get some good pictures. But last fall and the fall before I found these Great Grays also in Madison County. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkyOoB9ylBUFt_KSbwxS2aK2THxHlFAQpqykVgFPVd65DgnKrhuxscNZ4XRvX4QlpCMmNgFIeLFgZ2flT2G1_T_aXp9wx2sojaVRNgTT8xflyTlkeDWMDO18hpaKkk0zN5vO8SyNf26A/s1600/GreatGrey6-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkyOoB9ylBUFt_KSbwxS2aK2THxHlFAQpqykVgFPVd65DgnKrhuxscNZ4XRvX4QlpCMmNgFIeLFgZ2flT2G1_T_aXp9wx2sojaVRNgTT8xflyTlkeDWMDO18hpaKkk0zN5vO8SyNf26A/s320/GreatGrey6-10.JPG" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were a total of nine Great Grays that I located this fall in the Moody Creek drainage. They would allow be to get close if I would sneak up behind a small tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Often times they would fly away, but only a short distance.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL6XVcmHlLqiydKNgRCsq_2uLbl0A-cv_q28OKkACj_xu3rZJhg303Cy0-89Y1aAI-hjlSy4AmishbyepWGQKu7keX_vMTBPNK3QPAfqJxc-K5QfTR3km8tMMroAtA9UGDsCzftWdmC8/s1600/GreatGrey21-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL6XVcmHlLqiydKNgRCsq_2uLbl0A-cv_q28OKkACj_xu3rZJhg303Cy0-89Y1aAI-hjlSy4AmishbyepWGQKu7keX_vMTBPNK3QPAfqJxc-K5QfTR3km8tMMroAtA9UGDsCzftWdmC8/s320/GreatGrey21-10.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here one landed in the top of a small pine to watch me.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXXQpanLaTuqDBLAwAootXA8gY71TRQwjt5KXCceQ7USKAoHxf2FBdlq9gdxnZvIa2oPwXodoKusFx5i68QY4382_VW7Q6RhNDb2e8B8zTrKv1cdbsN-yJsXRQbz4FuFxkLiqpNXI8eU/s1600/GreatGrey20-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXXQpanLaTuqDBLAwAootXA8gY71TRQwjt5KXCceQ7USKAoHxf2FBdlq9gdxnZvIa2oPwXodoKusFx5i68QY4382_VW7Q6RhNDb2e8B8zTrKv1cdbsN-yJsXRQbz4FuFxkLiqpNXI8eU/s320/GreatGrey20-10.JPG" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Even while I was snapping pictures, they would be constintly hunting. The large discs around their eyes allows them to pinpoint rodents over a foot under the snow. They rotate their feet so their feet is above their head as they dive into the snow. They are awesome hunters.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd9Is5b6HbJjVweU3xwfUavooiKBsLCaVmZ5g6KnoJVgurgLR-YlDl32gbMI-EzZS8z_h5sbOxCguHzBwTOzNPM6yZs9YHDFkhIB2syNr2qDA11UD0bOpa1mDrfE_IaT5eiQiiZLQceQ/s1600/Greatgrey2-10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnd9Is5b6HbJjVweU3xwfUavooiKBsLCaVmZ5g6KnoJVgurgLR-YlDl32gbMI-EzZS8z_h5sbOxCguHzBwTOzNPM6yZs9YHDFkhIB2syNr2qDA11UD0bOpa1mDrfE_IaT5eiQiiZLQceQ/s320/Greatgrey2-10.JPG" width="215" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will keep working this owl that I saw the other day. The only problem is that it is on private land and I am limited to certain areas to stalk it. But come summer, I will be looking for nesting pairs in the Moody Creek area.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1427308447398728443.post-6535299713770668242011-02-28T04:42:00.000-08:002011-02-28T04:42:25.551-08:00Bald eagles of Madison CountyIt seems as the winter drags on, more and more Bald eagles are showing up here in Madison County. Most of them are mature with only two immature ones that I have seen. On cold mornings the eagles can be found roosting near open water or along the road near feed yards. They feed on dead animals and some times ducks they are able to pick off. One of the most important food source is the after-birth from lambing and calfing areas.<br />
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Many of the eagles do not roost in Madison at night. They will fly west to Camas National Wildlife Refuge about 60 miles away where 25 to 45 eagles roost together. There they communicate with each other and when one returns with a full crop, many will follow it to their feeding area the next day. That is why on some days you will see no eagles and then many will show up a few days later.<br />
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Here ar a few pictures of the eagles of Madison County:<br />
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Two immature Bald eagles feeding on a duck they harvested and carried up into a tree in the Burton area.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWdXcwrChkEgM5C0VKWasso-daQLUS_-fROKUGEUnktbLaEfTRKMXtNQGPs90sgcMbwxwlxaSKK5X92xJ31UTKYY55jn0i998sbpsI5Yj16mHdZiLO5XzS5PTlB0xkzWEPBdxvVBcZqY/s1600/bald14-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWdXcwrChkEgM5C0VKWasso-daQLUS_-fROKUGEUnktbLaEfTRKMXtNQGPs90sgcMbwxwlxaSKK5X92xJ31UTKYY55jn0i998sbpsI5Yj16mHdZiLO5XzS5PTlB0xkzWEPBdxvVBcZqY/s320/bald14-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A mature leaving its roost in the Hibbard area on the bank of the South Fork of the Teton River.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEtX7HpUjuk3AqgP7Joc5o1KfsMxnNTP-PJrcoU11toA4b_v-gNxw01hkKdGXP-dzQzedkum6UnSP5WrTUUzsiqcgmeSE24xLG-7c-SleXQQddaJ1AVFffaPdrrfPysgrrEJ80UgeuZ0/s1600/bald3-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEtX7HpUjuk3AqgP7Joc5o1KfsMxnNTP-PJrcoU11toA4b_v-gNxw01hkKdGXP-dzQzedkum6UnSP5WrTUUzsiqcgmeSE24xLG-7c-SleXQQddaJ1AVFffaPdrrfPysgrrEJ80UgeuZ0/s320/bald3-11.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A mature eagle on a very cold morning roosting over a calving area in the Archer/Sunnydale area.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAG-qq5anue1WS598EmlnXSk7woFUfYGZY6CMxXpnulPzBKex2z5tXr2Up56TWMtio-cKI74ECxuX2L8ShU1Rv0kzdDt9hyNSEX3TR5TjtKFX-nU_Uao60Df_Oad-i8XtV1SFRtSspzA/s1600/bald8-11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoAG-qq5anue1WS598EmlnXSk7woFUfYGZY6CMxXpnulPzBKex2z5tXr2Up56TWMtio-cKI74ECxuX2L8ShU1Rv0kzdDt9hyNSEX3TR5TjtKFX-nU_Uao60Df_Oad-i8XtV1SFRtSspzA/s320/bald8-11.JPG" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Two matures watching as a flock of geese and ducks feed in a field.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the last two leaves the roost to attack the ducks and geese unsuccessfully.</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What beautiful birds - our national bird.</div>Bill S.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17918013366385456020noreply@blogger.com2