A Canyon and Sand Dunes in Idaho

Last weekend, after a day of rain on Saturday, we took a road trip on Sunday to do some exploring in southwest Idaho.  Our first stop was Bruneau Canyon. The Bruneau Canyon Overlook is managed by the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management. Sometimes referred to as the Grand Canyon of Southwest Idaho, the drive there, is definitely off the beaten path by taking a paved, then dirt road over 34 miles from Highway 51. Also, be aware that the approach to the area, crosses through a US Air Force bombing range.  Fortunately, we didn't hear any activity while we were there. 

 

Although the roads are well maintained, we drove slowly, keeping an eye out for cattle and wildlife crossings, and trying not to kick up too much dust. When it seemed  like the flat dessert-like landscape would never end, we arrived at the parking lot and the canyon overlook. 

 Well, there is no question that the drive was definitely worth it! From rim to rim the canyon spans 1300 feet. The Bruneau River is 800 feet below, running 60 miles through canyon. Before the area was named Bruneau, after a French Canadian trapper in the early 1800s, the land was valuable fishing and hunting grounds of the Shoshone, Paiute and Bannock people. In 2009, the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act, through collaboration with numerous stakeholders, helped protect 267,000 acres of land across this landscape by classifying it as wilderness area. A sign at the edge of the canyon, refers to this as the Owyhee Initiative.

Unless you are prepared to hike into the wilderness, the stop here only provides you with a view of the overlook and a short walking path.  In spite of this, it is still worth the trip to sit, contemplate and appreciate the vastness of this wilderness.

We next drove a short distance east on Highway 78 to Bruneau Dunes State Park. One might expect canyons in Idaho, but sand dunes? Typically, I think of the ocean coastline, or perhaps Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes National Lakeshore along Lake Michigan, but the Bruneau Dunes have those beat, by having the tallest sand dune in North America at 470 feet. 

View of Big Dune over Dunes Lake

 We took a hike up to the base of Big Dune, but did not venture the climb up it.  Maybe next time, when we can devote an entire day here. We drove to the picnic area near Dunes lake where a smaller dune is popular with sandboarders. The lake was filled with waterfowl. Not surprisingly, this park, and the neighboring C.J. Strike Wildlife Management Area, are part of the Idaho Birding Trail.  

Numerous species of waterfowl both breed and overwinter in this area

Great Blue Heron

It was a great day of exploring these two destinations and is definitely an area of Idaho worth returning to for hiking and birding.

August Birding Around Boise

This week I went birding at the Shakespeare Festival grounds in Southeast Boise and at Diane Moore Conservation Area which is along the Boise River. Both provided some interesting sightings.

Upon arrival at Shakespeare, our birding group was greeted by a load repeated shrill. We were all curious as to what kind of bird it was, thinking maybe it was a raptor. Finally, the little guy came out into the open and we were surprised to see that it was a Western Wood Peewee. It's amazing how such a small bird can project such a loud sound.

Western Wood Peewee

One highlight of the morning walk, was seeing a Common Nighthawk. The bird was easy to overlook, from a distance as it looked like it could have just been a Mourning Dove, but after it didn't move for a long time, someone checked with their binoculars, which revealed that it was a nighthawk. I am not sure why they like to sleep out in the open, especially in mid-summer when the temperatures get so hot. Nighthawks rest during the day and will forage for insects in the evening and early morning. In a few short weeks, this bird will join others in their migration to South America.

Common Nighthawk

The most exciting and unexpected observation of the day, was seeing a hummingbird on a nest. There are lots of hummingbirds in Idaho, with the most common in the Boise area being the Black-chinned. It seemed late in the season to be starting a family, but hummingbirds can have up to three broods a year. This one was taking care of at least one baby that had hatched.

Black-chinned hummingbird on nest.

Our group broke up around 11:00 AM as the forecast was for another blistering hot day.  Since we were very close to the Barber Pool Conservation Area and the future site of the Diane Moore Nature Center, I decided to drive over there and take a walk down to the river. The Boise River is quite wide at this location, so it's a great viewing area for water birds, Ospreys and eagles. Not surprising, the first bird I saw was an Osprey.

Osprey along the Boise River

In the water, a team of Mergansers gathered underneath the Highway 21 bridge. It must be a good spot for fishing as the two times I have been here there have also been several people fly fishing. 

Common Mergansers

 This Great Egret was standing in the water near the shore, looking for a bite to eat.

Great Egret

In addition to these bird sightings, the sandy shoreline here is suitable habitat for snakes and lizards. I heard several in the brush and was fortunate to capture a photo of this Longnose Leopard Lizard (Gambelia wislizenii)

Longnose Leopard Lizard

By early afternoon, the smoke from the wildfires were settling in and the temperatures were approaching the high nineties. I decided to call it a day, but will definitely be coming back again soon.
 

Birding in Boise

 

Last week I went on my first bird watching trip in Idaho. The walk was held at Kathryn Albertson Park and was led by a group of birders whom I met at a volunteer pollinator garden cleanup outing that was coordinated by the Golden Eagle Audubon Society. Boise has many municipal parks and Kathryn Albertson Park is part of the "Ribbon of Jewels." A series of public spaces that are named after prominent Boise female leaders and which are situated along the Boise River Greenbelt. 

Kathryn Albertson Park is also part of the Idaho Birding Trail which has over 250 locations across the state that have been identified as being  good for bird and wildlife viewing. 

The temperatures in Boise have been reaching or exceeding 100 almost every day, so early morning is definitely the best time to do any outdoor activities. Prior to coming to Idaho, I was given several Idaho specific  nature identification books. On this birding outing, I learned that there is also a specific field guide just for "Boise's Birds." It is interesting that there are birds in this book that are not listed in any of my Idaho specific bird identification materials. Of course, many of the birds out here are the same species as those out East, but if a bird looks only slightly different than a bird I know, I jokingly call it a "western" such and such bird. 

This time of year, some birds have or will soon be breeding a second brood, so once again, one can hear the males being very vocal as they call for a mate. Two new birds that I saw at Kathryn Albertson Park were a Black-chinned Hummingbird and a Gadwall (photos below).

Black-chinned Hummingbird

Gadwall

Wood ducks are one of the showiest waterbirds and they seem to be common out here.

Two Wood Ducks

Another great place to look for birds in Boise the Foothills where there are over 190 trails for a variety of recreational uses such as running, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. It is definitely not the place to go if you are seeking solitude, but it is still a great place to connect with nature. 

The Boise Foothills provide fantastic views of the surrounding landscape

Many of the trails are totally exposed, but the Red-winged Blackbird and Goldfinch trails wind around some wetlands and have a good amount of shade. Some portions are pedestrian only, which make them  relatively quiet. It was on the Goldfinch trail that a community of California Partridges crossed my path. There were two adult pairs, and more babies than I could count. They were not at all skittish and it was fun to watch them hopping in and out of the brush.

A male California Partridge

The adults came out first and soon the babies joined them. The parents were definitely keeping on eye on all of the babies.

A family of California Partridges

Venturing a little further outside the city, I attended an official Golden Eagle Audubon led field trip on the Interpretive Nature Loop Trail around Mores Mountain. This trail had a lot of variety, from woods to open rocks and wildflower meadows. We heard or saw 30 species of birds.

Bogus Basin Ski Trails as seen from Mores Mountain Nature Trail

 

Lots of wildflowers were blooming on Mores Mountain

Most of the birds did not stay still long enough to be photographed, but this Western Tanager stayed several minutes at the top of a dead tree, providing a clear view for a picture.

Western Tanager

Another bird that didn't seem to mind our presence, was this Clark's Nutrcracker who was too busy finding and storing food to notice us.

Clark's Nutcracker

But the coolest thing I saw on Mores Mountain was a Warbling Vireo along with its nest which contained at least two babies. I did not want to scare the parent or the babies, so I only took a picture of the outside of the nest and continued on my way. 

Warbling vireo nest

 In summary, Boise is a great city for birding. I have already added seven species to my Birder's Life List and look forward to adding more.

What You Can Do to Protect Beneficial Insects

 

Dragonfly

We live in an interconnected world where what impacts one species in an ecosystem, impacts the ecosystem as a whole. As we enter the beginning of Pollinator Week, it is a good time to remember that all insects, even those considered pests, are beneficial in some way to this planet we all call home. 

Although it is easy to want to rid the world of mosquitos, ticks and a host of other bugs, there is a whole other sphere of living things that rely on these insects for survival. They provide a food source for birds and reptiles, and although they can carry diseases which can be life threatening to many mammals, including humans, they also serve a purpose in controlling certain animal populations. As with everything, the key is to maintain a proper balance in populations, as nature intended. The problem is that humans have done a wonderful job in disrupting this balance. Through the inadvertent importation of invasive species; destruction of natural habitats; elimination of natural predators; and the impacts to the climate from the release of fossil fuels and other practices; humans actions have had a cascading effect on insect populations. As with many environmental problems, it is easy to become discouraged and to discount possible solutions as insignificant. Nevertheless, there are practices that can be implemented on individual properties that can make a difference. 

In an opinion piece for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this year, the authors identify "Eight simple actions that individuals can take to save insects from global declines." Here are some of the key recommendations that all property owners can implement at little to minimal cost.

• Decrease lawn space and instead create diverse natural habitats.

• Plant native plant species that will provide food and habitat for insects.

• Reduce (and I would say eliminate) herbicide and pesticide use.

• Be cognizant of outside artificial light and dim or eliminate when possible.

These few simple steps can help insects and other wildlife have a safe haven on your property, helping to restore a natural balance between a wide variety of species such as the microscopic life in the soil, bees, butterflies, birds and larger animals. This week, next time you see any type of insect in your yard, whether it be beautiful butterfly or something that might typically make you squeamish, remember that they all have a place is the larger circle of life.

Spring has Arrived!

Sap was boiling at Trailside Sugar House in Andover over the weekend.

 

We have been waiting for months and now it is finally Spring. The clocks have been turned forward, and with it, a wonderful extra hour of daylight to enjoy. With warmer temperatures we have been able to open the windows, letting in some welcome fresh air as well as the first sound of the spring peepers this week.

In New England, perhaps the most recognizable sign of spring is the flowing of sap. March is Maple Sugar Month and last weekend sugar houses across New Hampshire opened their doors to welcome visitors for the annual Maple weekend. This event was all the more welcome this year as sugar houses were closed to the public in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some sugar houses remained closed  this year, but most were open with masks and social distancing requirements.  

An assortment of maple products were on display at Walkers Sugar Shack in Bristol

I am so glad that we were able to get out and visit a few sugar shacks this past weekend as the weather may not cooperate much longer for the sap to continue to run.  Maple sugaring is one more industry which is being adversely impacted by climate change. Warmer and dryer summers, affect the growth of the trees and their storage of sugars, and mild winters impact the flow of the sap in the spring. Maple sap flows best when temperatures dip below freezing at night and then climb into the forties during the day.  Some days in late February and March were ideal, but now our maple trees have started to bud as temperatures climbed into the sixties this week. I am hoping that northern New Hampshire may see at least a couple more weeks of sap collecting and boiling. Last year, New Hampshire sugar houses produced 154,000 gallons of maple syrup, a small, considering Vermont farms produced over 15 times that amount (David Brooks, Concord Monitor), but still not insignificant amount. Sugar houses draw tourists who bring dollars to support the local economy. So, if you are able, stock your pantry this year with a natural sweetener from a nearby sugar house.

Black Bean Burgers

 

Sometimes, you just want a burger and this Black Bean burger is sure to please both vegetarians and omnivores. 

 Ingredients

1 large red onion chopped

6 ounces mixed fresh mushrooms

2 cups rye bread cubed

1 15-oz can black beans mashed

1 teaspoon ground coriander

salt, pepper, olive oil

4 buns

 Toppings:

Grated cheddar cheese

Cherry tomatoes chopped

1 lime

1/2 teaspoon hot sauce

1 avocado roughly mashed

1/4 cup plan yogurt

Add 3/4 of chopped onions and mushrooms to food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer to a large bowl and wipe out food processor. Add bread to food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Transfer to mushroom bowl. Add black beans and spices.

Form into 4 patties and place on an oiled baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees F until dark and crisp, about 35 - 45 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle with cheese. 

Put remaining onion in small bowl. Add tomatoes and zest from lime. Squeeze lime and add juice. Stir in hot sauce.

Toast buns, spread on yogurt. Add salsa mixture to one side and avocado to the other. Place bean patty on the bottom roll. Top with remaining bun and enjoy.

Great Backyard Bird Count

White-throated sparrow

Last weekend was the annual international Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). This year the birds have been quite active at our backyard feeders, or perhaps I am just aware of them more, as my temporary Covid home office window provides a perfect view of their activity. I didn't spot anything particularly unusual last weekend, but watching the birds was entertaining nonetheless.

The White-throated sparrow above was fund to watch as it would only come out into the opening briefly and then would quickly run back to the safety and security of his refuge under a juniper bush.  

Many of the birds were in pairs, like these Cardinals and Red-breasted nuthatches.

 Female Cardinal Above and Male in a tree nearby below

We get both Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, but the Red-breasted have been more common this year and can be seen eating seed or suet from the feeders, or searching for food in the bushes or on the brick patio. 

Two Red-breasted Nuthatches share the feeder

The two birds below are despised by many, but I have learned to appreciate both the loud and often voracious appetite of the Blue Jay, which can almost devour an entire block of suet in a day, as well as the Starling, which I think is a most beautiful bird. The later may be because we don't see them often in our yard; and, when we do, there is usually just one or two and they only stay briefly.

Blue Jay watching over a Starling

Beautiful iridescent colors of a Starling

New Hampshire's state bird is the Purple Finch, but it is the House Finch that we see more often in our backyard. I have a very hard time telling them apart, but the male purple finch will have more red over it's body, including the back and wings.

Male House Finch

Our old heirloom pear tree is a favorite for woodpeckers and I am happy to observe the return of the Red-bellied this year. Last year they were scarce for some reason. We also have daily visits from both Downy and Hairy woodpeckers.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker (left) and Hairy Woodpecker (right)

There was also a brief appearance of a chipmunk. This is not a common occurrence in February as they are typically still hibernating in their burrows until the weather warms in the Spring. Sunday was not a particularly warm day, so I am not sure why this one decided to emerge early.

There is only one more week left in February and soon the southern migrating birds will be returning north (we are already starting to see some Robins), but until then there is still plenty of wildlife to be observed by just walking outside your back door.

Roasted Squash with Chickpeas, Kale and Couscous

 

Roasted Squash with Kale and Couscous

With January's cold and short days, I crave warm comfort foods. I still have some butternut squash from the garden tucked away in the basement. Adding some nutritious kale and protein rich chickpeas, makes this a healthy meal. It is easy to put together, and therefore can be made any weeknight, or saved to savor on the weekend.

Ingredients

1 large or 2 small butternut squash, peeled and diced

2 Tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon thyme

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup diced red onion or shallot

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

4 cloves garlic minced

2 teaspoons ground turmeric

1 inch piece of ginger grated

2 - 14-oz cans chickpeas drained 

2 sprigs fresh dill chopped

4 cups kale

2 cups cooked according to package directions

  

In a bowl, toss squash with 2 Tablespoons oil, thyme and salt. In a pre-heated 400 degree oven place squash in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast 20 minutes, stir and roast 20 minutes more until cooked. 

 

In a medium sized bowl, combine onion, vinegar, garlic, turmeric, ginger and remaining oil. Add chickpeas. Let marinate at least 10 minutes. As squash finishes cooking, stir chickpea mixture to pan and sprinkle with fresh dill. Roast an additional 10 minutes. 

 

Rinse and salt kale, then massage with a small amount of olive oil. Steam kale while squash and chickpeas roast, then combine everything together and serve over cooked couscous.