Early Spring at Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve

 

Geese flying over Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve, Boise

On the West Bench the City of Boise has created a small haven for birds, especially during migration. A combination stormwater treatment facility and environmental education center, the 53-acre site provides public access for people of all ages and abilities. The wetlands reserve was created through a private land donation from the Hyatt family and federal and local funding. In addition to being an oasis for birds and other wildlife, the site is providing important information pertaining to capturing and filtering stormwater to improve water quality.

This time of year, the birds are abundant. The first sound you will most likely hear as you enter the reserve from the parking lot is that of Red-winged blackbirds.

Male Red-winged blackbird calling and displaying his colorful wings

Female Red-winged blackbirds look very different and more easily blend into their surroundings

There were numerous American Coots. Coots are present year-round in Idaho. It is not classified as a duck as it does not have webbed feet, those that are more like a chicken's, but lobed. To take off, it needs space to scrambles atop of the water while flapping its wings. 

American Coot with noticeable red patch on its forehead

Many of the ducks were paired with their mates. Most males will stay with the female until the eggs are laid and will leave the incubation and rearing to the female.

Male and female Mallard

After the Mallard ducklings hatch, they will be ready to swim within a few hours. The mother and young will remain as a family until the young can fend for themselves in 50 to 60 days. The males will typically select a new mate in the fall.

Similar to many ducks, Gadwalls pair up in the fall and leave the female to rear the brood in the spring.

Female Gadwall

The mottled coloring of the female Gadwall resembles a female Mallard, while the male's coloring is more smooth. They are both attractive birds.

Male Gadwall

The Northern Shoveler is named for its large bill which resembles a shovel and is used to scoop and filter food before consumption. They are large, beautiful ducks and were plentiful in the pond. They form pairs in the fall/winter and during spring migration. They often will stay with their mate through incubation. According to the Cornell Lab's breeding map, they migrate through most of Idaho, settling slightly further north and east, although some may stay year round in the southwest corner of the state.

This Northern Shoveler pair appeared to be dancing together.

The photo below shows what I believe is a Lesser Scaup pair, although my skills are not yet adept enough to distinguish the difference between Lesser and Greater Scaups. The greater scaup is slightly larger and is supposed to have a more rounded head, but I would need to see two together to decipher the differences. Unlike the ducks described above, which are dabbling ducks, Scaups are diving ducks, meaning they dive underwater to search for food. Lesser Scaups are the most abundant diving duck in North America and migrate as far south as Central America. They may stay here in Idaho to breed. In the fall they will migrate to the west coast or continue further south.

Male and female Scaup

There were at least three Great Blue herons the day I was there and I was fortunate to witness one hunting and catching a fish.

Great Blue heron after capturing its dinner

In addition to the water birds, The Hyatt Hidden Lakes Reserve supports upland species of birds and mammals.  It is an amazing place, within a relative urban area, for people to go and appreciate nature.

Mushroom Stroganoff

 

Mushroom Stroganoff

When all you want is a simple meal that is warm and comforting.

Ingredients:

1 pound pasta of choice. 

3 Tablespoons butter

1/2 cup diced onion

3 cloves garlic minced

1 pound mushrooms of choice ( I used baby bella and shiitake)

1/2 cup white wine 

 1/4 teaspoon thyme and 1/2 teaspoon parsley

1 1/2 cup vegetable broth 

Fresh spinach or kale

3 Tablespoons flour

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 

Cook pasta according to package directions.

Melt 1 T butter and saute onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add 2 T butter and when melted, add garlic and mushrooms, stir and cook until mushrooms are done. Add white wine. Stir and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Stir in spices and a handful or more of chopped spinach or kale.

In a bowl, whisk together broth and flour, then gradually add to mushroom mixture. Cook over low heat. Once the mixture begins to thicken, stir in yogurt. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over cooked pasta.

 

Not Quite Spring

Life has been busy, but I am surprised that it has been four months since my last post! Even though it is still February, I am starting to see signs of spring. This past Saturday the temperatures climbed into the sixties, so my husband and I took the opportunity to walk along the Boise River on the Garden City Greenbelt Riverside Pedestrian Path. Although there were other walkers and runners, it was relatively quite and and wildlife were abundant.

Canada Geese Reflections

I'm not a fan of Canada Geese, but when there are only two they are actually quite handsome. 

Barrows Goldeneye

The walking path cuts between the river and a side canal. Most of the water birds that we saw, were on the canal, like the Barrow's goldeneye (above) and the American Wigeon (below.) I was surprised to find out that my Life List did not include an American Wigeon, so I was excited to add this duck sighting.

American Wigeon

This flicker and its mate were seen flying in and out of the hole in this dead tree. This could be a new cavity, or they might be using one made by a different bird last year. 

Flicker nesting cavity

From a distance, I saw a large bird in a tree and thought that it was an owl.  Since I have yet to see an owl since moving to Idaho, I was disappointed that it turned out to be a Great Blue Heron. My attitude changed as we stood marveling at what a cool looking bird a heron is, whether it be in the water or on a branch in a tree.

Great Blue heron

 We ended our nature walk with a sighting of a muskrat enjoying a swim in the cool water.

Muskrat

Although the temperatures are back to below freezing, I take comfort in knowing that March is just a few days away, which means that soon, these warmer days will be here to stay.

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.