From the new west blog: Western Tanager Migration
Stop and Enjoy Western Birds
What's that beautiful bird?
By Jill Kuraitis, 6-13-08
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As an unofficial birdwatcher – the kind who doesn’t carry a little notebook and camera while tramping through woods – I sometimes get a geeky thrill out of the visitors to my backyard bird feeders.
Last week a neon-yellow and red Western Tanager stopped by for thistle seed. Out on a dogwalk, more of them sang in the trees along the Boise river. Zing! went the strings of my bird-lovers heart.
This morning, the Idaho Statesman’s outdoor writer Pete Zimowsky informs us that the tanagers are migrating, and other Rocky Mountain western states are enjoying the migration, too.
I thought it was just my optimist’s mind imagining a dramatic increase in bird life along the streams and in the trees of my riverfront neighborhood, but Zimo says it’s everywhere. We are awakened every morning now by birdsong, and instead of the usual two or three chirpers, there are dozens, singing and trilling and calling and scolding.
Keep your eyes open for the Tanagers, not to mention the state bird of Montana and Oregon, the yellow Western Meadowlark, Idaho’s Mountain Bluebird, and Colorado’s Lark Bunting.
[End of article]The western tanagers are absolutely beautiful. We saw them on the Bruneau River two weeks ago, and then we've been seeing them on creek-side trails in the Boise Foothills and all over our yard. I wouldn't mind if they stayed all summer! I never get tired of seeing them. As Zimo said, normally you see them for a brief time in May, and then they're gone.
Comment By Kathryn Cogswell, 6-13-08For many years, the Columbia Gorge was my home. Now, in the Southwest, I still enjoy staying in touch through NewWest. Birds in Santa Fe seem familiar and trusting of my fountain and water stations, even when neighboring cats leap the patio wall! My comment/question today, though, is to ask about butterflies: I read that since their eggs must be hatched the following year that sometimes plants they choose are pruned and butterfly populations are diminished. Seeing three beauties this week makes me shudder to think that work in my garden may have dispatched whole families. Are there plants they like that I should take care to save? Zeriscaping creatively leaves many beautiful, lush foliage-homes, I hope. by: Kathryn Cogswell 13 June 2008.
Comment By Julie in Boise, 6-16-08Oh, I so agree. I first saw one this year while my daughter and I walked along the NY Canal. What a thrill! Then I started seeing them everywhere, including the Greenbelt and even our yard. They're so pretty. It definitely seems like it's been a better-than-usual spring for birds.
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Comment By Kathryn Cogswell, 3-14-09The trusting birds visiting stations here of water, suet & winter blend became entrees for a beautiful HAWK (!) about 3 weeks ago. He surveyed from the neighbor's patio wall to be sure all was cleared, then disappeared...I have had a small owlet which did no harm, but this guy was merciless...and yet, he has his place in the scheme of things, I know. We had so many raptors in the Columbia Gorge, but here in a neighborhood of Santa Fe, a red hawk is somewhat bizarre.
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