Al Larson Photography

When spring weather finally softens we will be out birding, checking bluebird boxes and doing fieldtrips. This shot was taken the last of May two years ago. We were on a fieldtrip to Prairie, ID to check a few nestboxes and do some general birding. The Golden Eagle Audubon Society members enjoy getting out in Nature’s great wonderland. In this scene we paused at the rim of the South Fork of the Boise River canyon. It was fascinating to peer down several hundred feet at the fast flowing stream below. At this time of year it is common to see White-throated Swift, Violet-green and Rough-winged Swallow in the canyon. Turkey Vulture, Golden Eagle and Prairie Falcon soar in the updrafts over the high cliffs on the horizon.

Wild flowers bloom in profusion on the hillsides along the road. Many members of our club enjoy finding a rare or unusual flower. Where there are flowers there are butterflies, another treat.

Beware at the edge of the canyon though. That first step into space is a long one!

At the end of WWII, I found myself on duty with the USMC in Peiping, China. I soon found a Chinese friend (at left in photo) who could speak good English. He knew his way around the city and volunteered to show me the sights of Peiping. We visited the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City, a Buddha temple and a Catholic church (where we sat in a balcony with the choir boys).  Our principle means of transportation was bicycle. There were also rickashaws and san lurs (three-wheeled pedal-powered rickashaw) available. Restaurants served real Chinese food to be eaten with chop-sticks. Eating soup with chop-sticks is an adventure of its own.

One evening Lu and his friend, Shorty (male) and I stopped by a photo studio for the above portrait. We donned costumes that could have been worn in ancient China. Lu posed as a General. Shorty in his dress, posed as the Emperess. I wore the attire of Emperor Liu Pei Hwang Sheang, Sung Guo Dynasty (right in the picture). As I remember, I was glad to shed the footwear. My feet were too big to comfortably fit in those shoes.

Here we are on a ridge in the Owyhee Mountains. In this view we are looking toward the north-east across the Snake river plain. The elevation is about 6,000 feet. This is a magnificent view and is one of my favorites.

Situated on the ridge like this the box is exposed to all kinds of weather. Cold winds blow in the spring. Rain, sleet and snow delay the nesting patterns. Though a week or two later than the more sheltered sites this site has been very successful. Nearly every year for the last 30 years Mountain Bluebirds have fledged from this box.

The lady checking the nest box is a dear friend and often accompanies me on my rounds. With nearly 150 nestboxes to check on this trail it is a pleasure to have someone along to do the driving and share the surprises we find along the way.

My, how the time flies! It seems like only yesterday that this embarassing situation occured. It was May 17, 2005 that I was in the Owyhee mountains checking bluebird boxes. The weather was inclement and the ground was thoroughly saturated. I had worked my way onto a side road where there were slick spots and mud puddles. I was retracing my way back along a road I had just gone over when the soft earth caused me to slow down and the pickup spun out. I worked with a shovel and a jack several hours but I remained stuck. Darkness fell and I spent the night in the cramped quarters of the pickup cab. Rain fell during the night and I realized there was no hope of my driving to the main road. I set out afoot in the rain for the main road. I thought I would more likely find help there in case somebody were to come looking for me. It was a three and a half mile hike through mud and fording creeks. Sure enough, I no sooner reached the main road when I was met by a search party from the Owyhee county Sheriff’s office. I got transportation back to civilization. Of course there was no one there to photograph my ordeal. I described the situation to Hilda and she came up with this sketch of me crossing Bridge Creek

One of the joys of checking Wood Duck nest boxes is finding a Screech-Owl nesting in one. The reason we put up nest boxes years ago was to help a relatively rare species of bird recover its numbers. Thirty years ago it was a rarity to find a Wood Duck. Now we find these ducks rather common. I still like to check these nest boxes to see the ducks and to find what ever else may be nesting in them.

It is like opening presents on Christmas morning to open a nest box. One never knows what he will find inside. In checking these 60 boxes a couple days ago we found Wood Ducks, Starlings, Fox Squirrels, and Western Screech-Owls. There were young of all four species as well as eggs of the birds. I have government permits to band birds and I have been banding the Screech-Owls for many years. The oldest owl I have recaptured was about 15 years old. The bird in this picture was banded last February. Another owl recaptured last year was at least 12 years old.

I welcome company when I work the nest boxes at Deer Flat NWR. In this photo we see me holding one of the banded mothers that had 2 newly hatched nestlings and 2 eggs in the nest. My assistant and good friend Cathy Eells is admiring our subject. By the way, Jimmie Yorgensen, who retrieved the bird was nearby. Jimmie toted the ladder and checked the boxes. Cathy carried a large bag of shavings to refurbish some of the nests. I had the easy job carrying my clip board and recording notes of the proceedings.

It’s that time of year again when the nest boxes need to be checked. Before the birds really get into the swing of it we need to repair any damaged nest boxes and make sure they are ready for nesting. Southwestern Idaho Birding Association took a fieldtrip to their bluebird trail near Jordan Valley, Ore. The boxes were okay and already there was bluebird activity in most of the boxes. The weather was excellent and the birders enjoyed the spring outing. At lunchtime we pulled over to the side of a wide spot in the road and took on some nourishment. The camaraderie of a group like this is a good antidote for the winter blahs.

I think that this photo showing the entire caravan has much more meaning than if I had shown a close-up of just the people.

Some time ago I posted a picture of my woodshed bursting at the seams with a winter’s supply of wood. This is an update on the woodpile. Nearly every day I make a trip to the house with a wheelbarrow loaded with wood. While the snow is piled deep and it is cold outside we are able to keep warm and comfy in the house. Will seven cords of wood last the winter?

December 7^th marks the day that World War II started for me. I know that the conflict had been going on for several years in Europe but when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor I soon became involved. I was employed by Boeing in Seattle, WA operating a router machine cutting parts for B17s. The incoming swing shift brought news of Japan’s raid. U.S. Army security from Fort Lewis was soon posted throughout the plant and windows were blacked out. Would it take long to over power the invader? Some of folks thought it would take only months. Little did we know!

The following spring I came back to Idaho and in the fall I joined the U.S. Marine Corps. After boot camp and radio school I was placed in a signal battalion and embarked overseas in May 1943. During my stay in the Corps, I spent more than 200 days aboard various ships and landing craft. Some of the islands and ports I saw were Samoa, New Caledonia, Guadalcanal, Ulithi, Enewetak, Saipan, Guam, Okinawa and North China. These overseas assignments covered a span of 32 months. I came home in 1946 and received my first Honorable Discharge.

There were many opportunities for recreation during my travels. The accompanying photo was taken of me while I was doing duty with the 22^nd Navy Construction Battalion. One of my buddies snapped this picture of me posing as a “snake charmer”, a towel wrapped around my head, playing a flute I had made from local bamboo. It takes a special skill to cause a coil of rope to suddenly rise like a serpent from an urn.

While wandering around Owyhee County back country one is pretty much alone. Sometimes I spend all day without meeting more than four or five vehicles. The solitude is not oppressive, however. Wildlife abounds, animals, birds and flowers.

In this photo I have found a new friend, a donkey. It allowed me to approach and pet it. We posed for this picture a moment before I went along on my regular duties. I held my camera at arms length in front of us, set on wide angle and snapped the shutter.

One has to start somewhere so here goes. I intend to post a few comments on my hobbies and illustrate them with photos.