Al Larson Photography

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.

Woodpeckers have been rather scarce around our ranch this year. A flicker has shown up a time or two at the feeders this spring. Last year we had a flicker make a daily appearance at the window ledge feeder every day during the winter. It roosted in the crawl space above the sleeping porch. Perhaps this past winter has been too cold and too much snow.

Recently a Downy Woodpecker has found the feeders hanging on the clothes line. The weather has warmed considerably and we’ve even had a day or two of sunshine. The bird in this photo is a female Downy Woodpecker. It is one of our more common woodpeckers. Notice the smallness of the beak in relation to the width of the head. A near look-a-like is the Hairy Woodpecker but it has a much longer beak and the overall size is larger than the Downy.

Woodpeckers drill holes in trees, usually dead rotting snags. Most people consider woodpeckers beneficial and welcome them. They help keep insects under control. In Spring and early Summer one is apt to hear the rat-tat-tat drumming of any woodpecker declaring that this is its territory. The sound of a woodpecker foraging for food is a slow peck-peck-peck as it pries flakes of bark and chips of wood from trees and bushes in search of insects.

Ah yes, Spring is beautiful.

What’s its name?

Beauty abounds in Nature even in small packages. This small moth is barely 1.5 centimeters long ( ½”). Many moths are drab in color. A lot of folks consider moths a pest and try to eradicate them. The larvae of some moths eat holes in your clothes, kill trees and other plants. Some species of plants depend on moths to pollinate their flowers. Some moths are attracted to lights at night. We should learn more about them before we try to manage them.

The moth in this photo was photographed in broad daylight. Due to its small size I would not have noticed it had it not moved as I was walking. My guide book to moths does not show this specimen. So I am reaching out to my viewers to help me identify it as to species and background.

I have already put a hummingbird feeder up for the little guys. I really don’t expect any customers until the 19^th – 21^st of this month (April). There is always a chance, though, that an early bird will pass by this way and stop in for a snack. I am fortunate to have many birds visit my feeders. Sometimes during the summer I will have a dozen or more hummers at a single setting. At times it is helpful to have several feeders set up so that the more aggressive birds can not keep the others away. It is also helpful to have a feeder or two placed out of sight from the others for the same reason.

This photo was taken several years ago in the morning shortly after sunrise. The sun was shining through the feeder casting a brilliant light on the birds. This caused the background to be darkened thus highlighting the birds. I can hardly wait for the first arrivals this spring.

 One thing that I like about traveling the back country in Owyhee county is the solitude. A person can enjoy the peace and quiet. He can find joy within himself and leisurely relax in Nature’s wonderland. There is beauty in the hills, the trees, the shrubs and flowers. Take time to plunge oneself into these romantic settings.

When you come across some old cabin such as this rugged log structure one wonders about its history. Was its owner looking for gold, a homestead, or just peace of mind? This cabin is located on Gilmore creek on the Triangle road in Owyhee county. It has long since fallen into disrepair. One wonders what stories lie hidden behind its portal.

One of the many intriguing animals I have met is the Antelope Squirrel. They are not as common as the ground squirrels. I notice them perched on top of fence posts and sagebrush as I drive along the highways and back roads of Owyhee county. One might confuse them with a chipmunk but there are no stripes on the face. When they run with their tail up they display a lot of white on the tail. They are smaller than the Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel. This specimen in the photo was with others at a bird feeding station in the town of Murphy, Owyhee county. I took several photos and chose this one. I cropped out some undesirable items near the edge of the photo. Here is the result. Enjoy!