Al Larson Photography

There has been a beautiful display of a certain wildflower the last few days. While driving north from Lucky Peak dam on Highway 21 we have seen the hills ablaze with bright yellow flowers. The flower in question is the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata. It is a composit and is related to the sunflower. It blooms every spring but this year it has presented an exceptional display. Usually this flower blooms in late April but I presume the colder than normal spring weather caused it bloom now, in mid-May.

I took time out at the ranch a couple days ago and put a couple of these plants to photo.

This day, a couple of years ago, I was in the Prairie, Idaho area checking bluebird nest boxes. The route took me along Hatcher Lane. I noticed some unusual birds running about on the dirt road. When I got a little closer I noticed that these birds were Long-billed Curlews. This area is dry farmed producing alfalfa.

Curlews are found in guidebooks with the Sandpipers. They can be found in marshes and mud flats. Strangely they nest in pastures and meadows and here in Idaho their nests may be found in very dry areas in sagebrush flats and rolling hills. Their long bills may be up to nine inches long. It is always a pleasure to observe these unique birds.

Black-headed Grosbeak have returned to southwest Idaho. We usually have a pair of them nest here on the ranch. I usually don’t try to find their nest but they come in to the feeders all summer long. They have a very melodious song. They carry on with a song somewhat like a robin, perhaps a little more melodious.

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.

If you have roamed about in the Boise National Forest chances are good that you have seen the Columbian Ground Squirrel. They come out of hibernation as soon as the snow melts away in mid-spring. This is one of our larger ground squirrels. They spend the summer mating, eating and storing fat preparing for another winter under ground. By mid-August most of these guys are back in their burrows for the remainder of the year.

The squirrel in this photo set up house keeping in a burrow located in the rock wall just outside our kitchen window. It’s kind of neat to see one up close but what will he do to Hilda’s flower garden?