Al Larson Photography

This Spring we have had a gorgeous parade of yellow wild flowers. The first big display was the Arrowleaf Balsamroot covering vast areas of our mountain sides. Now the Mule Ears Wyethia amplexicaulis is taking over. From a distance the two species may look somewhat alike. On close examination, however, you notice the leaves of the Mule Ears are long and slender. The ray flowers are also a slightly darker shade.

 Here is a scene photographed on the 10^th of June in Gem county in the Squaw Creek drainage. It is amazing how these hardy plants return year after year. A little moisture in the Spring triggers a display like this even after several years of drought.

One of Idaho’s most colorful birds is the Western Tanager Piránga ludoviciána. The red, yellow and black are outstanding. Each Spring these beautiful birds pass through our area en route to their breeding grounds. Sometimes we may be fortunate and see a loose flock of maybe fifty or more individuals. This is especially so when they encounter a cold front during migration. They pause and wait for the weather to improve.

This year, 2008, the weather has been exceptionally cold this late in the season. The tanagers are congregating in our urban neighborhoods visiting hummingbird feeders and otherwise brightening our lives. Have you been wondering where all that nectar has been disappearing to?

Most folks that know me know that I spend a lot of time observing bluebirds. The first part of June is my busiest time with these little gems. Most of them have already nested, laid eggs and are now feeding nestlings. Some get started earlier than others and some also have second broods. Therefore there is nest activity from late March to early August.

However the greatest number of nestlings between the ages of eight to eighteen days old occur in the first two weeks of June. I have a master banding license which permits me to band birds. I find that it is best to band nestlings aged between eight to fourteen days old. Bluebirds normally fledge (leave the nest) when they are eighteen to twenty days old. After they are fourteen days old a disturbance at the nest may cause them to fledge early and I wouldn’t want that. A helpless fledgling on the ground is easy prey for predators.

While working at a nest box the adult birds often come in very close. This gives me an opportunity to capture them in photos. Today I found a pair of Mountain Bluebirds that cooperated nicely. It’s always nice to have them pose together.

Continuing with my discussion of the Arrowleaf Balsamroot, Balsamorhiza sagittata here is a photo taken May 24, 2008. The area is on the Squaw Creek drainage in Gem County, Idaho from the road to Sage Hen Reservoir. Some of the hills nearby had denser stands of the beautiful plants but this panorama shot shows how widespread these gardens are.

I am at a loss trying to determine the dates various flowers bloom. Some flowers such as Glacier Lily, Grass Widow, White Trillium, etc. were right on schedule while Heart Leaf Arnica and Lady Slipper orchid have yet to show hardly any foliage.

Regardless of when Nature decides to decorate the desert hills and mountains I appreciate the bountiful beauty.