Al Larson Photography

A couple days ago Jimmy Yorgenson and I checked some Wood Duck boxes on the south side of Lake Lowell. Water level is rather high this year and we feared that we may not be able to get to all of the boxes. As luck would have it we were able to reach 30 of the nest boxes. We repaired some and added clean shavings to others for bedding. It will be impractical to get to the remainder of the boxes until water level is lowered.

There was evidence that some of the boxes had been used by Wood Ducks last year. Also many of the boxes had small owl pellets inside. Five of the thirty boxes had live Western Screech-Owls in them. One had a pair of owls. One bird was banded last year as an adult setting on eggs. Another was banded as an adult in 2008 using the same box as this day.

On this outing we also observed three Great Horned Owls and one Barn Owl perched or flying through the trees. This was a great day for owls!

This photo was taken while making the rounds checking nestboxes on the Sagehen Reservoir bluebird  trail. The day was warm. I was driving the pickup with the window open on the driver’s side. Returning to the vehicle after checking a box I discovered this little lady in the cab of the pickup. Trapped as she was she presented an opportunity to snap some pictures. After several exposures I moved around to the other side of the vehicle and the bird exited through the open window. No apparent harm was done with this encounter. My guess is that she entered the cab in search of insects or maybe just curiosity. Note the brownish area on her upper back. Male western bluebird’s back is even more brown which help distinguish them fron the eastern species.

Imagine my surprise this morning at predawn. I arose, turned the porch light on and peered out the wndow.  Nearly an inch of snow had fallen during the night. Temperature stood at about 32 degrees. The snow was almost imperceptably slipping over the eaves. I hurridly put the camera into action and captured this shot. It’s a good thing I did for a few moments later the entire snow sheet went crashing to the ground.

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Most of the bluebirds have long since departed from Idaho to warmer climes, but I still have my photos of them to enjoy. This concerned pair of Mountain Bluebirds is keeping watchful eyes upon me as I check the contents of their nestbox. As soon as I enter data in my notes, I close the nestbox and depart. The parents seem to tolerate my intrusion, for they soon go about their business of caring for their nest. It just takes a couple of minutes for me to gather the information I need. Banding a nest of  five nestlings takes less than ten minutes. I try to make my intrusions as quickly as posible. It’s a joy to work with a subject as tolerant as the bluebird.