Idaho Bird Observatory: Part One - Song Bird Banding

The Idaho Bird Observatory "Banding Shack" on top of Lucky Peak

I made my third trip up the mountain overlooking east Boise to visit the Idaho Bird Observatory.  I went with the purpose of documenting the bird capture and banding process for my own learning and to share it with others.  I am filled with amazement each time I go.  The staff and volunteers there are always fun to be with and are great at sharing fascinating knowledge.  The location of the IBO on top of Lucky Peak is really ideal.  It is a naturally occurring migrant funnel into the Treasure Valley and the concentration of bird species there is impressive.  I invite everyone in Idaho and traveling through to put a visit to the IBO on the top of their must-see list.  I've taken my kids before and they absolutely loved it!

For those that enjoy birds and bird science, please consider making a donation to the Idaho Bird Observatory to further their work.  Donations can be made online by visiting their website here.  Just so readers know, the IBO folks didn't give me a special invitation to visit, nor did they request that I solicit donations in their behalf.  I just really enjoy what they do and love the science behind it.  Most of the staff are volunteers who are there for the experience.  They live in primitive campsites starting in the blazing hot summer until the frigid cold snows them off the mountain.  If life circumstances were different, I'd probably live up their with them and donate tons of cash to fund their research.  It is like Disneyland for people who love birds!

Jack uses his bird whisper skills as he gently extracts a bird from the mist net.  I believe they have ten mist nets up which are spread out over a few sloped acres among the brush and trees.  Every half hour, for four to five hours beginning at sunrise, the team splits up to retrieve birds from the nets.

Here Jack is lowering the top part of the net to retrieve a bird.  See all the bags clipped to his shirt?  That is the safest way to transport the birds from the nets to the banding shack and to stay hands free to extract other birds.  The clips are labeled with the net number as well as the height level on the net.  This data is also tracked.

Birds in the bags, all queued up for processing.  The IBO staff works hard and fast to reduce the amount of stress on the birds.  This morning was particularly productive with a high volume of captures.  It took a lot of focus to be efficient and relay all those numbers to the recorders.  I didn't help much with all of my distracting questions, comments, and photo-taking.

Heidi and Jay applying bands to a pair of birds.  There are several band sizes which they select according to the species.

Several measurements are taken, like wing length and tail feather length.

The birds are weighed by being placed into the appropriate size tube.

Feathers are observed looking for key indicators for the age and gender of the bird.  They also check for parasites.  The length of certain feathers or their color can tell these experts a lot.  That Gatorade is not a free product placement ad, nor is it for the IBO staff to drink.  Its for stressed out birds to rehydrate!  Perhaps Gatorade would like to sponsor the IBO?!

Banders blow on the stomachs of the birds to check for muscle content.  See the dark pink?  Their skin is almost transparent, so what you are seeing is muscle.

They blow on the birds to check fat content too.  See that yellowish stuff?  That's body fat.  Body fat is very important for bird health, especially for those birds that are migrating.

They also blow on the skull to help age the bird.  Hatch-year birds only have one layer of skull and its somewhat translucent.  Older birds have white dots on their skull which shows where one layer of bone attaches to the other.

Here is a bird skull.  That triangle area is where they check for skull ossification which helps to age the bird.

Bird banders often refer to the "Pyle Guide" to learn the nuances of bird gender and age identification.  It is stunning how much these IBO staff members know off the top of the heads, which shows why field work is so important in the study of wildlife biology.  Here Heidi confirms a discussion she and Jay were having about the gender of Red-breasted Nuthatches.  The rule of thumb is that a male has shiny black on the head, where the female has a duller black.  The Pyle guide refers to contrasting shades of black on the head compared to the back to distinguish gender.

The IBO staff religiously records all of the measurements along with the band number.  This information is entered into a searchable database.  When birds are recaptured here at the IBO or somewhere else in the world, this data can be retrieved and compared.  Recaptures are very exciting and teach us all kinds of cool things.

Next up...Hawkwatch and Hawk Trapping/Banding photos from the Idaho Bird Observatory.  Please check back in a day or two!

For more great blog posts about the Idaho Bird Observatory, please check out the Aspiring Ecologist who recently finished working at the IBO for a time.  Also visit Rob's Idaho Perspective.  He too has worked at the IBO.

Photos from an evening nature walk in Idaho

Garden Spider - there was another just a foot away about the same size.  Dining on all the grasshoppers has made them extra plump.

Say's Phoebe - the first of the flycatchers to return in the Spring and the last to leave in the fall.

I believe this is a type of Carolina Locust

Black-capped Chickadee - It was fun to watch of few of these eating the tiny sunflower seeds.

Review: The Stokes Field Guide

I have been so eager to get my hands on a copy of The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America.  I'm a big fan of Don and Lillian Stokes, their birding products, their bird song cd's, their blog, and especially their enthusiasm!...which you can follow with me @stokesbirding on Twitter!

Don and Lillian were kind enough to provide me a review copy of their fabulous new field guide.  It is a photographic field guide which I feel best captivates readers, especially new birders and youth.  You can't help but be sucked into the pages when you see the stunning photos.  When my kids got home from school today, my daughter caught a glimpse of me perusing this new guide and she exclaimed "Whoa! Can I see it?!"  This Stoke's guide largely overcomes, and perhaps surpasses, the advantage of illustrated guides by having multiple photos of each species.  The more challenging the identification and the more variable the plumage the more photos and even more pages are dedicated to that species.  The sections on hawks and gulls are perfect examples of this special treatment.  The Red-tailed Hawk gets four whole pages!  The eye-catching photos are pooled from top bird photographers in North America, including Lillian Stokes herself.

This is by far the most comprehensive North American field guide I have in my possession.  Check this out!  854 species, from rare vagrants to your favorite backyard birdies, are included using over 3,400 photos!  Just to make sure it was comprehensive I looked up Siberian Accentor, which was a vagrant seen in Idaho a few years back...Bam!...there it is on page 580.  The little code in the bottom corner indicates the photo was taken in the month of February in Idaho!!!  This new guide also discusses all subspecies and hybrids that birders might come across in the field.  I thought I'd put this claim to the test to.  I wanted to see if there was mention of a Violet-crowned Hummingbird x Broad-billed as I had seen at Arizona's Boyce Thompson Arboretum...Bam!...there it is in the hybrid notes for both species on page 417 and 421.  Awesome!

There are no arrows pointing to key traits of the bird, so you actually have to read the descriptive text.  I know that is shocking to those of us that have become accustomed to Peterson and Sibley.  It is amazing how much you can learn by actually reading something.  Stokes even provides descriptions of "perched" and "in flight" hawks!

This field guide is so chock-full of quality photos, complete descriptions, maps and so forth that it ain't small.  Its one thick book.  I weighed it on the kitchen scale and it comes in at a hefty 3lbs. ...solid muscle though and no fat!  It's not the kind of field guide you'll be carrying in your vest or hip-pack, but you will certainly have it at-hand in your car and on your windowsill.  The pages are color-coded by section for easy navigation.  It has a nice weather-resistant cover.  The Stokes prove that they know birder's needs as the "quick index" is right on the front inside flap...Perfect!

The photos in the Warbler section are eye-candy!

This is the most up-to-date field guide on the market.  Revised names and distribution maps are all there.  It even includes the Pacific Wren!  Paul Lehman provided the updated range maps.  As a cartophile, I'm critical of range maps for the bird species that I  know and love in Idaho.  Almost all the maps are pretty darn accurate for Idaho species.  A few are off a little, but within reasonable tolerances.  I'm still waiting for that field guide that boasts using eBird data to aid in drawing their range maps!  Only then will I be truly happy with range maps. (We citizen-scientists want to feel like we're contributing!)  There are so many nice modern features that make this field guide extremely useful and user-friendly.  I could go on and on.

Don & Lillian, Thanks for the nice personal note on the title page!  Well done.  Every self-respecting birder will want to have a copy of this fantastic field guide.  Yet another quality product from the Stokes, the endearing Ma & Pa of the birding world.

The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America is currently listed on Amazon for as low as $16.49.  That's like half-a-cent per picture.  What a bargain!!!  Oh, don't forget the bonus CD which comes with 600 more songs and sounds to add to your Stokes Bird Song collection!

Review: iBird Pro HD for iPad by Jim Lyons

Jim Lyons

Birders -- looking for an excuse to buy an iPad? The wait is over. The stunning and complete iBird Pro HD for Apple’s iPad is a fantastic app!

As I pen another guest post for the IBB, I first want to catch our readers up a bit. Like rabbits (or maybe we should say starlings), good ideas seem to multiply with each collaboration that Robert Mortensen and I undertake. From last Spring’s birder profile I was flattered to complete, came Robert’s request for a guest post review of the BirdsEye iPhone app. From that came the idea to take a broader look at other birding-related apps for iPhone. As that idea developed, the iPad (an iPhone on steroids would be one way to describe it) was added to the mix, and I completed an update/survey about what I’d learned about both software and hardware, and that I needed to dig deeper (and post accordingly) on at least two apps, iBird and National Geographic. Following that post, we were contacted by the visionary founder of iBird, Mitch Waite, who offered to give us some background and guidance, especially on the new iBird Pro HD for iPad, which I had only recently purchased (we’re talking just a few days ago), and which was making a very strong and favorable impression on me.

So, to start again…Birders looking for your excuse to buy an iPad? -- the wait is over!

The stunning and complete iBird Pro HD for iPad is a fantastic app which takes advantage of modern technology with virtually everything one could imagine in a multimedia bird guide -- textual information, visuals (paintings, photos and maps), sounds (from the Cornell library no less), comparison charting, and access to the wide Internet world of resources from online encyclopedia, Birdipedia (or rather the page of that bird in Wikipedia), and the leading photo repository, Flickr.  See the screen shot examples for the Anna's Hummingbird.

Keep in mind there are a number of birding-related apps for iPhone, and so far at least a few for iPad, and I recommend to readers that they try the free ones and read the reviews carefully for the apps before buying them.   iBird offers a nice app comparison chart.  As a conversation with Mitch Waite reveals, he recommends using the larger iPad for a home reference (I also picture it in the car on birding outings), and the iPhone/iPod Touch versions as your pocket-sized, field reference. Having accessible photos, descriptions, maps, and sounds in a single pants pocket or belt pouch is certainly has been new territory up until recently, compared to conventional field guides (books) and perhaps a second device like an iPod with BirdJam.

Searchability is another key ingredient for a birding app or standard paper field guide.  iBird makes bird look-up and identification as simple as possible. One can search by color, shape, family, and even flight pattern.

click to enlarge

For more on iBird Pro HD for iPad, a look at the screen shot to the left gives some details. But let me say, as a week-long owner of this $30 app (yes, expensive for a smartphone/iPad app but very reasonable compared to field guides and sound recordings, combined), I am delighted!

And how are others liking iBird Pro HD for iPad? As of this morning (September 15, 2010) iBird PRO has 10 “star” reviews in the Apple iTunes app store. The average is Five Stars, and in fact it’s a unanimous Five Stars, which is the highest score it can get! This is a very impressive, though of course it’s early, and an almost unprecedented rating that speaks to the excellence of this app. (Professionally, I cover a myriad of imaging and printing apps, and the large majority of them settle in at about a Three Star average.) A visit to the online store can give you a sampling of individual comments.

Above, I stated that iBird PRO includes virtually everything a birder could imagine in one app. However, there is one element missing, which is easily remedied. In fact, in my case, it was already taken care of, and that’s access to eBird, which is accomplished via the BirdsEye app.  However, Mitch tells us to watch for a relationship between iBird and eBird in the near future. That last point brings to mind another advantage of going “electronic” – once purchased, apps are typically updated, free and often..a lifetime of updates. Try to get your traditional book publisher to do that!

iBird Pro HD for iPad comes with only one caveat that I can think of, and that applies only with the supplemental materials. Because the online sources like Wikipedia and Flickr require an internet connection (as does access to eBird), only the 3G version of iPad will give accessibility to these in the field, i.e. beyond a WiFi signal. I have the (cheaper) WiFi-only iPad myself, so will count on my iPhone for access from beyond the pale (and even then, not sure of connectivity, 3G or otherwise, at places like Malheur). And not to get too techie, but those aforementioned internet resources are supplemental in nature, and the iBird Pro HD for iPad, at 1GB or more, is one of the largest apps out there (not a problem on basic 16GB and 32GB iPads), which is indicative of HOW MUCH bird-related material is included in the app itself, which is always available (and not connection-dependent).

iBird Pro HD has been rated among the top apps since its release in early September.

Because of the large size of the iBird apps (iBird Pro HD has more embedded photos than the Audobon app, which relies on photos only), iBird’s Mitch Waite points out that when you get your iPad, download your apps at the computer via iTunes and then synchronize with your new gadget, rather than the slower approach of downloading directly.

And just so you notice, that last tip states “when you get your new iPad”, and not if!


Editors note:  Look forward to future Birding Technology reviews by Jim Lyons featuring in-the-field case studies using these apps!  Jim, I think I need to tag-along on those adventures!

Avimor Bird Walk - This Saturday!

Swainson's Hawk at Avimor

This Saturday (Sept., 18th 2010) I will begin leading monthly Avimor Bird Walks again.  This Saturday's walk will begin at 8am and go until 9am.  These walks are for people of all birding abilities and I adapt the walk to the folks that come.  Children eight and older are welcome...and even younger if they show special interest in birds and wildlife.  I expect that we will see about 20 species of birds and hopefully more!  We also enjoy the other aspects of wildlife like plants, reptiles, and mammals.  Photographers are welcome too.

If you'd like to stick around a bit longer, an Eagle Scout candidate will be installing bluebird nest boxes at 9am. We'll be cruising up to some of the higher areas to mount them on old wood fence posts. Donated help is always appreciated for these Eagle Scout projects.

We always meet at the Avimor sales office under the big American flag.  Dress for weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.

Avimor is the new community being developed in the foothills on Highway 55 north of Boise and Eagle on the road toward Horseshoe Bend and McCall.  We are just 2.7 miles north of Shadow Valley Golf Course.  Feel free to e-mail me if you have questions or want more details.

Behind the Scenes of "Hummingbirds" the PBS Nature Documentary

Back in January I posted about the amazing PBS Nature special on Hummingbirds.  You can still watch it here.  I just saw the link at 10000birds.com about the YouTube behind the scenes.  It is so amazing!  I hope this documentary wins every award it can...it is really that great!

Rough lookin' Bluebirds

I'm no expert on molt, but it appears these two motley blue birds are in a late summer molt!  They may also be juveniles.  Any bluebird or molt experts want to weigh in?

These birds were seen the last weekend of August near Herrick Reservoir.  I believe the top one is a Western Bluebird as I see a hint of rusty flanks.  The bottom one I believe is a Mountain Bluebird due to a thinner all dark bill.

Vote for Reed Miller's Bald Eagle Photo!

By the Sweat of Thy Brow

Photo and caption by Reed Miller, an amateur photographer from Rigby, Idaho!

I was delighted when I saw an article in the Idaho Statesman newspaper along with his amazing photograph by Reed Miller of a Bald Eagle bringing a duck to its mate and chicks.  This photo is a finalist in the National Geographic Energizer Photo Contest.  Please visit that site and vote for Reed's photo!

Correction:  When I first posted this and when I posted to IBLE I attributed the photo to the wrong Reed Miller.  Turns out there are a couple of Reed or Reid Miller's in Idaho.  One Reid Miller from Viola, Idaho was featured in an Idaho Birder Profile along with his wife Nancy.  The Reed Miller behind this photo is a neighbor to Don Hunter.  Don was also featured on this blog.  Thanks to Don Hunter and Nancy Miller for helping me get this straight!

Man-made Habitats for Wildlife

Rock Wren inhabiting a man-made retaining wall in my community

In the current issue of Birder's World magazine is an article by Emily Wortman-Wunder called "The House Effect" (subscription required to view online) discussing how the very presence of a home in an ecosystem changes what species are likely to be found around that home.  I appreciate that she wrote the article without a condemnatory tone directed at mankind and homebuilding.  She simply laid out the facts and observations.

Somewhat relatedly, I've been following a family of Rock Wrens which appear to be inhabiting a beautiful, albeit mammoth, rock retaining wall that we had built along the backs of three lots in the community where I live and once worked.  Unintentionally, this rock wall has become a home for all kinds of critters.  These observations, combined with my recent reading of the aforementioned article, has me pondering the following issue:  Is man's presence in the ecosystem always "bad"?


There are those who insist that the earth would be in a better state had mankind not evolved on it and ruined everything that was in such perfect harmony.  Ironically and impossibly, they claim that they would be happier if humans did not exist.

I propose that mankind is not always a destructive force and that we can invite wildlife to be near us by providing man-made habitats.  Sure it manipulates the natural order of things - and so does feeding wild birds and building nest boxes.  I'll spare you from my long religion-based or philosophical spiel.  Just know that my perspective is based on my firm belief that animals were placed on the earth for our use and enjoyment and to be cared for by us.

Man-made retaining wall at Avimor - backing up three vacant luxury lots - provides new habitat for all kinds of critters, including...

Western Fence Lizard

Gopher Snake in crevice of rock retaining wall

Western Yellow Jackets

...and critters that get eaten by other critters.

So, to answer my own question - Is man's presence in the ecosystem always "bad"? There is no question that mankind's existence has an effect on our surroundings.  My conscience remains at peace knowing that I work to create beauty out of the chaos of the Earth's raw materials and the side effects are what they are.  I feel real joy and happiness when I create or restore a habitat that brings in wildlife.

While I was birding...Round Valley Edition

Lorquin's Admiral Butterfly taken at Tripod Reservoir

Bumblebee on Thistle - that violet color is just amazing!

It was great to see the Lupine in bloom still at these higher elevations.  The lupine around my home dried up back in July.