Counting
We count cows, calves, bulls, hay, we don’t count horses, but we do count birds! For the second year in a row we did a bird survey. It all came out of our collaborative management group. One of our members is an avid birder with some ornithologist friends. It has been a fun and interesting exercise in looking for wildlife without horns or a pelt to harvest.
Brood of Sage Grouse in Hubbard alfalfa fields. Photo by Robin Boies
Canoeing on the reservoir trying to catch up with the baby ducks .
Photo by Robin Boies
At the very end of our bird survey this year, while walking down the old railroad right of way that overlooks the river, I looked up and and saw a huge eagle's nest. It was prime eagle real estate, with his and her's outhouses on the other side of the river and a roof rock overhang that looks like an ancient helmeted soldier protecting the nest from the southwest prevailing winds.We all got excited and with binoculars and spotting scope sighted in could just make out the eaglet by the remaining downy tufts that were being disturbed by the breeze. We finally confirmed that it really was a young golden eagle when one of us saw it blink it's eye.
The parent eagles were out and about keeping an eye on us, but did not see any real threat to disturb their morning soar on the updrafts, and their general patroling. How many years this nest has been overlooking the river, only the eagles know.
