By Lorraine Snipper There is supposedly a difference between birdwatching (unintentional, unplanned) and being a birder (very intentional, seeking out birds). I had always thought that birders check off lists, and I was loathed to be that person. I wanted stop-action shots of birds doing what they do, to share an appreciation of their beautiful […]
By Lorraine Snipper My yard here in Island Park is a haven for many birds, in all seasons. In the spring/early summer, birds are in the process of picking mates and building nests. I see beautiful western tanagers flitting from branch to branch in my aspens, along with the odd bluebirds along my fenceline and […]
By Deb Drain I have the good fortune to be able to observe a pair of mature, strongly pair-bonded, highly successful Bald Eagles. Over the past 4 summers they have fledged 9 juveniles, which may sound like a lot, but the average first year juvenile mortality rate is 50% and can be as high as […]
Article and photo by Jean Bjerke Hummingbirds are beautiful jewels of color and marvels of aerodynamics. Their wings beat up to 80 beats per second, and they are the only birds that can fly backwards. The average weight of a hummingbird is about the same as a nickel, but they have amazing endurance, and certain […]
By Becky Hall On October 10, 2020 a car struck a great grey owl (Strix nebulosa) in Island Park. Fortunately, it was taken to the Teton Raptor Center (TRC) in Jackson, Wyoming where we hope it will recover and return home. In 1993 the Forest Service believed the great gray owl’s range did not come […]
Article and photo by Jean Bjerke I love the sometimes flamboyant and even outrageous behavior of birds and wildlife to attract mates. One of my favorites is the mating display of the Greater Sage Grouse, often known as Sage Hen, native to the broad sagebrush plains of the central Rocky Mountain states, and other areas […]
By Deb Drain Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) are one of the most identifiable waterfowl found in the Island Park area. They are named after their call, which sounds like a trumpet. Trumpeter Swans are entirely white, with black bills, feet, and legs. They are the largest waterfowl in North America and one of the largest […]
