~News and Upcoming Events~

• October 3rd PROGRAM ~ A River Trip to the Wilds of Alaska ~ with Shauna Robinson

• October 12th ~ OCTOBER BIG DAY!

• Quagga Mussels detected in the Snake River again ~ Rapid Response Plan

• Garden Tour Report ~ Another THANK YOU! ... and a link to the Pitkin Forest Nursery

October Program

~ A River Trip to the Wilds of Alaska ~

with Shauna Robinson

Thursday

October 3rd, 2024

7:00 PM

Room 201, Shields Building

CSI

This will be an IN-PERSON program

ZOOM link available:

https://csi.zoom.us/j/2730389966



Join Prairie Falcon Audubon and Shauna Robinson as she guides us down the stunningly scenic Noatak River in Alaska. A true Wilderness adventure! Beginning with a breathtaking flight from Fairbanks to Gates of the Arctic National Park Shauna spent 8 days paddling a raft on the upper 60 miles of the Noatak through the Brooks Range, deep in one of Alaska's most remote places.

Shauna will share information about the area's geology, ecology, and the contemporary issues facing the Arctic Region. She'll share stories of grizzlies in camp and her stunning photos of wildlife, wildflowers and breathtaking scenery.

Shauna Robinson spent most of her thirty-two-years as an educator teaching history to junior high students. Outside of the classroom, she has volunteered for a variety of history groups and has been involved in numerous projects working to preserve and protect our local and state heritage (the Oregon Trail, prove-up houses, Minidoka Concentration Camp, Jerome Golf Course history, and more). Shauna, husband Zeke and daughter Jenni have volunteered for the Forest Service’s Passport in Time Program at the 19th-century mining camps of Sawtooth City and Bonanza in Idaho’s central mountains. She has served on the Idaho State Historical Society’s Sites Review Board and has represented history and archaeology on the Regional Advisory Council for the Bureau of Land Management, Twin Falls District. Since 1998, Shauna has been an active member of the Twin Falls County Historic Preservation Commission. In 2008, after retiring from teaching, she and Zeke began volunteering as BLM Site Stewards for the Twin Falls District. She also serves as a member of the Herrett Forum Committee at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science. Shauna is a fellow member of Prairie Falcon Audubon and loves to photograph and keep track of the Burrowing Owls south of town. She and Zeke participate in the Winter Raptor Survey. Finally, Shauna LOVES to golf!

Its time to mark your calendars for October Big Day—12 Oct 2024!

Like Global Big Day, October Big Day is an opportunity to unite around our shared love of birds. Last October, nearly 36,332 people from 191 countries submitted 83,735 checklists with eBird, demonstrating the power of birds to bring people together. Each year more and more participants join in this global celebration, how many people will contribute this year?

Wherever you are on 12 October, take a few minutes to join in this global celebration. Participate from anywhere—even from home! By taking part in October Big Day you’re also celebrating Global Bird Weekend and World Migratory Bird Day. Be a part of the global team and help set a new record for October birding.

Two more things...

Thank you so much to Melody Asher for the tasty muffins!

And... a link to the Pitkin Forest Nursery at the University of Idaho. It's time to order native trees and shrubs NOW! for delivery in the spring.

Wow! We could not have had nicer day for our First Annual Tour of Bird-Friendly Yards and Gardens. Twenty two participants visited 5 sites in just over two hours. We'll either have to cut back the number of sites next year or give ourselves more time!

1 ~ The tour began at the Twin Falls County West Pollinator Garden. This Pollinator (and bird-friendly) garden borders a short walking path on the south side of the County West parking lot and is a mix of drought-tolerant native and non-native grasses and forbs. We got to help the County West garden get closer to achieving the status of National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat by pulling a few noxious/invasive weeds. Check out this website to learn how anyone, in any place, can help out birds and other wildlife, and receive recognition for their efforts.

2 ~ Next, we toured Jan's small yard on Taylor St. She has converted her entire front yard from grass to drought-tolerant native species including a huge, very healthy, Mountain Mahogany. Other species growing in Jan's habitat patch include service berry, several penstemmon varieties, syringa, mules' ears, Indian rice-grass, fleabane, Oregon grape, wild geranium, columbine, twin berry, Mormon tea, and Idaho Fescue.

3 ~ From there we headed to Karl and Jen's backyard oasis. Karl, and son Jacob, have constructed a beautiful pond, complete with cattail, bull rush, and yellow flag iris. If we hadn't been a noisy group of 22 we would have witnessed the power of the sound of trickling water to attract birds. More than half of the monoculture Kentucky bluegrass in Karl and Jen's backyard has been replaced by trees, shrubs and forbs (some native, some non-native), and a big centerpiece pollinator garden! Their backyard pretty much ticks all of the boxes on the Wildlife Habitat Essentials Checklist - native plants, food, water, cover, and places to raise young.

4 ~ Guy's front yard is a great example of how doing a little bit each year can make the conversion from grass to wildlife habitat pretty painless and a lot less expensive. Starting at the edge of their curved drive, Guy has removed sod by hand 6 - 12 inches at a time over the course of several years. Last summer he said bye-bye to his riding lawnmower and hopes to be able to put his push mower on Craig's list one day soon. While we visited the garden, dozens of bees visited a gorgeous licorice hyssop plant.

5 ~ We finished off our tour at Ken and Sarah's, where Sarah showed how they prevent the heartbreaking sound of "thunk" that used to be heard at their house as a bird hit a window. You too can prevent window strikes by making your own Acopian Birdsavers! In Ken and Sarah's backyard we checked out their much smaller and less aesthetically pleasing water feature (compared to Karl's), which nonetheless attracts lots of birds. She demonstrated how to make one for your own yard using a shallow basin, a small submersible pump, some tubing, and a few flat rocks!

Plan on attending another tour next year! We'd be happy to feature your yard/garden next year! And if you happen to have a "catio" let us know. We'd love to show cat lovers how to keep their cats and our birds safe!