Message from the Board
May 2023. Tim Reynolds
Birds, Birds and more Birds
The Board of Directors is excited to announce that the Intermountain Bird Observatory is returning to Camas National Wildlife Refuge after a 16-year hiatus to repeat a migratory land bird monitoring effort. Between fall 2005 and spring 2007 IBO (then called the Idaho Bird Observatory) conducted a series of Point Counts at Camas NWR, Market Lake and Mud Lake Wildlife Management Areas. They also completed a formidable two months of nearly daily bird banding each spring and three months of banding each fall at Camas NWR to examine the importance of these areas for neotropical migrants. The baseline results were eye-opening.
Although these three properties were known within the birding community as hot spots during migration, we had no idea how important they were. The baseline study revealed that not only did a wide variety of birds (99 species) stop at Camas, but the refuge also had an unexpected abundance of some of these species. Over 4,200 Wilson’s Warblers, and over 1,000 Hermit Thrushes and Ruby-Crowned Kinglets were captured. In addition, banding recaptures demonstrated that most individuals spent several days at Camas NWR, and gained significant weight. Clearly Camas, and presumably the WMAs, function as a critical refueling stations during migration.
IBO is back and, along with a Master‘s Degree graduate student from ISU, began a repeat of the baseline study in mid-April. Starting in mid-May the banding operation will be open to the public as an outdoor education experience, BY RESERVATION ONLY. School groups, scouts, other organizations and individuals should contact the Refuge Manager Brian Wehausen by email: Brian_Wehausen@FWS.gov for reservations to observe and enjoy the bird banding experience.
This is a labor intensive and costly project, with an annual cost of over $50,000. Friends of Camas is shouldering the bulk of the cost. Snake River and Portneuf Valley Audubon Societies, as well as some individuals, have contributed significantly, but we can use your help. You can support this project by sending a check made out to Friends of Camas, 2150 E 2350 N, Hamer, ID 83425. Write Bird Project in the notes section. You can also contribute on line via the “Click to Donate” button in the upper right on any of our web pages.
More Birds: Besides the exciting and ambitious migratory land bird monitoring project, May is the month of our 8th annual BIRD-A-THON. Co-sponsored by Friends of Camas and the Snake River Audubon Society, this is the major fund-raiser for both groups. This year’s BIRD-A-THON takes place from May 22 through May 29. Here’s how it works. Active participants solicit sponsorship from friends and family. Sponsors can donate a set amount (e.g. $100) in the name of “their” birder, or pledge to donate $XX dollars for every bird species recorded by “their” birder at Camas NWR or other Us Fish and Wildlife National Wildlife Refuges and/or any of the F&G managed areas or nearby birding areas during any one day of the BIRD-A-THON period. Passive participants can sponsor a birder or simply write a check to Friends of Camas BIRD-A-THON. Awards are given to (1) the birder or team who records the most species, (2) the birder or team which brings in the most $$, and (3) the person who most closely guesses the total number of different species seen by all birders combined. The Awards Ceremony will be during the BIRD-A-THON potluck dinner to be held at Tim Reynolds’ and Patty Isaeff’s house at 4276 E 300 N, Rigby, starting 6:00 PM, Thursday, June 8. Bring a dish for eight eaters, lawn chair, plates and utensils, and the beverage of your choice. Please notify Tim via email (t.doyle@q.com) no later than June 5 if you plan to attend. We hope to see you there.
Refuge Manager's Notes
Brian Wehausen,
Camas National Wildlife Refuge