Spring is Slow to Arrive

This spring seems to be arriving more slowly than usual. I went to Market Lake, a wildlife management area near Roberts, today to see how bird migration was progressing. I checked my notes from previous years and by now Market Lake usually has open water, and is full of waterfowl and gulls. Swallows have usually arrived, Yellow-headed Blackbirds are setting up territory, and Short-eared Owls are flying over the marsh. Today 95% of the water was still frozen, There was very little waterfowl, one gull, no swallows, two Yellow-headed Blackbirds, and no Short-eared Owls. There were a few signs of migration however; Tundra Swans were abundant, Sandhill Cranes have arrived, a Greater White-fronted Goose (a local rarity) flew overhead, and Bohemian Waxwings were stripping the Russian Olives. Another surprise was a painted turtle (not native to SE Idaho, but they seem to have established themselves in the upper snake river valley) that had emerged from hibernation and was resting lethargically on an icy bank.


Tundra Swans


Frozen Waterway, Market Lake, ID



Painted Turtle, Market Lake, ID