Yesterday was my first trip with the Audubon Society and we visited the City of Prairie. We went out of Boise to the Black Creek Road and drove North to the end of that road. I had never been there and it was breathtakingly beautiful. The road is fairly decent and right now everything is green. Our first stop was at Bonners Point, (said to be the first stop when the settlers entered into the Boise Valley and where the city and river were named.) Here we were treated to 2 long billed curlew, who must have had a family close by because they screeched at and dive bombed the area. My first sighting of this magnificant bird. Next it was a group of Eastern King Birds trying to lead us from their nest followed by as Sage Thruster just sitting pretty as you please, followed by Honed Larks, Meadow Larks and Hawks. Our next over the top view was a Red Tailed Hawk sitting on a tree branch with his/her nest and two half grown babies. This was across from the Blacks Creek Gold Mine and the tree was sitting right next to this amazing old farm house and believe it or not the barn that is displayed on most drivers licenses. From there it was on up the valley to an area of large dead trees where we seen a Lewis Woodpecker and two Hawks soaring with one dangling a snake. There were more stops and more birds and wonderful views, however the best was yet to come. At the Belknap cabin
( our guide place) we were treated to lunch with the birds, followed by a walk around the pond where a Great Blue Heron had a Hugh nest at the top of a tall pine with 3 half grown babies. We were blessed that the birders carry a scope for just such sitings so we could watch as they interacted with each other.
My friend RoseMary went with me and I think she is going to join as well and thank God she drove as I was working on 3 hours of sleep and might not have been able to go otherwise. WE had four cars with 8 people (10 counting us) who were all really into hiking and birds. I am hooked and hope that I can find time to really get involved with the group..Unfortunately my camera was on the fritz so very few pictures. Oh well I wanted a new one anyway.
PS: at one point our guide, Bill, stopped backed up got out of his truck and picked up a snake and checked it out to see if it was hurt. He advised us it was a Blue Race and it was hurt bur he though it would be OK. He took it and place it off the road. Gotta say he/she was kinda pretty. Bill spent the entire time telling us about the area, pointing out different types of flowers and plants and information about every spot we stopped. He and his wife have ranched that area for many years.
Thank you Lord for opening a new door for me to pass thru.
