"If you take care of the birds, you take care of most of the environmental problems of the world."
Thomas Lovejoy
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~News and Upcoming Events~
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Show your support for PFA by joining the growing community of members! Click ❤️ Here
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Saturday, March 30th! FIELD TRIP: Greater Sage-Grouse Lek - Watch male grouse strut their stuff on Saturday, March 30th, 6:00 AM, SE corner of the Twin Falls County West parking lot. Enter from Martin Street.
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Tuesday, April 4th ~ PROGRAM: How to Create a Bird-friendly Backyard with botanist Ann DeBolt
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Monday, April 15th ~ NEW! Order Birds and Beans bird-friendly coffee through our website before April 15th and pick up your coffee at the May Program!
- Seven Simple Actions to Help Birds in 2024
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Owling Outing
Trip Report and
Thank You
Thank you Zeke Watkins for organizing and leading a successful Owling Outing last Saturday!
8 attendees enjoyed fabulous weather, a nice walk in the dark, and got to see/hear 13 species including 2 Barn Owl, 4 Western Screech-Owl, and 3 Great-horned Owl. Pretty successful evening I'd say! Thank you Emily G. for eBirding!
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Sage Grouse Lek Trek
Saturday, March 30th
Meet up at 6:00 AM in the SE corner of the Twin Falls County West parking lot.
We'll drive to Rogerson, ID, cross over the Salmon Falls Dam and head east to what has been a very active lek in years past.
Bring your scope, binoculars, camera, snacks and water.
We'll be observing the lek from cars, but will most likely do a bit of birding outside our vehicles after seeing the grouse, so wear appropriate clothing. Stops on the way home will include Cedar Cr. Reservoir and Lud Drexler Park. Questions? email Sarah - idabirder@gmail.com
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One of the iconic native species of the West is the Greater Sage-Grouse. Every spring, these birds gather at sites adjacent to nesting grounds called leks, where the males put on elaborate displays of courtship characterized by strutting and unique vocalizations.
You can see and hear this ritual yourself at a lek west of Salmon Falls Reservoir on Saturday, March 30th. We'll meet up in the Twin Falls County West parking lot at 6:00 AM. Viewing the birds is best an hour before, and an hour after sunrise, so that's why we will be heading out so early. Because sage grouse are sensitive to human disturbance, we'll try to reduce the number of vehicles approaching the lek by carpooling.
Photographers might be challenged by their distance from the leks and obstacles, but bring your camera anyway, and be sure to bring a pair of binoculars an a spotting scope if you have one.
Disclaimer: please be aware that other limiting factors may cause the grouse to leave the viewing site early or to not visit the site at all. Eagles, coyotes and other predators can scare them away. Wind, rain or snow can also cause them to seek cover and stay out of sight.
Learn more about Greater Sage-Grouse HERE
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April Program
~ How to Create a Bird-friendly Backyard ~
with botanist Ann DeBolt
Thursday
April 4th, 2024
7:00 PM
Room 201, Shields Building
CSI
This will be an IN-PERSON program
ZOOM link available:
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About Ann DeBolt:
Ann has worked as a botanist in southern Idaho since 1986. Prior to joining the staff at the Idaho Botanical Garden in 2007, she was a botanist for land management agencies including the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service Rocky, and National Park Service. Ann studied botany at the University of Montana and Oregon State University. She has taught wildflower courses for the Sawtooth Science Institute, lead wildflower walks in the Boise foothills for many years, and taught native plant landscaping courses for the College of Western Idaho and Boise State University Horticulture Programs. Since retiring, she volunteers for the Golden Eagle Audubon Society, Idaho Native Plant Society’s Pahove Chapter, City of Boise pollinator and weed warrior programs, and at the Peregrine Fund’s World Center for Birds of Prey.
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Birds and Beans Coffee - The Most Sustainable Coffee You can Buy!
Order bird Friendly Coffee NOW for May 5th Pick-up
Member Discounts!!
Please submit your order ON or BEFORE
Monday, April 15th, 2024
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By choosing to purchase Smithsonian certified bird-friendly coffee, you are supporting bird conservation and family farmers throughout the Americas. Organic and Fair Trade, this coffee is grown in the shade, under a canopy of native trees with shrubs and plants that provide critical refuge for migratory and local birds, as well as the rich flora and fauna of the tropical forest. In short, this great tasting coffee rewards in the cup and helps ensure that the birds we all love return every spring.
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Order Birds and Beans bird-friendly coffee through our website before April 15th and pick up your coffee at the May Program! If you are a proud MEMBER of Prairie Falcon Audubon, you will receive a discount on each bag of coffee purchased (you will see the discount when you check out).
- Our April coffee order deadline is Monday evening, April 15th.
- Be sure to order enough to get you through the coming summer months - Birds and Beans Certified Coffee makes excellent cold-brew! And September is a long way off!
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More Programs!
More Field Trips!
Mark your calendars!
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PROGRAMS:
- APRIL 10th - RAPTORS - a Fistful of Daggers - airs Wednesday, April 10, at 7:00 PM on Idaho Public Television
- MAY 2nd - Snake River Birds of Prey with Mike Kochert, Scientist Emeritus at the USGS Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
FIELD TRIPS
- MARCH 30th - Sage Grouse Lek
- April ?? - Garden Tour
- MAY 4th - Birding by Bicycle
- JUNE 8th - Birding by kayak at Wilson Lake
- JUNE ?? - South Hills Big Day and Potluck- TBD
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
- Weeding at Orton Botanical Garden
- Sagebrush/Bitterbrush planting?
- Clean-up somewhere/anywhere/everywhere?
FALL BIRDING CLASS
- More information coming....
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2nd Annual Twin Falls
Pollinator Plant Sale
Purchase locally grown plants to start or expand your own pollinator garden!
Join the Twin Falls Pollinator Council in supporting bees, butterflies, birds and other beneficial insects in our area.
Scan the QR code or CLICK HERE- to select your choice of "Idaho Native" or "Cottage Garden" Collections.
This would make a wonderful gift for Mother's Day!
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Idaho Native Collection: These native plants are beneficial to our local pollinators and come back year after year. This is representative of what will be offered. Actual plants offered may be different.
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Cottage Garden Collection: These cottage garden plants do well in the Magic Valley area and are good for pollinators. There is a mixture of perennials and annuals. Some will re-seed for years to come.
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Scan the QR Code or
Pick up your plants
Friday, May 10th
or Saturday, May 11th, 2024
between 10 am and 3 pm
Native Roots LLC
2475 E 3600 N
Twin Falls, ID
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From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Click the link above to read the full article, watch some great little videos, and be inspired to do some good in the world to help out the birds
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1. Make Windows Safer, Day and Night
These simple steps save birds: On the outside of the window, install screens or break up reflections—using film, paint, or Acopian BirdSavers or other string spaced no more than two inches high or four inches wide.
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2. Keep Cats Indoors
A solution that’s good for cats and birds: Save birds and keep cats healthy by keeping cats indoors or creating an outdoor “catio.” You can also train your cat to walk on a leash.
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3. Reduce Lawn, Plant Natives
Add native plants, watch birds come in: Native plants add interest and beauty to your yard and neighborhood, and provide shelter and nesting areas for birds. The nectar, seeds, berries, and insects will sustain birds and diverse wildlife.
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4. Avoid Pesticides
A healthy choice for you, your family, and birds: Consider purchasing organic food. Nearly 70% of produce sold in the U.S. contains pesticides. Reduce pesticides around your home and garden.
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5. Drink Coffee That’s Good for Birds
Enjoy shade-grown coffee: It’s a win-win-win: it’s delicious, economically beneficial to coffee farmers, and helps more than 42 species of North American migratory songbirds that winter in coffee plantations, including orioles, warblers, and thrushes.
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6. Protect Our Planet from Plastic
Reduce your plastics: Avoid single-use plastics including bags, bottles, wraps, and disposable utensils. It’s far better to choose reusable items, but if you do have disposable plastic, be sure to recycle it.
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7. Watch Birds, Share What You See
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Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement
Prairie Falcon Audubon, Inc. fully supports
National Audubon Society's statement on
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Prairie Falcon Audubon, Inc. believes that everyone has the right to enjoy birds, the outdoors, and a healthy and safe environment. In order to fulfill our mission to educate the general public about birds, bird watching, and preservation/improvement of the environment that birds and bird watchers share, we will work to include everyone, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political affiliation, age, or disability. We are committed to building an equitable, diverse, anti-racist, accessible, fun, and inclusive organization that supports birds, and the people who watch them, in our community.
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CHECK THIS OUT!
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
An incredible resource for anyone (young to old) who wants to learn more about birds!
"Whether you’re a bird lover, an educator, or a student, interactive courses and multimedia-rich resources will lead you into the fascinating lives of birds, from birding basics to comprehensive ornithology."
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Learn More About Birds with These Courses
FREE - $130
Start at your level.
Go at your own pace. There’s something for every bird enthusiast.
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Watch a Short Video
FREE
A curated collection of educational videos from Cornell Lab
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Play games Powered by Birds
FREE
Birds are awesome. Play games that explore flight, song, dance, feathers, and so much more.
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Listen to a Lecture
FREE
Keep learning with this curated collection of videos from the Cornell Lab. Each is about an hour long.
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