Out & About: Tundra swans lead parade of migrants

OUTHERE – February’s unseasonably warm weather kick-started spring bird migrations into the region. Among the largest and most obvious are the tundra swans that have been finding open water from Eastern Washington into the Silver Valley of North Idaho.

Swan movements farther north aren’t likely to kick into high gear for awhile, and this week’s colder weather could freeze up some of their resting waters.

But in recent weeks birders have reported swans by the hundreds at bigger open waters as Hallin Lake near Sprague and Turnbull Wildlife Refuge ponds.

The arrival of swans was the news some bird watchers needed to get on their bicycles for the first time this year to ride the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes.

“Saw about 200 swans from Black Rock to Harrison on the trail and 600-700 on Killarney Lake,” said Jay Groepper, who pedaled the path on Feb. 22 after reading a swan alert on The Spokesman-Review’s Outdoors Blog. “Thanks for the tip!”

Other notes from birders in the area include:

• Meadow Larks are returning to Lincoln County.

• Great Horned owls are nesting.

• Red-tailed hawks are paired, building nests.

• A beginner birdwatching class is set for Saturday at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

Sign up: 448-2291, activities@fotnwr.org,

Think in-the-box for bluebirds

OUTHOUSE – With bluebirds and other cavity-nesters on their way to the Inland Northwest, it’s time to put out the welcome mat for seasonal housing.

If you already have nest boxes out for bluebirds, nuthatches, swallows, woodpeckers and the like, be sure they’re cleaned out.

Now’s the time to build and put out new boxes to help fill the shortage of natural nest sites caused by firewood cutting and other man-caused changes.

Boxes have the greatest likelihood of being used the first year if placed by late-March, says Phil Cooper, Idaho Fish and Game spokesman.

 Nest boxes designed for bluebirds are available for a $5 donation at the Fish and Game office, 2885 W. Kathleen Ave. A pamphlet on building boxes also is available.

• Details on building and placing nest boxes for a variety of birds are posted on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife website at http://1.usa.gov/1LXy6f7.