[Birdnet] Park Valley, Box Elder County Raptors

[STEPHEN T CARLILE]

I haven't been able to do much birding lately and am a bit jealous over the Painted Bunting, etc. at Fish Springs.  But I did take a quick side trip today on my way to Burley, Idaho to check up on my aging in-laws (94 and 87 years).  A couple of weeks ago Mark Stackhouse suggested in a Birdnet posting that Park Valley, Box Elder County (west of Snowville) might soon be a good spot for raptors.  He was right.  I identified, along about 4 miles of Highway 30 on power poles and irrigation equipment, 21 individuals of 6 species (4 Ferruginous Hawks, 9 Swainson's Hawks (dark, light, and in-between color morphs), 3 Red-tailed Hawks, 3 American Kestrels, 1 Prairie Falcon, and an immature Golden Eagle).  It must be a good place, for several were eating lunch.  There were 5 other "buteos" to far away to identify.  Also, in the same area, were two large concentrations of Common Ravens (50+ in one and 75+ in another) and some Pronghorn Antelope.

Park Valley and Highway 30 are reached by taking exit 5 on I-84, just north of Snowville.  Head west on Highway 30 for about a mile, when the highway starts passing through the numerous hay and alfalfa fields the birds are apparently hunting on.  Highway 30 is in Utah but parallels the Utah/Idaho boarder, which is only a couple of miles to the north.

Thanks,

Stephen
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