We very pleasantly surprised by all of the cool field trips and lectures that the festival had to offer. One of the highlights of our whole vacation that year was getting to hold and photograph burrowing owl chicks that were only days old. Unfortunately we will not be heading to Yellowstone this spring, we went to Texas instead, so we are not attending this years festival but if you are in the area on May 14 - 16 I would definitely recommend this festival. You can find more information here http://www.snakeriverbirdsofpreyfestival.com/
While we were in the Snake River area we had the opportunity to photograph Bullock's orioles. This was cool as we do not find Bullock's orioles here in Minnesota, their range is the western half of the US. The Bullock's oriole and it's eastern relative the Baltimore oriole were once considered the same species, the northern oriole. After a closer study it was determined that the two types were different enough to be considered separate species, although the species will mix where their ranges overlap.
The Bullock's orioles nest is made of woven fibers hung between tree branches. The fibers can be hair, grass, or man made, like in this case where the nest was made of fishing line. Inside the nest is lined soft materials like cottonwood seeds or feathers. The nest is built in an isolated tree which is often by water. This nest was located in Celebration Park which is located on the bank of the Snake River. Next spring we will probably return to Yellowstone and possibly make it back to Snake River for the festival.
16 comments:
Thanks for sharing your awesome experiences birding in Idaho!
Beautiful birds! and Wow - you got to hold the owl chicks. Guess you have to get to the right places.
I love Yellowstone - went there on a trip with my family one year - and have been dying to go back with my family now. Just never seems the right moment though! Perhaps someday!
Beautiful captures!!
What a cute and beautiful golden color bird, thanks for sharing.
Awesome birds ... lovely colors ...
Cats and Women
Such beautiful bird, marvelous capture!
Beautiful photos (as usual) and love the nest.
Gorgeous Oriole, they are so colorful. Great photos!
Beautiful images of your Bullock's Oriole, and you are right, they look so much like our Baltimore Orioles. The nest is also similar. Did you by chance get to view my Baltimore Oriole images and nest from this past week? Fun to see the two so close in their make-up~
what amazing orange yellow colours they have. they have a great name too!
My entry is at my Mummy Diaries blog. Hope you can stop by :)
He is a very colourful bird. We have Baltimore Orioles that summer here. They are just arriving now. Valerie
Great shots of the orioles. I have not seen our Baltimore Orioles yet this spring, soon. Thanks for sharing yours.
The nest doesn't look too well bult, does it? Great shots and good info. Thanks bunches. ~karen
Thanks for sharing these beautiful orioles.
Great images! I'm hoping to attrack some Baltimore Orioles this year.
Gorgeous birds.
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