Thomas Lovejoy
E-Newsletter
~News and Upcoming Events~
April 2nd ~ PROGRAM ~
Cassia Crossbill Habitat Management Plan Update ~ with Lyn Snoddy (IDFG) and Scott Soletti and Jordan Whitt (USFS)
Find more here–
April 4th ~ FIELD TRIP ~
Greater Sage-Grouse Lek Visit with Ken and Sarah Harris
Find more here–
April 22nd ~ BONUS Program! ~
Live Bird Presentation with the World Center for Birds of Prey
This special program will be at the UU Fellowship 160 9th Ave E, Twin Falls at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, the 22nd.
April 25th ~ Volunteer!~
Orton Botanical Garden Spring Clean-up.
May 1st ~ FIELD TRIP ~
Little City of Rocks north of Gooding, ID
Upcoming Events
Saturday, March 28th
7:30 PM – 10:00
Niagara Springs Wildlife Management Area
RSVP or get more information
by contacting trip leader
Zeke Watkins: scottywarbler@yahoo.com
Meet up with Zeke at 7:30 in the parking area at the bottom of Clear Lakes Grade
We will head out to find owls. On past outings we have seen and/or heard Great-horned, Western Screech, Northern Saw-whet, and Barn Owls!
Be sure to bring your binoculars, a flash light, a walking stick, warm quiet* clothes appropriate for the weather du jour, and water or maybe a thermos of something warm to drink.
*Some things to know before you go – – – –
- The quieter we all are, the better our chances of observing owls.
- Soft quiet fabric only. NO SLICK SWISHY SYNTHETICS! Fleece and blue jeans are ok.
- If your belongings are noisy in any way (swish, rattle, squeak, beep, ring. etc.), please leave them home or noise-proof them.
- Snacks and drinks are fine but no noisy wrappers or drink lids.
- NO PETS, NO EXCEPTIONS.
- Flashlights are welcome for the return walk back to the vehicles. We will be moving between spots in the dark so we don’t spook the owls. Bring a walking stick if you’re worried about tripping in the dark.
Check out this website to see images and hear audio of Western Screech-Owl, Great-Horned Owl, Barn Owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl:
What are Folks Doing About The Cassia Crossbill?
with Lyn Snoddy (IDFG) and
Scott Soletti and Jordan Whitt (USFS)
Thursday, April 2nd, 2026
7:00 PM
Room 201, Shields Building, CSI
This will be an IN-PERSON program
ZOOM link available:
https://csi.zoom.us/j/2730389966
The Cassia Crossbill (CACR) Working Group finalized the CACR Habitat Management Plan last June. Lyn and Jordan will discuss what is known about CACR and what is in the Plan. They will provide an overview of how this plan serves as a comprehensive framework for conserving Idaho’s only endemic bird species, which is restricted to the South Hills and Albion Mountains.
This non-migratory bird relies almost exclusively on the seeds of serotinous lodgepole pinecones, a resource threatened by large-scale wildfires and extreme heat that cause cones to release seeds prematurely. They will also discuss how the Plan outlines a collaborative strategy involving federal, state, and tribal stakeholders to mitigate these risks through adaptive management and targeted forest treatments. Key objectives in the Plan include reducing fuel loads, thinning dense stands to accelerate cone production, and expanding pine habitat into cooler microclimates to ensure long-term forage availability.
From Lyn: I grew up in south Louisiana hunting and fishing in the Atchafalaya Delta and attended LSU for undergrad. I did about 8 years of seasonal field work, which included work on many species of waterfowl, including Steller’s eiders and black brant, pygmy rabbits, moose, and ruffed grouse, before going to graduate school at Arkansas Tech to assess carrying capacity of moist-soil wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. I ended up working for the Forest Service for about 6 years as a NEPA and Litigation Coordinator on the Sawtooth National Forest and a Zone Wildlife Biologist for the Nez Perce-Clearwater NF, then landed my dream job with Fish and Game- Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist. My background and personality put me squarely in the jack-of-all-trades category of wildlife management and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the diversity of my current position.
Ways to help birds
- 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 other markers spaced uniformly 2 inches apart across the entire surface of the glass, or Acopian BirdSavers spaced 4 inches apart.
- 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.
- Reduce Lawn, Plant Native 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Watch Birds, Share What You See Enjoy birds while helping science and conservation: Join a project such as eBird, Project FeederWatch, Christmas Bird Count, Breeding Bird Survey, or the International Shorebird Survey Note: If you don’t yet know how to use eBird, we have a free course to help you get the most out of the project and its tools.
Equity, Diversity and
Prairie Falcon Audubon, Inc. fully supports
National Audubon Society’s statement on
Equity, Diversity and
(www.audubon.org/about/equity-
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/