PARMA, Idaho — One way to know the seasons are changing in Idaho is when the Snow Geese stop in the Gem State during their annual migration north.
Between late February and early April, thousands of geese will stop at the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area where the Boise River dumps into the Snake River on the border of Idaho and Oregon.
"They breed up in the Arctic," said Louisa Evers, an experienced bird watcher. "Their breeding season isn’t long and they get anxious to get up there."
I ran into Louisa and Linda Wentz at a watchtower in the Fort Boise WMA, and they taught me about the migration and the birds.
They said the best time to see the geese is in the afternoon when they return to the water and riparian areas after spending the day searching for food.
"You heard the noise they made when that small group behind us took off," said Wentz. "So you can imagine when there are ten times that many birds, it is really impressive. It never gets old and it is quite a treat to come out here in the spring because you never know what you are going to find."
The two showed me swans, an Osprey, and the Cinnamon Teal duck and they had no problem finding what they were looking for in the WMA.
"We found two Lesser Yellowlegs, they are rare for this time of year and they are not very common in Idaho," said Evers. "There was a Greater Yellowlegs, American Avocet, and several species of ducks."
Louisa and Linda are both members of the Golden Eagle Audubon Society. They organize field trips and work on conservation projects while sharing their knowledge and passion for birds.
"It’s $20 for a year of membership. You get a lot for your small investment and we have many field trips a month," said Wentz.
"It’s just a way to get out in nature and get some exercise," said Evers. "Birds are pretty, they are fun to watch and I have been birding for a long time."
The interior of the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area is closed to motorized vehicles and portions of the WMA will be closed until July 31 to protect nesting waterfowl.
