IBRC 41-B-10

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: Blue Grosbeak
HOW MANY: 1 Male

REPORTER: Kathleen Cameron P.O. Box 922 Bellevue, Idaho 83313 208 721 0687 REPORTER EMAIL: majesticfeathers@cox.net
OTHER OBSERVERS: Kathy and Val Eklund own the property where the bird was coming they saw it. I am serving as the contact person. Pat Seamons, and Robi Nord my sisters also saw the bird on 5/29.

DATE REPORT PREPARED: 6/28/10
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: 5/28/10 to 6/15/10

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: 3 miles east of Declo, Idaho on 100 south. Declo is in Cassia county. I submitted the GPS when I sent the pictures earlier. HABITAT: back yard adjacent to sage and juniper habitat
CONDITIONS: 5 seconds on May 28 and half an hour on May 29. It was a very calm clear evening I observed the bird from approx 50 feet.

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: Yes, later the same day
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: I pulled out my Sibley N.A. just to show the bird to my sisters and to show them the range map. I had no doubt what the bird was I have seen Blue Grosbeak before.

DESCRIPTION: Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) Please see photos submitted previously. Med sized song bird, blue all over expect wings darker blue to black with rust colored wing bars,beak blackish silverish,black around eyes extending to the bill.
BEHAVIOR: The Blue Grosbeak was eating from a seed feeder in the yard and also foraging in the horse corral on the ground.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? As soon as I could clearly see the bird through my binoculars and noted all the field marks.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): I have only seen this species one other time south of St. George Utah.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: Since 1994. I am an advanced birder but not an expert.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: Photo Video