IBRC 150-B-10

IDAHO BIRD RECORDS COMMITTEE
RARE BIRD REPORT FORM

SPECIES: gyrfalcon
HOW MANY: one, adult probably female  

REPORTER: Jack Oar 5691 N 2700 W Howe ID 83244 208-767-3225
REPORTER EMAIL: jackoar@atcnet.net
OTHER OBSERVERS: none

DATE REPORT PREPARED: Nov. 23, 2010
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: Nov. 22, 2010

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: yard bird 25 mi. N, of Howe, Butte Co.
HABITAT: Home site
CONDITIONS: approximately one minute-cloudy, wind about 10 mph, 20 deg., 30 yds, sun not visable, no optics

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: No, not at all
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?: None at that time

DESCRIPTION: Falconiformes, low light conditions. Lack of streaking on breast and belly says that it was adult. The dorsal areas were dark. (See below for further details)
BEHAVIOR: First obs. sitting on poles on barn, then it flew out over the bench, returned and landed on power pole next to cabin. Next flew over hay field and circled over my head at about 30 feet. It flared in responce to throwing out a dead chicken.

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? first thought was gos but when it flew there was no doubt by the wingbeat.
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY?

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): First obs. in AK, 13 summers field studies in Greenland, obs. in IL, WI, NE, SD, MT and over 50 obs in ID since1989. propagated them in captivity and used them in falconry 30 yrs.
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: since 1952- very good on raptors, good to fair on passerines, very poor on gulls.

WERE PHOTO(S), VIDEO, AND/OR AUDIO OBTAINED BY YOU?: None

SPECIES: gyrfalcon
HOW MANY: 1 reconfirmed adult ( female?)

REPORTER: Jack Oar
REPORTER EMAIL: jackoar@atcnet.net
OTHER OBSERVERS: Connie Oar, Jack C. Oar photo is not definitive

DATE REPORT PREPARED: Nov. 23, 2010
DATE SIGHTING OCCURRED: Nov. 23, 2010

LOCALITY OF OBSERVATION: same as yesterday. On about Nov 18th I saw a likely gyr flying N. at long range about 3 mi. S.E. of my house.
HABITAT: same as yesterday
CONDITIONS: about a half hour

DID YOU TAKE NOTES?: No, not at all
DID YOU CONSULT FIELD GUIDE OR OTHER REFERENCES?: No, not at all
WHAT GUIDE(S) OR REFERENCE(S) DID YOU CONSULT?:

DESCRIPTION: Horizonal barring on the flanks confirm adult, quite dark on the back.
BEHAVIOR: vocalizing with my gyrs

HOW AND WHEN DID YOU POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE BIRD, AND WHAT CLINCHED THE IDENTIFICATION FOR YOU? see yesterday's report
HOW DID YOU ELIMINATE SIMILAR SPECIES, AND WHAT WERE THEY? above

EXPERIENCE WITH THIS SPECIES (AND SIMILAR SPECIES): above
GENERAL BIRDING EXPERIENCE: above

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