By Pauline Tom
Many thanks to Amy “Loving Mountain City” Hilton for holding down the fort with updates on city happenings while RonTom and I experienced a grand 3-week journey to the Pacific Northwest, sandwiched around the National Bluebird Society Conference in Boise. Mostly, we tent camped with some bed and breakfasts sprinkled in.
What a wonderful adventure. One morning in mid-June Ron brought me coffee “in sleeping bag” during a snow flurry. Mostly, our tent campsites faced majestic grandeur such as the Grand Tetons and the mountains of Glacier Park. Many nights we heard the beautiful sounds of water (including stream, river, waterfall, and rain pitter-pattering on the tent).
In a paperback “The Voice” (translation of Old Testament and New Testament, available for $5.00 on Amazon), I read Psalm 145 over and over. Verse 6 reads like this, “Your majesty and glorious splendor have captivated me. I will meditate on your wonders, sing songs of your worth.”
The morning we awoke in Ketchum, at the foot of Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, a tidbit came from Roy Glover. He took photos of a screech owl family in his pecan tree on Maple. He said, “It appeared to be the mother, father and a little one. The picture is of the adults measuring about 8” in height. My pastor and his wife were visiting and he called my attention to them while we were sitting out on the patio. Hope they stay around.”
I hope so, too, Roy. Thanks for the tidbit.
We seem to have several screech owl families in Mountain City each summer. They’re quite the delight to watch.
In the Mammoth Hot Springs area of Yellowstone National Park, I saw a flock of birders with binoculars and scopes focused up in a large tree. Baby great-horned owls fledged the day before and they were both visible.
The Garraway’s NestWatch’d the ash-throated flycatcher nest in the center of our front yard. Once or twice each week Kevin texted photos of the progress. On June 16th the purple-streaked white eggs hatched. The baby flycatchers look like mostly yellow beak with a little body. They grew and feathered right on schedule, and fledged the day we returned, July 2nd. I submit the details on www.NestWatch.org
Kevin and Melissa kept bird seed, peanuts, and hummer syrup in our front yard feeders and water in the bird baths, so we had no lull when we returned. Right away we saw painted buntings, black-chinned hummingbirds, and golden-fronted woodpeckers.
On our return flight, the lady next to me cracked up laughing when I told her about the Mountain City 4th of July Parade and Lawn Mower Races. If you missed the event this year, mark your calendar for next year. As usual, July 4th.
These ‘Loving Mountain City’ events transpire only through the work of volunteers. Let’s give a big applause to Karlyn Ellis. She cancelled plans for going to the coast when Amy Hilton sent word three weeks out that no one had stepped up as team lead for the July 4th event. Thank you, Karlyn. Thank you very much.
And, of course, (as always) praise to Amy for overseeing and tending to details like the purchase of waters and bringing a canopy.
Congratulations to John Curnutt, winner of the Lawn Mower Races. He holds the coveted customized trophy for the entire year.
For the past twelve months, that trophy was held by Gary White.
I don’t keep coveted tidbits. They go right into the next column. Please email [email protected] (subject: TIDBIT) or (512) 268-5678
Thanks! Love, Pauline
