Idaho
Colorful songbirds are showing up in east Idaho – East Idaho News
Some soft calls were coming from my bird feeders as I walked out to check my rock tumblers, “evening grosbeaks,” I thought as I strolled across the lawn. Two males flushed from the sunflower seed feeder as I got near it. I stopped and watched them join a small flock in the flowering chokecherry bushes along the full water ditch.
The next day while walking through the baren garden the sharp call of a male bullocks oriole came from a tree that they normally feed on orange halves. He appeared disappointed that the oranges had not appeared yet, but he came back as soon as I ran in the house to get the tree supplied with two halves for him.
After a four-day stay in EIRMC for a heart attack, I came home with all my feeders empty and quickly had my grandchildren load them up. This week I have had black-headed grosbeaks, lazali buntings and western tanagers joining the evening grosbeaks and bullock’s orioles adding color to my backyard. If you want these beautiful birds to visit your backyard, it is time to put out an assortment of food like orange halves, grape jelly, shelled sunflower seeds and bird feed with some white millet in it.
With the cold rainy weather this week, I have increased my types of feed adding dried mealworms and safflower seeds for any odd bird that may show up and need a snack. One of my favorite winter birds, a male steller’s jay, showed up Friday morning to brighten my morning along with a House wren.
I have been researching types of bird food this week to see if I need to expand even a little more. If you follow me, I have preached that red millet is a huge waste so I will not purchase bird feed that contains a lot of it, but in doing so, I have not used white millet. In visiting with another birder, I was told that white millet attracts Lazuli buntings, I found a store that carries white millet mixed with nyger seeds and will add it to my backyard restaurant for birds. If you have a favorite food for birds, give me a shout about it.
Colorful, and plain, birds are like medicine for me. In the spring when my daffodils, tulips and other early spring flowers brighten the wet, dark dreary days, adding colorful or new birds brings joy to my life. When I am tethered to a doctor’s or self-imposed physical leash and cannot leave home as often as I would like, a beautiful backyard full of flowers and birds lessen the need for an escape.
This to shall pass and hopefully in a week or two (probably four), I shall be able to chase the birds, rocks and fish and won’t have to bring them to my backyard. The doctors tell me being lazy is not a sin, but a healing process, so I will do my best to follow their instructions.
If any of you are following the nesting sandhill cranes at Camas National Wildlife Refuge or watching the great blue herons harvest voles on the south side of Mud Lake, now is the time to do it. The cranes should hatch out in the next week to 10 days and one of the nests is very visible if you can time the hatch. Watching a colt (sandhill crane chick) come out of the egg is a show you will never forget.
Good luck and stay safe – this is a crazy time of the year with too much going on to miss!!
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The Idaho Transportation Department has quite a few large projects happening around the state. One of those is the replacement of the I84 interchange to Burley and Heyburn. The work began in 2024, and a new step in the progress begins this week.
There will be a number of bridge and ramp closures that will affect traffic on Interstate 84 this week while crews work. The closures will also impact access and traffic on State Highway 24, Centennial Drive, Highway 30, and State Highway 25 in the area.
Part of I84 Will Close This Week in Southern Idaho For Bridge and Ramp Work
The Idaho Transportation Department shared an update and the details of the closures today on social media. Drivers should be cautious and pay attention to signs regarding traffic changes during the closures, which are expected to last through Friday, May 15th.
Beginning on Monday evening, at 6 PM, crews closed Interstate 84 at exit 211 to work on the new bridge. Traffic in the area should use exit 211 to bypass the closure. Work should be finished by 7 AM on Tuesday, but it could still affect the morning drive for some travelers.
READ ALSO: 5 Injured in Southern Idaho Head-on Collision
On Tuesday, the Exit 211 on and off ramps will close intermittently while crews repave SH24. Centennial Drive will also close at some point during this work. The ramps will alternate closures for 6 to 8 hours, and work is expected to continue through Friday. The social media post shares suggestions on alternate routes for drivers during the closures.
Lane reductions are expected to last through June on State Highway 24. Details on the project can be found on the ITD website.
36 of the Worst Idaho License Plate Rejections From 2025
We have to admit that we don’t understand all of these, but the ones that we do really make us question why someone would want these on their car. This isn’t even all of them – we were sent 28 pages with 25 to 30 submissions on each page of rejected personalized plates from 2025.
Gallery Credit: Credit N8 Bird
There’s something special and timeless about the Costco food court.
Having a Costco Card doesn’t just mean you unlock your grocery shopping there but you now get to go to the best food court known to man: The Costco Foodcourt.
Everyone loves their great prices and great options. Whether you’ve wanted to get a pizza to share with your family or one of their beloved giant hot dogs everyone’s got a good reason to go to the Costco Foodcourt.
Costco has been adding a lot of new menu items recently including fun ice cream flavors. Now they have yet again added something new to their menu.
Idaho Costcos
Where to find Costcos in Idaho.
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Costco has added a new menu item that everyone is already going crazy for. In a new viral Instagram reel an influencer revealed that Costco food courts around the country would be adding chicken strips to their menu! This feels like the perfect addition to the already extremely popular Costco food court and we can already see everyone going crazy over this new menu item.
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
As of right now it appears the chicken tenders are going to be 6.99 and include 5 chicken strips. They also seemingly have a new sauce that is going to be paired with these chicken strips and it looks delicious!
Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds
You’ll have to check out all of the local Idaho Costcos for when these hit stores because they just look delicious!
Look at those chicken tenders:
Costco Foodcourt’s New Item
It’s a Caramel Brownie Sundae!!!
Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola
Change Complete at Costco’s Food Courts
Who would have thought that an age old debate would bring out such a reaction in Costco shoppers!?
Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
You’ve heard that our federal Constitution was made for a moral people. The line is attributed to the founding father and second President, John Adams. Notice he said “moral,” not “Christian.” One of my friends was a graduate of Liberty University, a prestigious Christian school. His mission in life was to evangelize, but he always cautioned his listeners that our founders spoke of a Creator, and not Jesus. Some of our early leaders were devout Christians. Many of them were also womanizers, drinkers, and gave religion no more than lip service. They were people who wanted to be left alone, and if they practiced faith, it was personal, and they didn’t believe it was the government’s role to dictate morality.
They Mock Good People of Other Faiths
I’m reminded of a story about the 2024 Republican National Convention. Harmeet Dhillon, a rising star in the party, spoke. She referenced her Sikh faith, and someone in the crowd felt compelled to shout “Jesus is Lord!” Now, maybe a majority believes that, but are you sure He wants you to taunt good and moral people? Or would God prefer a gentler approach? For instance, you could pray for conversions.
Where does the Great Commission instruct you to be rude to people of good moral character?
Idaho’s Glenneda Zuiderveld was an alternate delegate, and when a seatmate said the man was rude, the state senator dismissed the argument. “We’re all going to be judged,” she said. What’s a Senator’s purpose in politics?
The Pot Calling the Kettle Black
A few days ago, a local church had a men-only event for candidates. A group of liberal women demonstrated outside. I don’t know why they can’t organize their own event instead, but apparently, they would rather be confrontational. They’ve accomplished nothing more than preening and making a claim that they’re more virtuous, but the church is within its rights to hold a men-only event. If you want a women’s only event, I’m not bothered. Let me add a caveat. Some of the men involved believe that it’s okay to berate members of the LDS Church as they enter the temple. I wouldn’t say screaming at someone that they’re going to hell is a sign of moral people. Again, if you think they’re wrong, then pray for them.
Some people wonder why they’re called Christian nationalists. Do we need to draw them some pictures?
Brad Little Through The Years
Gallery Credit: Kevin Miller
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