75th Celebration: Hit the Trail

As the songs of birds fill the air this spring, we are compelled to look up from our busy lives and notice the natural world. We watch them gather grasses and twigs for their nests, find food for their young and raise the next generation. For some, bird watching becomes a passion, with lifetime lists and far-flung travel. International Migratory Bird Day celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular birding events in the Americas - bird migration. On the second Saturday of May, special birding celebrations and events are held across North and South America. An estimated 400 species of resident and migratory birds call Idaho home, making the state a draw for birders. In 2006, Idaho Fish and Game 1 the Idaho Birding Trail, identifying a network of sites and side trips that provide the best viewing opportunities to see birds in Idaho. With 175 sites and about 2,000 miles of trail, the birding trail represents a collection of bird watching hotspots, diverse habitats and a glimpse of Idaho's rich natural heritage. Much of the trail leaves the freeways and highways behind, and wanders deep into Idaho's rural communities and along backcountry byways. The Idaho Birding Trail promotes the conservation of bird habitat and natural areas. Maintaining natural areas in both urban and rural communities in Idaho will benefit Idahoans by providing them with natural beauty and wildlife habitat, one of the reasons so many of us love Idaho. For more on the Idaho Birding Trail visit: www.idahobirdingtrail.org.