Mica Bay Survey Field Trip Report

Submitted by Ted Smith, Coeur d’Alene Audubon President

On January 14, 2025, we had 7 birders show up for the monthly Mica Bay Survey. It was cold and foggy on Mica Flats as we drove to our starting point, but the fog was lifting out of the Mica Creek valley when we arrived. We were joined on this trip by Coeur d’Alene Press writer Devin Weeks and her friend, Tara. As anticipated, birding was slow but we were greeted right away by a single raven. Passerines proved a little hard to come by and things were very quiet at Jerry’s house, where his feeders are usually alive with birds. We found a little more diversity down on the bay. 

As is common this time of year, Canada geese were our most numerous species followed by mallards. Once hunting season is over the variety of waterfowl on Mica Bay will drastically increase. The waterfowl really like Mica Bay because it is shallow and protected.  During hunting season parts of the bay can be hunted and this activity keeps the waterfowl off the bay most of the time. Once the hunting season is over they can return without being disturbed. Duck season closed on Jan. 17th and goose season will close on Jan. 31.  I expect to see a lot of waterfowl on the bay in February. When we finished up, we had seen 18 species.  I guess I shouldn’t complain, as checking the January 2024 records, we only saw 6 species last year.