SCENIC IDAHO

 

This week's pictures, nearly the end of the road-trip,  are all from the State of Idaho.   We've spent quite a bit of time in that State  over the years (both of us grew up in a tiny town in Washington State that borders  Northern  Idaho) and we have camped in  and traveled through parts of it many times in our life.     But surprisingly on this trip we found several new and interesting places to explore.

 

 

This is Shoshone Falls on the Snake River near the town of Twin Falls.   I love waterfalls and Shoshone Falls was stunning.  We don't know why we'd never visited  before, as we have driven through that town several times in the past.    The contrast between the swiftly flowing water and the rugged Idaho landscape was fascinating.

 

 

The Park area above the Falls was donated to the city of Twin Falls by the ranchers who owned the land, for the purpose of public enjoyment -- and of course we were not the only members of the public doing just that on this day.

 

 

Among all the other tourists there was also a group of plein-air painters set up at various points around the Falls.  It was fun to sneak a peek over their shoulders to see the various artistic interpretations.   (I'm more than happy to let my camera interpret for me.)

 

 

We saw these petroglyphs  in the Snake River canyon near the tiny town of Melba. Humans have lived in this area for at least 10,000 years.   We walked the trail to try to see some of the etchings left on the rocks.  They are quite faded and hard to see and the trail was fairly rugged, so I'm sure we missed a lot.

 

 

We visited the World Center for Birds of Prey near Boise.  Naturalists at the Center are among those working to re-introduce California Condors into the wild.  This vulture, the largest flying bird in North America is also the most endangered bird on our continent.  Although ancestors of the bird were alive during prehistoric times, by 1982 only 22 of the species remained.  All of these were placed in captive breeding programs at that time.   Most of the young condors born here in Idaho are released near the Grand Canyon.   

Today, the greatest danger to the newly wild condors are lead bullets.  Because the condors eat only dead animals, they may ingest particles of lead in animals left by hunters.   There is a push to stop the sale of leaded bullets, but I believe they are still being sold.   In addition to breeding condors for release, this Center also treats sick condors for rehabilitation.

 

 

 

This pretty little Kildeer was among several wild birds we saw on the grounds of the Center.   At 9 inches or so, it looked awfully small  after we had just gazed at the Condors which have over a 9-foot wing-span.  

 

 

There were lots of reasons to be glad we spent some time in Idaho on this trip.  And this amazing rainbow upstream from Shoshone Falls was definitely not the least of them.

 

 

LINKING this week to:  OUR WORLD on Tuesday; MOSAIC MONDAY; ALL SEASONS; NATURE NOTES; THROUGH MY LENS; WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY; SIGNS SIGNS; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; SATURDAY CRITTERS; and RATHER B'BIRDING.  

 

Thank you to the hosts for making these wonderful sharing opportunities available to all of us.

 

Comments

[Gaelyn]

Absolutely beautiful country. I'd like to visit the condors in Idaho, and the waterfalls if I can see rainbows like that. California outlawed lead ammunition but Arizona and Utah are working on hunter education to spare the condors.

[JennJilks]

Wow. Amazing photos. You take quite the pilgrimage!

[Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin']

Beautiful, absolutely beautiful Sallie!!

You shared some great photos today, and I appreciate you sharing them with us birders at I'd Rather B Birdin' this weekend!! Thanks.

[diane]

Wow what a beautiful place. The rainbow shots are amazing.

[Stewart M]

Great looking waterfalls and rainbows - you can always find new places, even in areas close to home I find!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

[Karen]

Lovely post. Those falls sure were beautiful. Looks like we were there around the same time. Hard to imagine them completely drying up at times!

[Al]

That's beautiful. I've spent a little time in Idaho but I'd love to really explore the state.

[Michelle Banks]

Wow the rainbow is amazing....I have never been to Idaho and know little about it....Michelle

[Linda]

LOVE THOSE RAINBOWs!!!

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie, I would love to see the Condor make a great comeback. The Center for Birds of Prey would be on my list of places to visit. Love the sweet Killdeer. The waterfalls are beautiful. Great post and photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

[David Gascoigne]

Wonderful series of images, Sallie. Whenever I encounter petroglyphs I am always struck by a sense of reverence contemplating that fellow travellers on this earth left their mark so many years ago. We seek to interpret what their art meant, wondering even was it art for them, or did it have some purely utilitarian function? The thing that always pops into my mind, is that perhaps if humans can find a way to survive in this planet for much longer, will archaeologists of the future contemplate graffiti
in the same way, and make suppositions about the cult that created it, and ascribe purpose to it? Will what we deem to be ugly and offensive have a higher meaning postulated about it?
Kudos for visiting the Centre for Birds of Prey - a marvellous organization. Have a great weekend!

[D]

I do like waterfall as much as you do.
Shoshone Falls is great and beautiful.

Rainfield

[D]

I do like waterfall as much as you do.

Shoshone Falls is great and beautiful.

[Chandra@GreenComotion]

Breathtaking photos of the beautiful Falls, Sallie!
Really well done.

And, yes we do need the nine inch babies and the 9' wing-spanned babies too, for a healthy ecosystem.

Have a Happy Weekend and Safe Travels!
Peace :)

[Peter B]

Wonderful rainbow shots, and love those petroglyphs!!

[JM Illinois U.S.A.]

I so enjoyed the cyber tour which included a beautiful rainbow. Amazing area.

[Breathtaking]

Hello Sallie!:) The views you captured are of breathtaking beauty, especially with the rainbows arched over the Snake river. I love waterfalls too Sallie. It's amazing to think that thousands of years ago this area was populated with people doing their art work, just as people are photographing and painting the beauty of this place today.
It's good news about the California Condors being re introduced back into the Grand Canyon, these birds belong there, and I sincerely hope the government ban the use of lead bullets. Lovely image of the Kildeer!:)

[Gattina]

That's a beautiful part of your country ! Not so well known by tourists at least European once I suspect, but certainly a gorgeous place for painters !

[Felicia]

Shoshone Falls is gorgeous. they had the water shut off somewhat for irrigation purposes when we were there so there wasn't as much water going over the falls.

[nancy chan]

What a gorgeous place to visit! Love the rainbow and waterfall and the birds, especially the bird of prey! Have a beautiful day!

[ellen b]

Oh my, I really need to get myself over to Shoshone Falls. Beautiful photos and great captures of the rainbow! Thanks for sharing this part of your trip. Are you getting any of the B.C. smoke down in your part of Oregon? We are trying to stay cool here in the Seattle area today. Too hot for my liking.

[Amy]

oh wow the waterfall and the view from the lookout is amazing!

[jesh StG]

Thank you for your birthday wish, Sallie! Am cleaning today since am having some guests to see the painting studio:)

[NatureFootstep photography]

WOW, d love to see this place. So much to see and enjoy. Thanks for sharing :)

[Barbara Chapman ~ French Ethereal]

I know the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park is part of the condor breeding and reintroduction program ~ used to see the condors there in large enclosures exactly like what you saw there in Idaho. I did see condors flying in the Grand Canyon when looking over and that was back 10 years ago or more now. My son and I enjoyed watching them catching the thermals coming up the canyon from a mile below where the boats were riding on the river.

Great post! I pinned a ton of photos. :)
Barb :)

[Patrick Tillett]

Such a beautiful area. I have friends who live about 10 miles from Melba. I haven't visited them yet, but your post makes me think I need to do so. Great photos Sallie!

[tom the backroads traveller]

...a little slice of heaven.

[Christine]

Oh wow! Firstly the waterfalls were amazing to see but what a bonus to see such clear rainbows!
Beautiful area, thanks for sharing!

[Sylvia D.]

Sallie, What a wonderful post. I love the rainbows. I guess waterfalls produce the water drops that make them. Love the birds always. Thanks for sharing and have a great week. Sylvia D.

[Linda]

Wow, Sallie! It is definitely scenic...breathtaking! The falls, the rainbow, the birds and reflections are fantastic!

[Debbie]

gorgeous waterfalls, they always produce the most amazing rainbows!!! great capture of the kildeer!!!

[Lea]

Beautiful waterfall! Love the rainbow!

[Gordon]

Hi Sallie, first of all allow me to thank you for your comments on two of my pages, much appreciated.
My word you past through some amazing scenery, those landscaps are breathtaking, but it was your eye that captured them through your camera, thanks for that.
Have a good week, Gordon.

[Bob]

Beautiful places you have made them Sallie.

[Carol]

The falls are stunning and great capture of the rainbow!

[Lisa]

Wow, such wonderful waterfalls! Looks like it was a great trip. Love the rainbow too :)
Thanks for stopping by my blog.

[Pat]

Wow! The Shoshone waterfalls are certainly breathtaking, Sallie! I loved the rainbow in the mist. I usually have to do a high hike to see waterfalls here in CO. We drove through a part of Idaho when returning from our trip to Glacier NP in Montana last summer, and I wished we had more time then to look around more. Maybe next trip we will!

[Ruth]

This is such a beautiful place. Idaho is very underrated in my opinion. I have been to Cour D'Alene and it is lovely there. #OurWorldTuesday

[Yogi]

Great photos. I love the falls and petrolglyphs. I have never been to Twin Falls. My dad lives upriver in Idaho Falls and I will be there this weekend. Idaho is one of the most under rated states in the country IMHO,

[Jeanna]

Just so you know your OR food cart comment really has me thinking. This is the future I dream of, hahahaha.

[artmusedog and carol]

1st photo is awesome and the rainbow shots are divine ~ thanks, ^_^

[Jeanna]

The falls and the rainbow are amazing. I don't know if people realize the rugged beauty Idaho has to offer and I'm glad you stopped by and took such great photos. Cute little killdeer, we have some at the local zoo. Geez, it's almost fall and it seems you just got home.

[LeeAnna Paylor]

I drove through Idaho once. I moved from Florida to Edmonton Alberta! What a nice state to drive through.
LeeAnna at not afraid of color

[Angie]

Sallie - Shoshone Falls can easily rival Niagara Falls, especially because the topography around it is much more interesting than flat upper New York. Now that we live in Montana, we do plan to get to Idaho soon. This will be on the list!

[FIndlay Wilde]

I will never understand how lead can be used for bullets when we all know that it is a poison, not that I have an interest to shoot anything anyway. I hope the condors breeding programme is a success long term.

[Halcyon]

I also love waterfalls (even the fake ones on golf courses!). These are really pretty and even better that you got some rainbows. :)

[Rajesh]

Very beautiful and scenic place.

[Ratty]

I am always fascinated when I see waterfalls. I lived in the lower peninsula of Michigan most of my life, and there are almost no waterfalls there.

[Phil Slade]

Hi Sallie. The waterfalls with their rainbows are quite stunning. No wonder the place attracts painters and photographers. Over here we have banned lead shot and it has a dramatic effect on increasing the population of mute swans, a species which dabbled around in the wetlands. It's so good to read about the condor and the efforts being made to bring a wild population back. I would have been so intereted in those petroglyphs by just looking at them and thinking about the people doing that 10,000 years ago.

[Lady Fi]

I'm loving the waterfalls and rainbow shots!

[Linja in Virginia]

Oh my! Rainbows, waterfalls, petroglyphs! How awesome!

[Karen]

A lovely post! That rainbow is awesome. Great petroglyphs! We are going to Petroglyph park in August here in our part of Ontario.

[Marie-OR]

Absolutely gorgeous Shoshone Falls and the petroglyphs! Wow! And amazing photography!

[Penny]

Such amazing views and birds - and the rainbows you have captured are beautiful, Sallie.
That's a great shot of the killdeer, too. I see them on occasion hereabouts, just recently circling off of a major expressway.

[DeniseinVA]

Great scenery and I love those rainbows. Cute little killdeer.

[Photo Cache]

Idaho is in my radar, just not able to go there yet. This would be in my itinerary, thanks.

[bill burke]

The rainbows are a beautiful sight to see. The falls are a nice treasure to view. Lovely photos!

[Fun60]

The falls are beautiful. I'm very impressed with your rainbows.

[Lorrie]

Those falls are amazing, so full of power. Glad you found somewhere new to visit and share with us. The condors are huge; I hope the re-introduction program is successful. Great photos.

[Sondra]

WOW...and I agree there is so much left to see in Idaho!! Lead was outlawed the "new" administration with Zinke in charge of the interior dept, is now allowing it to be used again, what an ***! Thank you for your awesome photos!

[Penelope Puddlisms]

Ranchers thoughtful enough to donate land, nature lovers trying to save wildlife, prehistoric artists leaving their mark on walls to be discovered in future times, a rainbow gleaming from end to end and water bubbling and surging … so many of my favorite things are all in this post!

[Snap]

I've never been to Idaho. I fly over it on occasion..ha! I love rainbows and waterfalls. Gorgeous images of your trip. thank you. happy monday!

[Eileen]

Hello, Sallie! Idaho is a pretty state. I love the view of the waterfalls and rainbow. The petroglyphs are neat, I would like to see them in person along with the Bird of Prey center. Great news about the Condor. Thanks for sharing your visit, great photos.
Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

[https://artworksfromjeshstg.wordpress.com/2016/09/28/santa-barbara-and-sorts/]

These falls are stunning, Sallie! No wonder there are a few painters here!Awesome you could catch a rainbow here for All Seasons! Have never been to Idaho, so this was also educational. An interesting fact about the condors! Happy continuation of your trip this week:)

[Annie]

Thaks a lot Sallie, for this beautiful trip ! It' always a great pleasure to travel with you.

[MaryBeth]

Beautiful Falls. We will have to make a visit there.
MB

[Maggie]

What a stunning area to visit, the waterfall and rainbow shots are fantastic!
Glad to hear that there are places such as this taking care of the condors, such beautiful creatures.
I've really enjoyed experiencing your trip back home from Florida, looking forward to seeing how you spent the summer when MM returns in September.