May, 1915 
BIRDS OF KOOTENAI COUNTY, IDAHO 
121 
year, caused by the Washington Water Power Company in Spokane River at 
Post Falls. 
The annual spring thaw and melting of deep snow in tne mountains causes 
a heavy rise of the water lasting till the early part of June, and with the back- 
ing up of low water of the lake caused by the dam, a greater part of the 
marshes, flats and shores are covered to such a depth that very few species of 
birds are to be found. A large portion of the southern end of the lake, Chat- 
eolet Lake and St. Joe Valley were formally included in the Coeur d’Alene 
Indian reservation and being free from settlement offered seclusion to many 
waterfowl. The opening of this reservation to settlement in 1906 has had a 
tendency to lessen the numbers of shore birds and Anatidae formerly seen in 
this locality. 
One-fourth of the area of Kootenai County is embraced in the Coeur 
d’Alene National Forest Reserve; also a small portion including Chateolet 
Lake has been set aside as a State Park. As Chateolet Lake has always been 
a favorite resort of waterfowl, it is hoped the protection now offered will tend 
to increase the numbers as well as species. The protection offered by the For- 
est Reserve may in time have a noticeable effect in the increase of many species 
which prefer the dense coniferous timber, and mountainous regions. The old 
Fort Sherman military reservation, which was well represented in species, was 
abandoned in 1898 and later sold at public auction. It is now well built up and 
is a continuation of Coeur d’Alene City. (See fig. 46.) 
The following list of species has been prepared from personal observa- 
tions dating from March, 1910, to December, 1914. Species marked with an 
asterisk are, to the best of my knowledge, new records for this vicinity. In the 
preparation of the list I desire to express my obligations to Mr. J. Grinnell and 
to the Smithsonian Institution, for assistance in identifications of specimens, 
and to Mr. F. A. Shallis, a local taxidermist, for the privilege of examining and 
measuring a number of specimens in the flesh. 
Aechmophorus occidental is. Western Grebe. Not common tall and winter visitor 
on Lake Coeur d’Alene; also seen on Fernan Lake. Most frequently observed from 
September to December. A few may remain throughout mild winters when the lakes 
do not freeze over. 
Colymbus nigricollis califiornicus. Eared Grebe. Rare in this locality. One adult 
specimen examined October 9, 1912, taken on Lake Coeur d’Alene. (Recorded in Condor, 
xv, p. 41.) 
Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. Not common fall and winter visitant on 
Lake Coeur d’Alene. Largest numbers noted on the lake during the month of November, 
1914. 
Gavia immer. Common Loon. Rare resident. Several young seen on Fernan Lake 
in fall; and young males examined, taken on Lake Coeur d’Alene. 
Gavia steliata. Red-throated Loon. Rare. One specimen examined, a young 
female, taken on Lake Coeur d’Alene, October 6, 1912. (Recorded in Condor, xv, p. 41.) 
Larus deiawarensis. Ring-billed Gull. Not common fall and winter visitor on Lake 
est numbers seen on Lake Coeur d’Alene, during the fall of 1912. Very few noted in 
1913-14. 
Larus Philadelphia. Bonaparte Gull. Not common fall and winter visitor on Lake 
Coeur d’Alene. 
*Sterna hirundo. Common Tern. Rare. One specimen examined, taken on Lake 
Coeur d’Alene. 
*Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis. Black Tern. Fairly common on St. Joe 
marshes in June, 1914; probably breeding. One seen at Hayden Lake in June, 1914. 
Mergus americanus. American Merganser. Rare fall and winter visitor. Two 
adult males examined, taken at Hayden Lake, November 19, 1914. 
