Raptor Monitoring

Raptor Monitoring

Raptor Counts
Banding Data
Season Highlights

The importance of the Boise Ridge as a concentration point for migrating raptors has been known since 1993. Exploratory searches conducted throughout southwest Idaho identified the Boise Ridge, especially Lucky Peak, as supporting one of the largest-known concentrations of migrating raptors in the western U.S. A yearly monitoring project has been established to count the passing hawks to provide long-term population monitoring information.

Standardized monitoring of migrant raptors has been conducted at Lucky Peak since 1995. Observation procedures have been standardized with regard to number of observers, season starting and ending dates, daily count times, scanning procedures, hawk identification criteria, and data recording procedures. Observations are conducted by at least 2 qualified observers at all times. Daily counts begin at 1000 hours and continue until flights cease, usually between 1800 and 2100 hours. Data recorded include date, time, species, age (if possible), color morph (if possible), direction, and distance from observers of each passing raptor. Between 3500 and 8000 raptors have been recorded each fall passing the Lucky Peak research site since 1995.

Raptor banding is conducted each fall at 2 sites on the Boise Ridge by the Idaho Bird Observatory to identify specific migration routes, wintering areas, and breeding areas. Approximately 1000 raptors are banded each fall on the Boise Ridge. Raptors are lured into mist nets, bow nets, and dho-gazas using feral pigeons, ringed turtle doves, and house sparrows. Once captured, raptors are fitted with aluminum leg bands provided by the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Lab. After banding, species, age, sex (if possible), and several morphometric features including wing chord, length of longest tail feather, weight, eye color, presence of ectoparasites, crop size, and trap/release time are recorded.

The Idaho Bird Observatory has recieved many recoveries from raptors banded on the Boise Ridge. Band encounters indicate that many of the accipiters and Red-tailed Hawks banded during fall migration on the Boise Ridge spend the winter months in western Mexico and southern California (see map).

Due to the nature of this project and the quality viewing experience it provides, high priority is given to promoting public viewing, education, and involvement. Programs designed to involve community volunteers, university students, and high school students in project activities have been developed.

The raptor monitoring project is coordinated by the Project Director, Greg Kaltenecker; contact him at: gkalten@internetoutlet.net