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Category: 2025 Newsletter

lucky peak's hillside covered in bright yellow arrowleaf balsamroot flowers

2025 Annual Newsletter

As we look back on the past year, something important stands out: in the wake of the 2024 Valley Fire and after a tumultuous start to 2025, you—our IBO community—have been the constant glimmer keeping us moving forward. The outpouring of support we’ve received from the IBO family has lifted our spirits and strengthened our resolve in ways we can hardly put into words.

Read more- 2025 Annual Newsletter
sunset view at Lucky Peak with burned trees and yellow balsamroot flowers

Tumultuous 2025 

To say 2025 has been different feels like an understatement. The “Cliff Notes” version is that we’ve missed out on approximately $700,000 in grant funding for work in 2025. But as we look to the next year, there’s reason for hope amidst the turmoil of 2025.

Read more- Tumultuous 2025 
A scientist gently holds a pale gray hummingbird with yellow dust covering her face

To Catch a Hummingbird

In the predawn half-light, muffled footfalls herald preparation for hummingbird banding. Up the hillside, I make final adjustments to a hummingbird trap. When dropped, this mesh cylinder encloses a feeder and an unsuspecting hummer. I adjust the guyline, making sure the trap is operating smoothly. Sitting quietly in my chair, I am grateful for the layers that will inevitably be shed when the sun peeks over the mountaintop.

Read more- To Catch a Hummingbird
Heather holding a long-billed curlew with both hands in a farming field

Ten years with Heather Hayes

One of the hardest aspects of 2025 has been watching projects slip away that once supported Heather Hayes working for us full time. As many readers will know, she has been a staple on many of our projects: running outreach programming, picking up portions of research and field projects throughout the year, coordinating visitors to Lucky Peak, coordinating our fall raptor workshops, and serving as editor for these annual newsletters!

Read more- Ten years with Heather Hayes
Sunset behind a sign that reads
A person holds a large hawk inside a wooden raptor blind
IBO Volunteers: Three older gentlemen are testing out the handiwork of the new raptor blind for bird banding.