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Diane Moore Nature Center
Newsletter

Intermountain Bird Observatory
News

Category: Research Projects

Sunday January 7, 2024

Job Posting: Experienced Spring Migration Banding Field Assistant

Location: Camas NWR (Hamer, Idaho) Time Period: 4/15/24 to 6/16/24 Salary: starting at $1,000/month, DOE…

Sunday January 7, 2024

Job Posting: American Goshawk Seasonal Avian Technicians

These positions have been filled for 2024 We are looking for avian biologists to join…

Wednesday November 1, 2023

NSF Grant Empowers Student Research in Spain

Over the years we have sent a number of students to the city of Tarifa, Spain to participate in counts of soaring birds, trapping and banding of Black Kites, banding of songbirds and flamingos, and countless other incredible activities.

Wednesday November 1, 2023

What is an American Goshawk? Our Role in the Rising Interest in the Species

North America’s newest bird species is the American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus). Wait…what? Yes, sort of… In July of this year, the American Ornithologist Union voted to split the Northern Goshawk into the American Goshawk and the Eurasian Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis).

Wednesday November 1, 2023

From Moor to Shore: The Uncertain Future of the Eurasian Curlew

I love to think of the United Kingdom and the United States having a link through Curlews, a natural bond across the Atlantic Ocean. Both species are truly lovely to look at, sharing the intricate, subtle patterning of grey, brown and cream feathers, a sculptural, downward curving bill and graceful posture.

Wednesday November 1, 2023

The Tipping Point for Motus in the West?

This year proved to be another exciting one for the Motus Wildlife Tracking System network in the West as IBO continues to partner with MPG Ranch. Our hopes and dreams of creating a sort of “domino effect” in the Intermountain West are turning into reality!

Wednesday November 1, 2023

Camas National Wildlife Refuge: How has Migration Changed?

Between fall 2005 and spring 2007, IBO measured an impressive volume and diversity of migrant birds that were using Camas NWR. But in the years since then, the refuge has conspicuously changed, perhaps most notably the vegetation community.

Wednesday April 26, 2023

A new, old project for IBO

If you’ve spent much time at our research stations, you probably know IBO’s research director,…

An Ancient Grosbeak

We didn’t know it at the time, but this fall we caught a truly ancient…

Inspired by Ranchers in the Northern Great Plains

I dial the number I’m given. After a couple rings a soft-spoken, kind voice answers, “This is Russ.” “Hi Russ, I’m with the Intermountain Bird Observatory. We’ve been contracted by the World Wildlife Fund to conduct the bird surveys on your ranch for the RSVP–Ranching Systems and Viability Planning program.”

Tuesday November 1, 2022

A Day to Remember on the Wolakota Buffalo Range

I take a few more scoops of sand from beneath the engine block of my beat-up Toyota and skeptically eye the bundles of dry yucca stems and twigs beneath the front tires before climbing into the cab and trying one more time. No luck.

Tuesday November 1, 2022

2022 Lucky Peak Update

The smokey, amber-washed evening of July 14th—pleasantly peppered with the chip notes of soon-to-be migrants, and the laughter of five technicians who had no idea just how grateful they’d be to have found each other—set the tone for what was to be a joyful, if ominously warm, autumn.

Motus Network Tracks Birds Over Thousands of Miles

In 2022, IBO continued its partnership with MPG Ranch to maintain the Idaho Motus network. Motus stations can shut down at any moment from a variety of issues, so keeping the network up and running can be difficult and time consuming. The hard work is nonetheless fulfilling, especially when we discover more and more tag detections at our stations every year!

Tuesday November 1, 2022

Spotted: California Celebrity Making Waves in Morro Bay!

When I was walking along Morro Strand State Beach on June 21, 2020, I happened to come across a Long-billed Curlew and took some photos and videos then uploaded them to my Flickr album. At first I only saw this odd thing sticking up on the bird’s back. When I saw the bands on this curlew though, I knew it was a tagged bird!

Tuesday November 1, 2022

Northern Idaho: A Three-Year Retrospective

Lesley and I have worked with the Intermountain Bird Observatory as the northern Idaho field crew for three seasons now. We are enamored by the beauty of that country, by its rewarding but challenging terrain and surprises – including crossing rushing creeks, climbing mountain ridges, and the occasional run-in with wolf packs, mountain lions, and bears.

Tuesday November 1, 2022