Intermountain Bird Observatory

Rare Bird Alert! ⚠️ 5/31/26

Our team has been doing just a few banding days this spring at Camas National Wildlife Refuge. We are working to collect data at locations throughout the refuge with varying amounts of water, to hopefully help better understand how water management and restoration efforts affect this migration stopover site.

Intermountain Bird Observatory songbird banders just released a female Bay-breasted Warbler near the observation tower at Camas NWR in Jefferson County! Approximate location: 43.92833, -112.27006 - she was released from here but we just saw her fly off to the southeast and have not relocated her, although she did land in the sagebrush not too far from the path. She was originally caught around here: 43.92519, -112.27469, so she may return to that area.

I believe this is the 3rd state record if all records are on eBird.

She was banded and released as part of research efforts to understand water usage and its impact on migrating songbirds, with a federal permit from the USGS Bird Banding Lab.

If anyone comes to look for this bird before we wrap up banding today around 11am, please be mindful of our banding operation and do not hang out right by any of our nets. But you're more than welcome to come check out the banding station!

Free plant cages available!
At the Diane Moore Nature Center, we are shifting our plant protection techniques and using larger exclosures instead of small cages. That means we have a lot of free plastic mesh cages available!

If you could use these and would like to pick them up, they are stacked outside our shipping container at the Diane Moore Nature Center location. Take as many as you like.

**Please note, if our interns are on site working that day there may be pots, stakes or other supplies sitting out. ONLY the light yellowish mesh cages are available to take

Free event! Come see us at Raptor Fest this weekend! 🪶

We're testing out a fun new Curlew game that we think you'll really like 😎

If you're planning on attending, get your tickets fast because there are only a few left!

Craft for a cause and raise awareness about bird window strikes. No skills required!

Join us for this FREE craft workshop at Sagebrush Collaborative on Saturday May 16th, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Drop in any time.

1609 N 13th St, Boise, ID 83702 in Hyde Park.

We will be using upcycled fabrics to create birds, representing all the birds killed by window strikes.

This is part of the larger art installation.
Once you create your fabric bird, We will mail them off to Chicago where they will become part of this important awareness campaign, helping spread the message about bird window strikes and what you can do to make your windows safe.

Our team will be on hand with some great demonstrations of bird safe treatments you can use at home 🪟 🐦

Images show handmade fabric birds of various colors laying on a table.

Do you have a 4 wheel drive truck or SUV that you've been considering selling or donating? We'd love to talk! We're on the hunt for a field vehicle to support some of our research this summer in Idaho. Message us or email [email protected] if you think you might have what we're looking for.

This month is bringing the perfect weather for spring habitat restoration days at the Diane Moore Nature Center, and we're really looking forward to it! We hope you'll join us to help put seedlings in the ground, build trails, and more.

Check out these beautiful seedlings we have ready to go. It's important to increase biodiversity in these river habitats however you can. So this year, we're focusing on these hand-grown and lovingly cared for Bradford Pear saplings, gorgeous Purple Loostrife, and more 😍😍 Do you recognize any of your favorite species in this photo?

Idaho Fish and Game has a number of habitat restoration opportunities coming up to help restore the area burned by the Valley Fire in 2024 (this is on Boise River WMA land, where our beloved Lucky Peak fall migration project takes place).

Can you help IDFG restore this habitat for the birds and other wildlife? Full event details and links to RSVP directly with IDFG are in the comments below this post.

March 31, and April 2, 4, 7, 14.

Photo shows students and volunteers planting seedlings in the burned hillside at our Lucky Peak station

Volunteers needed! Join us for a day of habitat restoration work at the Intermountain Bird Observatory's Diane Moore Nature Center.

Details:
April 11th and 18th
Time: 10:00 AM to approx 2pm
Location: Diane Moore Nature Center, Intermountain Bird Observatory

We need your help to restore riparian vegetation along the Boise River side-channel, sew native seed mix in construction areas, stabilize banks, repair fencing, place large wood (fish habitat) in the side-channel, and build trails. There will be a variety of jobs for all abilities, and we will provide training on any of the work we'll be doing. We're hosting this event along with The Nature Conservancy in Idaho 🫶

Photo shows student intern Delaney planting a seedling at the Diane Moore Nature Center

For more information and to RSVP, follow this link: https://forms.gle/8mYk6YBLv7veAG7F8

2 hours left! Wow everyone thank you so much for your support so far on Bronco Giving Day!! You all continue to surprise and overwhelm us with your support 🫶

We're 80% of the way to our fundraising goal and we have two hours left to do it. Can you help us make it through? 💪

Find the clickable link in our bio: https://broncogivingday.com/campaigns/intermountain-bird-observatory-ibo

Bronco Giving Day is here!

Can we count on your support today?
broncogivingday.com/campaigns/intermountain-bird-observatory-ibo

Thank you SO much to everyone who has already given today!!
In our ever-changing funding landscape, we’re leaning more than ever into our efforts to support students in research, conservation, and habitat restoration work.

Our goal is to train up young scientists, fairly compensate them for their work on our projects, and give them real-world experience in this career field: all while tackling important monitoring and restoration projects.

Your gift today will help us meet these goals for 2026, and expand our programming into the future. Thank you!

Photo of a Savannah Sparrow taken by one of our Vertically Integrated Project students last fall, Cian Squires!
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All bird banding is conducted under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey, as well as additional state and institutional permits and permissions.