Birds of Prey NCA Partnership

10/16/2026

We'll start with some bad news, then move onto the good...

Last fall we highlighted the Range Fire planting area in a blog. This year, one of the two slickspot peppergrass exclosures burned again 💔

🥳 But, on a rocky outcrop nearby, we noticed something encouraging: the hot rock penstemon we planted about 9 months ago was missed by the fire. Several plants are much larger than when they went in, and some have already gone to seed, which means more penstemon will germinate on that outcrop next year.

Rock outcrops are proving to be resilient spots in a fire-prone landscape. We’re planting forbs on outcrops across the NCA with a long-term goal: turning them into seed orchards, reliable forb seed collection sites for restoration work in the years ahead.

Restoration is a long game, and just a few surviving plants on a rock can set up the next generation. So, we're clinging onto the good news when we get it!

09/09/2026

This call was in danger of disappearing forever...

The peregrine falcon is one of the greatest modern day conservation success stories, and shows what can be done when a species is offered the protection and conservation measures it needs to thrive!

Seeing as this call may have never been heard in the NCA again, it makes hearing it even more special.

Have you ever heard a peregrine in the NCA? Let us know in the comments 👇

🔈 Gil Lissens/Xeno Canto

09/07/2026

📆 September's raptor of the month is the peregrine falcon!

💨 Widely known to be the world's fastest bird, it uses its speed to outpace its prey, all while mid-air. Seriously impressive.

🦅 A modern day conservation success story, the peregrine falcon made a remarkable comeback in the US due to widespread monitoring and conservation measures.

Learn more about peregrine falcons and where you might just spot one in our NCA in our latest blog, written by the wonderful Kateri Bilay (thank you 🙏 ) https://birdsofpreyncapartnership.org/blog1/raptors-of-the-nca-peregrine-falcon

09/04/2026

Sometimes camera traps don't always photograph the species you set out to monitor (as you'll see by scrolling 👉 )

BOPP, in collaboration with the Quantitative Conservation Lab and Zoe Bonerbo’s research, have been able to monitor a number of prairie falcon and ferruginous hawk nests in the NCA.

Here are some fun highlights of other species seen in and around these nests we've all been monitoring over the summer. These animals all call the NCA their home too, and it’s exciting to see all the animals coexisting within their habitat!

How many of the visitors can you name? Answers in the comments 👇

07/31/2026

Did you know the NCA is home to a daytime-hunting owl? 🦉

Short-eared owls are active at dawn and dusk, gliding low over grasslands with a distinctive moth-like flight. They nest right here in the NCA, but as ground nesters, they're vulnerable to disturbance, which is why staying on-trail matters so much at this time of year.

These owls are also incredible travelers: one tracked bird crossed 850 km of open water across the Gulf of Alaska! Learn more about their fascinating migration, habitat needs, and how you can help protect them in our latest blog: https://birdsofpreyncapartnership.org/blog1/raptors-of-the-nca-short-eared-owl

✍️ Written by: Kateri Bilay
📸 Photos: Matthew Danihel

07/27/2026

In the spring, we headed out to an exclosure zone we have created in an area that was burned by the Victory Fire. The first photo in this series shows the impact of the fire before any work was done on the site.

Our team, including Steve and Lynell, were joined by Roger Rosentreter, a retired BLM ecologist and BOPP Habitat Advisor, and Kylie Stear, a BLM Restoration Intern. Together with other volunteers, the group planted 100 sage, 25 grasses, and 25 forbs.

The area is coming back to life thanks to the hard work of our Habitat Improvement Program and support from local partners and volunteers.

Find out more about this program on our website: https://birdsofpreyncapartnership.org/hip

07/24/2026

Meet Lynell Sutter, Habitat Improvement Program Director for the Snake River Birds of Prey NCA Partnership! 🦉🌾

For over 20 years, Lynell has worked across Idaho's sagebrush steppe - from searching for slickspot peppergrass to planning large-scale restoration projects. In our latest blog, she shares her love for the Owyhee Canyonlands, why the Burrowing Owl is her favorite raptor, and what keeps her fighting for these landscapes.

Read her blog here: https://birdsofpreyncapartnership.org/blog1/meet-the-team-lynellsutter

07/03/2026

Did you know the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey NCA is the ONLY national conservation area whose boundaries were drawn based on the range of a single species? 🦅

That species is the prairie falcon, and the 485,000-acre landscape it calls home is one of the densest raptor nesting grounds on the planet, with 24 species spotted here throughout the year.

We're kicking off a new blog series by Kateri Bilay who will be taking a closer look at the incredible birds you can find in the NCA - starting with this introduction to the landscape itself.

Read the full post here: https://birdsofpreyncapartnership.org/blog1/2026/6/30/raptors-in-the-nca

📸 Got photos of raptors in the NCA? Send them our way, we might feature them in an upcoming newsletter or on our social media!

07/01/2026

Despite being known as a 'screech' owl, the name is much more suited to the call of the eastern screech-owl rather than its western counterpart.

The call of western screech-owl is more of a series of hollow t***s. Maybe it needs a rebrand?

Have you ever heard a western screech-owl calling?

🔊 Xeno Canto/Lance A. M. Benner - this series of calls was made by a male at dusk.

06/30/2026