Birds of Prey NCA Partnership

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

06/05/2026

🙏 We wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who came to what was another hugely successful Raptor Fest.

⭐ To our bands, volunteers, booth holders, partners and sponsors who made it all possible, and to everyone who attended and made it the incredible celebration that it was - THANK YOU to each and every one of you!

🌳 We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did!

05/30/2026

We want to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, who make Raptor Fest possible by supporting different elements of the event.

⭐ Lost Grove Brewing
⭐ Idaho Power
⭐ Avian Power Line Interaction Committee
⭐ Hardin Sanitation
⭐ Indian Creek Winery
⭐ Republic Services

See you all later on today!

05/28/2026

Raptor Fest is now SOLD OUT!

🎟️ If you have tickets and can no longer attend, please cancel your tickets via the Eventbrite link so that those on the waitlist are able to attend 👉 https://www.eventbrite.com/e/snake-river-raptor-fest-2026-tickets-1987284048084

🦅 If you want to come but didn't get a ticket, please join the waitlist and we will email you if there is a cancellation and it's possible for you to attend (same link as above).

🚫 We will be at maximum capacity on the day, so if you don't have a ticket there will be none available at the venue.

Thank you to everyone who has booked tickets - we can't wait to see you on Saturday!

05/28/2026

🚨 RAPTOR FEST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 🚨

A very last minute request, but if anyone out there has a few hours free before/during Raptor Fest who would be happy to help us set up the event please get in touch! The event is this Saturday at Indian Creek Winery, Kuna ID.

If you are able to help, please send us an email on [email protected]

Thank you in advance! 🙏