On December 1, the Bend, OR based East Cascades Audubon Society’s Winter Raptor Survey Project began its primary survey season survey efforts on 540 routes throughout all of OR, WA, ID, and parts of northern CA and UT, and a recent expansion effort into western MT.  This is the projects 19th survey season, 12th in Idaho.  This is a very large and active citizen science project, with over 450 active primary volunteers, that has provided a very large data base to the Peregrine Fund to augment their worldwide data base for birds of prey.

Idaho has 146 routes and the following are in need of a volunteer to do surveys this winter:

Weiser West                           32 miles long
Hill City – Fairfield                 110
Winchester                             70
Nezperce                                71  new route, never been surveyed
Coeur d’Alene                        75
Churchill – Oakley.                 65
Heyburn                                 40
Acequia                                 39
Rupert North                          69
Burley SE                              31     
Paul                                      65  new route, never been surveyed
Minidoka NW                        68  new route, never been surveyed
American Falls NW               77

We ask that our volunteers commit to one survey per month during December through February, that they have a good grasp of raptor ID, and that they have at least binoculars to search for and ID birds, spotting scopes are preferable but not required.  Surveys can be scheduled any day of the month that matches up with your life schedule each month.

If this sounds like something that you would like to be a part of, please get back to me as soon as you can with your route choice(s) and I will work with you to get prepared for the effort.  With the month of December half gone already, if you are interested please contact me as quickly as possible so I can bring you up to speed with what you will be doing and hopefully get a survey completed before the month is over.  This is a great opportunity to learn about raptors in your chosen area, hope to hear from you soon, thank you 🙂

Jeff Fleischer
Project Coordinator
Winter Raptor Survey Project
East Cascades Audubon Society – Bend, OR   (project sponsor)