And what we've seen is that, over the past 30 years, kestrels are nesting approximately a month earlier than when we started the project. I'm really lucky to be a part of a long-term monitoring project of over a hundred nest boxes around the Boise area. HEATH: Their behavior and, in particular, their migration and breeding. You've discovered some new things about their behavior? That is the smallest bird, is it not, the smallest bird of prey? And that's part of the attraction for this area.įLATOW: Well, Julie Heath, you specialize in studying a bird, the kestrel. the American kestrel, and the Birds of Prey Area in particular has a relatively high density of prairie falcons and medium-sized falcon and golden eagles. And the common raptors that we find here are what? Name a few of the most common raptors.įULLER. In Europe, sometimes they separate owls out from raptors.įLATOW: So does it have to do with whether the bird eats something alive or dead, or if it's eating something that they kill or something that's already dead?įULLER: Mostly, they're hunters, and they capture live prey, although almost any of them will scavenge dead prey, and the vultures in particular rely mostly on dead prey.įLATOW: Mm-hmm. And then on the adjacent plains of the Snake River Plain country, there's lots of vegetation and - prey and vegetation for them to eat and raise their young.įLATOW: And what is the definition of a raptor?įULLER: Well, in North America, when we talk about raptors, we- usually are referring to hawks, owls, eagles, falcons, vultures. One, mostly due to the cliffs of the Snake River Canyon, there are many, many places for these birds to nest and be out of each other's way. Well, the area has two features that are very important to support the high densities. Welcome to SCIENCE FRIDAY, both of you.įLATOW: Well, let me ask that question, whoever wants to answer: Why do the raptors love it here so much? Mark, you want to take that up?
And Julie Heath is associate professor of biological sciences at Boise State. He's also director of the Raptor Research Center at Boise State University. Mark Fuller is research wildlife biologist for the U.S. If you're listening and you want to become a master's in raptor biology, this is the place.īut why is it that the raptors like this place so much? And maybe my next guest knows. Boise State University is one of the only places where you can earn a master's degree in raptor biology. Lots of biologists have flocked to the area to study the birds.
They all nest in or migrate around the area, and all that raptor activity has caused another migration.
And that park has one of the highest concentrations of nesting raptors in the world, more than 20 different birds of prey, including golden eagles, red-tailed hawks, screech owls. Just outside of town is the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Up next, the biology of raptors, moving from giant animals to the birds, we're going to talk about here in Boise.
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