Everything about a visit to the Boise State University Idaho Bird Observatory (IBO) is about the thrill of experiencing birds and scientists in a natural setting. Want to hold nature in the palm of your hand? How about feeling a songbird’s heartbeat compared to yours? At Lucky Peak, the southernmost peak on the Boise Ridge, the IBO site welcomes visitors to a hands-on adventure of bird banding. It’s a perfect day’s outing, so close to Boise, yet it feels many miles away. The banding station has benefitted from a facelift that includes level ground for viewing, better on-site parking, and a permanent restroom.

        Maybe your children don’t know that birds migrate every year. Some fly to Mexico and back again to Boise, others find their way from Alaska or South America. After reading the bands on already-banded birds, scientists and volunteers at IBO log the information and place bands on birds for other researchers to see at their sites. It’s an international community that communicates through the natural migration of birds.

        This is not a staged event. No curtain is raised. Spontaneous applause and cheering often erupt when a bird lands in a net. The action begins. Birds are carefully picked from nets and data collection begins. Handlers record the bird’s species, gender, previous banding information, and the health of the bird. Fat content and muscle strength give insight about the bird’s health. You have just witnessed and participated in an unforgettable event.

        Some kids are slow to catch the excitement. Parents too may not know what to expect, but once they realize the magic of each catch, their comments move from “Aren’t they cute?” to “This is amazing.”

        Kids want to know how the birds feel. Typical questions heard at the site include the following:

Are the birds scared when they land in the net or when a human holds them?

What is that bracelet you put on their leg?

How can you tell the amount of fat in a bird’s stomach?

        Be prepared and bring sunscreen, hats, cameras, sturdy shoes, layered clothing, water and food (there’s none at the site), binoculars, bird books if you have them.

Banding Schedule: Open daily in season. Songbirds: July 16–October 15. 7am–noon in August and 7:30am–12:30pm in September. Hawks: August 25–October 31 (best in September and first week of October) 10am–5pm. Owls: August 28–October 28; dusk to dawn, usually best the last week of September to mid-October.

        There’s still time to see hummingbird banding on August 6 and August 20 from 6:30–11am at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival site. You won’t believe the size of a hummingbird band.

        Check out the IBO website at idahobirdobservatory.org for the latest news. Contact Greg Kaltenecker, Director or Jay Carlisle, Ph.D., Research Director to learn about membership and volunteer opportunities.

Judy Ware, Ph.D. felt the heartbeat of a female hummingbird for the first time. Now the bird world seems so significant.

Directions to the Lucky Peak site:  

Take Highway 21 north from Boise (towards Idaho City). About 3 miles past the top of Lucky Peak Dam, turn left onto Highland Valley Road (about 3/4 mile before you get to the Kodiak Grill and Country Store—formerly The Hilltop Café). Follow this for about five miles to the site, just below the radio tower. There are “Idaho Bird Observatory” signs at every important intersection. As you approach the peak, there is a gate. Park in the flat area to the right and walk thru the gate and down the road for about 200 meters to the site in the trees. Drive a high-clearance vehicle. It’s best not to plan a trip if there is a high probability of rain or strong winds.