The Intermountain Bird Observatory PonyUp campaign has closed, but you can still make a gift!

Just visit https://give.boisestate.edu/ and use AR062 in the Fund ID space.

2 Days Left With $1,000 Match Challenge! 

Please help us reach our final goal of $16,000 before our campaign ends! And, thanks to the generosity of a long-time IBO supporter, every donation in the last two days will be DOUBLED up to $1,000! Please give and share with your friends!

• The true cost of equipment lost in the fire was a little over $16,000. Your continued support will go a long way in closing that gap.
• Provide additional critical supplies including propane, batteries, cooking and cleaning supplies, and food for crews.
• Expand our work at our Boise River location so that we can relocate much of the outreach and educational programs, allowing us to provide as many hands-on experiences with birds as possible while continuing vital research.

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The Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO) needs your help! As the Mile Marker 14 fire swept across the Lucky Peak area, our academic research and community outreach program located there was devastated by the flames.

The program is currently on hold as the BLM and Idaho Fish and Game focus on habitat restoration and rehabilitation. From July to October, we are usually able to welcome visitors to join us at Lucky Peak to observe our songbird, raptor, and owl migration research projects. Unfortunately, due to the MM14 fire, this year will be different as we are unsure when Highland Valley Road will be open to the public. Fortunately, our crews have access to the road so our research will continue as soon as we replace our equipment. Despite the lost equipment and closure of public access to Lucky Peak, we are grateful that our crew members and those who were fighting the blaze are safe and are thankful for the offers of support we have received from all of you!

Now, we are asking for your help as we rebuild and clean up the Lucky Peak station. Every dollar and share will help us with the loss of revenue we will experience this summer and cover the immediate needs at IBO. The site will likely be closed to the public through most of the 2016 fall season, while the Idaho Department of Fish and Game works to restore habitat in the area. Although IBO crews will have access to Lucky Peak to conduct basic monitoring activities, this means that we won’t be able to host the ~2,000 people who visit us each fall. While our basic operating costs will be about the same as usual, we will miss out on important donations made by our public visitors – donations that are critical to our work.  

Your support will:

• help offset costs of continuing our monitoring by covering intern stipends
• buy much-needed field equipment like nets and traps
• provide for critical supplies including propane, batteries, cooking and cleaning supplies,  and food for crews

Currently, we are working extra hours to rebuild hawk trapping and banding gear like bow nets, and dho-gazas. The owl calling systems will have to be rebuilt from scratch if we are going to continue our owl monitoring this season. Much of this specialized equipment is made by hand and must be customized to our Lucky Peak site. So as we are rebuilding the site and making the best of the area closure, your support is everything to our staff, volunteers, and community. 

Please help by giving today and sharing our project at ponyup.boisestate.edu/ibofire. For all in-kind donations or questions, please reach out to Heidi at heidiware@boisestate.edu.

#IBOFire, #MM14, #LuckyPeak, #wildfire, #birds