Guest Contributor: Heather M Hayes
The Long-billed Curlews are returning to their breeding grounds in Idaho once again and they need your help!! This charismatic bird species is North America’s largest shorebird and relies on grassland habitat for nesting during April, May, and June. Protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and listed as an Idaho Species of Greatest Conservation Need, the Long-billed Curlew has been in a dizzying decline, ~95% in SW Idaho over 40 short years. Satellite tracking research conducted by the Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO) has uncovered that the likely cause of this decline throughout SW Idaho has been due to poaching. The IBO partners with government agencies, NGO’s, public land-user groups, to spread awareness through public campaigns, school programs and Hunter’s Education classes.
Want to learn more of how you can help be a voice for the curlews? You can find the IBO on social media:
And now with their Satellite Tracker, you can now check and see where transmitted Curlews are across the continent. Click HERE to view the tracker.