Significance, History, and Challenges

in Establishing a National Conservation Area

for Raptors in Southwestern Idaho

Mike Kochert, Scientist Emeritus,

U.S. Geological Survey

Thursday, May 2nd, 2024

7:00 PM

CSI Room 201, Shields Building

This will be an IN-PERSON program

ZOOM link available:

https://csi.zoom.us/j/2730389966

The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey Area National Conservation Area (NCA) in southwestern Idaho is a unique international treasure that is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Known for its extraordinary numbers and diversity of raptors, the NCA is recognized as one of the most important raptor nesting areas in the World. Mike Kochert has conducted research and monitoring in what is now the NCA for nearly 55 years. He will speak about the history of establishing the NCA from 1970 until the area was established by Congress in 1993. He will discuss the historical conflicting land uses for the area and the events (some planned, others fortuitous) that led to establishing the NCA. He will also talk about challenges facing the BLM and NCA managers caused by climate change and large increases in the local human population.      

About Mike:

Mike Kochert is an emeritus scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Boise Idaho. He is also an affiliate faculty member at Boise State University.  He has been studying birds of prey for the last 54 years, mostly in the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA).  He received a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in Wildlife Management and a Master’s degree in Wildlife Science at the University of Idaho, where he studied nesting Golden Eagles in southwestern Idaho.  The Bureau of Land Management hired Mike in 1972 as the first biologist for what is now the NCA, and over the years, he has worked for the Bureau of Land Management, the National Biological Service, and the U.S. Geological Survey, focusing on the raptors in the NCA. He would like to share his experiences over the last half century, particularity as they relate to establishing the National Conservation Area.