K thru Gray Education for Bird Conservation
By Sydney Meng, Golden Eagle Guest Blogger
You’ll find Lucky Peak tucked high in the Boise Mountains above Lucky Peak Reservoir. At 5,904 feet, it’s the southernmost peak in the Boise Mountains, and the Boise State University Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO) finds it the perfect place to conduct bird research. Songbirds migrating south in the fall frequently stop on the peak to enjoy their last mountain meal before facing the dry basin and range of Nevada, and raptors regularly pass overhead.
IBO has been conducting bird research, outreach, conservation, and education for 30 years. Their research increases understanding of birds across the Intermountain West and around the globe including Long-billed Curlews, Pinyon Jays, Cassia Crossbills, and American Goshawks. With three research stations open to the public, Heidi Ware Carlisle, the Education and Outreach Director of IBO, creates opportunities for the public to observe the work of ornithologists and even lend a hand. “I like to say IBO does ‘K through gray’ education because what we do is fun for any age,” Heidi says proudly.
A Passion for Wildlife
Having nearly 16 years of involvement with the IBO, Heidi’s work is primarily teaching young students about work at the banding stations. Her passion for wildlife first blossomed in 4th grade when she vividly remembers visiting IBO’s Lucky Peak Banding Station. During her freshman year in college, she began participating in events hosted by the Golden Eagle Audubon Society and the Intermountain Bird Observatory. After receiving her master’s degree at Boise State University studying the correlation between road noise and migratory bird species, Heidi started work with IBO. “Since 2015, I have been working to bring the public to our banding stations. My goal is to bring the public to meet our scientists and researchers, while participating in hands-on outreach activities like habitat restoration and community science,” she explains.
For Heidi, there is no such thing as a typical workday. During the summer and fall months, she jumps between all three public research stations: Lucky Peak, Diane Moore Nature Center on the Boise River, and Idaho City hummingbird banding station. She teaches banding trainees, gathers data through banding different species herself, and sparks inspiration through interactions with visitors.
Heidi Ware Carlisle shows a songbird to Lucky Peak visitors
“Watching a kid giggle when they release their first bird reminds me every day what a special job I have, and what a privilege it is to work with these wild animals. I smile when a visitor realizes they’ve been walking past more than 50 species of songbirds along the Boise Greenbelt or when a student realizes they can be a ‘real life biologist’ when they grow up.”
Community Support is Essential
Getting enough money to fund outreach projects at the IBO is an ongoing challenge. IBO depends solely on patron generosity to offer education programs. “It can get a bit nerve-wracking each year watching and hoping for enough donations, but our community has always come through!” Heidi said.
Heidi believes that incorporating the public into ornithology has unmatched importance in the world of birding. She says that no matter how much scientists know about conservation, it is solely up to the public to spread the word.
Currently, the IBO is making progress on a plethora of projects, including installing more interpretive signs and trails near their newest station, the Diane Moore Nature Center. At Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area, IBO is considering establishing a hummingbird monitoring center, specifically to track a special species, the Calliope Hummingbird.
Bridging the Gap
Heidi is one of the many crucial experts who bridge the gap between science and society, letting the fellow birdwatchers of Boise experience unique conservation practices such as bird banding. Her role is indispensable among researchers and should be greatly appreciated along with the entirety of the staff and volunteers at the Intermountain Bird Observatory.
Flycatcher Identification Class with Heidi Ware Carlisle
Heidi and her husband, Jay Carlisle, have studied Empidonax flycatchers for years. Heidi’s ability to differentiate the different species of flycatchers is quite advanced. Heidi will be teaching a Flycatcher Identification class for Golden Eagle Audubon members on August 22nd from 7 pm to 9 pm on Zoom. Learn more and sign up.