2024 marks a significant milestone for the Intermountain Bird Observatory as we celebrate 30 years of dedicated bird research, outreach, conservation, and education! Since our first season as a hawk watch station in 1994, we have been committed to understanding and protecting avian species across the Intermountain West (and around the globe!) and we are thrilled to commemorate this journey with all of you.
We have an exciting lineup of events planned throughout the year, designed to engage and inspire bird enthusiasts of all ages. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store for the rest of 2024:
- Bird Banding at IBO Research Stations: Experience firsthand the captivating process of bird banding at one of our research stations. Witness the research that started it all!
- Special-Edition IBO T-shirts: Don’t miss the chance to grab our stunning new IBO t-shirt, featuring original artwork by @falcofous. Show your support for bird conservation while sporting this beautiful design. Visit our Bonfire Shop to get yours.
- Can you support us as we soar into the future? Give today. Your donations are tax deductible and may be eligible for the state education tax credit.
We are immensely grateful for the support and enthusiasm of our community over the past three decades. Your passion for birds and nature continues to drive our mission forward.
Celebrating 30 Years: A Look Back at Our Summer Anniversary Event!
On June 12th we gathered for a memorable 30th-anniversary celebration at Barber Park! Whether you were there in person or couldn’t make it, we want to reminisce about the fantastic time we had and the wonderful memories created.
A Reunion to Remember
The event felt like a fun summertime family barbecue, filled with laughter and reconnections. It was heartwarming to catch up with so many folks we hadn’t seen in a while. The joy and camaraderie were palpable, making the celebration truly special.
The Grand Reveal: Jay’s Haircut
One of the evening’s exciting highlights was the grand reveal of the haircut auction item. Denise Hughes emerged as the lucky winner, with the power to decide the fate of Jay’s ponytail. The decision? A chop! Jay, who had been growing his ponytail since 2020, is now sporting a shorter look, much to his relief in this summer heatwave.
Auction Success: Exclusive Experiences
The evening continued with the announcements of winners for our other exciting auction items. Many attendees won fun IBO trips, including our summer osprey banding project, Boise Peak raptor trapping, and hummingbird banding. Thanks to all of you, we raised $13,917 to bolster our research, outreach, and education programs. Thank you for being a part of the Intermountain Bird Observatory’s 30-year legacy of bird conservation!
If you missed out on these exclusive trips but would love to see them offered again someday, please let us know by emailing us at IBO@boisestate.edu.
A Look Back: 30 Years of Memories
To cap off the evening, we shared a video looking back on 30 years as an organization. If you haven’t had the chance to enjoy it yet, we hope you will now. Please check it out:
A Heartfelt Thank You
We are deeply thankful to the friends and volunteers who helped make the evening a success. From checking everyone in, distributing meal vouchers, and cleaning up at the end of the evening, to our two wonderful photographers who captured the evening in these beautiful photographs, your support was invaluable.
Looking Forward: Fall Activities
Our celebration of 30 years continues this fall with the start of our Lucky Peak project. We hope to see many of you out in the field. Be sure to schedule your visit soon!
Thank you all for your continued support and for making our 30th-anniversary celebration an event to remember. Here’s to many more years of protecting bird species and their habitats.