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Lucky Peak Technician Resources

The Bander’s Code of Ethics

1. Banders are primarily responsible for the safety and welfare of the birds they study so that stress and risks of injury are minimized. Some basic rules:

  • handle each bird carefully, gently, quietly, with respect, and in minimum time
  • capture and process only as many birds as you can safely handle
  • close traps or nets when predators are in the area
  • do not band in inclement weather
  • frequently assess the condition of traps and nets and repair them quickly
  • properly train and supervise students
  • check nets as frequently as conditions dictate
  • check traps as often as recommended for each trap type
  • properly close all traps and nets at the end of banding
  • do not leave traps or nets set and untended
  • use the correct band size and banding pliers for each bird
  • treat any bird injuries humanely

2. Continually assess your own work to ensure that it is beyond reproach.

  • reassess methods if an inquiry or mortality occurs
  • ask for and accept constructive criticism for other banders

3. Offer honest and constructive assessment of the work of others to help maintain the highest standards possible.

  • publish innovations in banding, capture, and handling techniques
  • educate prospective banders and trainers
  • report any mishandling of birds to the bander
  • if no improvement occurs, file a report with the Banding Office

4. Ensure the your data are accurate and complete.

5. Obtain prior permission to band on private property and on public lands where authorization is required.

NABC Photographic Guidelines

All crew needs to read and be familiar with the NABC Photographic Guidelines.

Getting to Lucky Peak

Here’s the google maps link to get to Lucky Peak. More detailed driving directions are located on this Lucky Peak Station page.

Lucky Peak Crew Handbook

All crew members should download a copy of the Lucky Peak Crew Handbook (PDF) and read completely before arriving at Lucky Peak.

All crew members should read over our crew outreach tips. You will be interacting with the public during the season and this will help you be prepared.

Emergency information

Save this Lucky Peak Emergency Information document or link on your phone! This document is also printed and posted in our kitchen tent and banding yurt in camp.

Key Features

Key features of the Lucky Peak camp and Boise area including shopping, shower, and laundry facilities.

Click here to view a sorted list of locations by category.

Background reading

Find IBO related articles, and peer-reviewed publications on our ResearchGate Lab page.

IBO Mailing Address

You can have packages and mail sent to you from friends and family at this address. Packages will arrive in the Biology Office in Boise State’s Science/Education Building and can be picked up by you (during regular business hours) or a member of IBO’s staff. Coordinate with the team to get your package dropped in the IBO office or brought up to Lucky Peak.

Your Name c/o Intermountain Bird Observatory
1910 University Drive
Boise, ID 83725-1515

Species found at Lucky Peak

Check out Lucky Peak’s eBird Hotspot

And our site’s iNaturalist Page

Songbirds

Key resources

Extras

Diurnal Raptors

Heidi’s (pretty much) exhaustive list of things to bring

Must haves

  • Hiking boots
  • Sandals (tevas, etc)
  • Long pants (for hot or cold weather…you’ll be walking thru brush)
  • Summer clothes (days of up to 90 on the peak, 100 in town)
  • Warm clothes (days as cold as 15 degrees, wind, rain, snow, etc)
  • Long underwear
  • Warm hat
  • Warm socks
  • Gloves (nice to have both thick and thin)
  • Layers layers layers!! (to give you an idea: I often wear fleece pants, regular pants, long sleeved shirt, hoodie, down-type coat, and outer shell layer).
  • Scarf/neck gaiter
  • Anything else you can think of
  • Hawk Watchers especially, bring LOTS of layers!
  • Clothing with few buttons/zippers is better….we like catching birds in the nets, not people :) Buttons/zips on sides of clothing are the worst, but can be covered with a square of duct tape.
  • Rain/windproof layers
  • Enough pairs of underwear and socks to last you between weekly laundry runs ;)
  • Sunscreen (especially hawk watch!)
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Water bottle
  • Tent
  • Pillow
  • Sleeping bag (mine is rated to 0°, but I used a 20° bag for years and survived by adding an extra blanket on cold nights)
  • Comfortable sleeping pad
  • Binoculars! (Ask us about our 50% off pro-deal through Vortex Optics if you need new bins).
  • Headlamp/flashlight
  • Day pack
  • Car charger adapter. We have solar panels that charge up marine batteries that provide power for cell phones and laptops. But priority for battery use is the owl caller system and data-entry laptops. Bring an adapter (“inverter”) with wall plug for your laptop, and/or a car-charger style plug for your cell phone.)
  • You’ll need a rodent-proof plastic tub to keep food stuffs in the kitchen tent that don’t belong in a cooler. An inexpensive rubbermaid-type container will do. Another tub for storing personal items outside your tent can be nice too.

Other stuff

  • 4 wheel drive and/or high clearance vehicle–if you have one, it’s nice to have so you don’t need to coordinate use of the crew vehicle.
  • Other Vehicle–even if you don’t have a 4WD, it can be nice to have your own transportation around town, even if you can’t drive it up the hill.
  • Camp chair if you have one (we have a few to share)
  • Bike: there are a lot of mountain biking trails in the foothills
  • Swimsuit (for floating the Boise River in the summer or visiting hotsprings in the area)
  • Insect repellent (not really needed on the peak, but good if you plan to travel elsewhere in Idaho while you’re here. Especially the Sawtooths/Stanley area)
  • Field guides: birds especially, plus anything else you’re interested in
  • Coffee mug/thermos
  • Extra blanket
  • Cooler–we have some for crew, but if you don’t want to share (you don’t), I recommend bringing your own
  • Coffee press/toast maker/other specialty kitchen stuff if you want (we provide pots, pans, spatulas, plates, bowls, cups, silverware, etc)
  • Gaiters–a few past crew members have brought these. They’re nice on dewy or snowy mornings, but not necessary
  • Baby wipes, washcloth, or similar, to use in between real showers
  • Laptop–great for getting internet in town, plus we have batteries/solar power available for some charging in the field
  • Car charger/converter for electronics (phone, laptop, headlamp batteries, etc)
  • Portable charger external battery power pack (for charging phone and other electronics). Or small solar panel/battery system.
  • Books to read
  • Music or musical instruments
  • Cards and board games
  • hacky sack, slackline, anything fun!
  • Movies for crew “movie night” in the kitchen tent!
  • External speakers for music and movies