Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area
81 miles of the Snake River is set aside for raptors. Abundant ground squirrels and rabbits support over 700 breeding pairs of raptors and 15 species. Even more species use the area during migration.
I did a survey near Morley Nelson adjacent to a motocross track.
No surprise, only five birds live here, and they all ride motorcycles.
Even the ground squirrels love dirt track.
I had a female Northern Harrier sail over a little rise within fifty meters of me, with her head down - concentrating on these highways -the highlight of my day.
Throughout my survey, people playing war games roared over my head in scary black planes. Very rude. I flipped them off.
Partly because of military activity (bombing), mammal density- and therefore raptor density- has gone down on the Morley Nelson. Geez.