Thanks to generous community support — including from donors like you — Bogus Basin’s partnership with the Intermountain Bird Observatory (IBO) is thriving, even after unexpected funding cuts threatened to put this meaningful research on hold.
A High-Elevation Haven for Hummingbirds
Bogus Basin began partnering with IBO in 2024 to host banding events at our mountain. These efforts are part of a larger regional study to understand hummingbird migration, nesting habits, and population health.
Last year, two pilot banding events at the Jason Harper Training Center resulted in the capture and banding of around 60 birds from five different species:
- Black-chinned
- Broad-tailed
- Calliope
- Rufous
- Anna’s
Based on that success, we expanded the program significantly in 2025. Eight events were scheduled for this summer — six open to the public — and the feeders have been relocated to Frontier Point Lodge, making the experience more accessible for guests. Bogus Basin’s team also hosts Pollinator Plant Walks during banding days, connecting attendees to the important relationship between hummingbirds and their habitat.
Why Bogus Basin Matters
Our mountain’s high-elevation location adds critical context to the broader regional research being conducted by IBO. Understanding how hummingbirds respond to changes in elevation, temperature, and habitat helps scientists track and predict long-term trends in migration and nesting patterns.
This information becomes especially important as we face challenges like habitat loss and climate change.
When Funding was Cut, the Community Stepped In
This spring, the U.S. Forest Service paused funding for many of its grants to comply with the new administration’s policy priorities, including the one that supported IBO’s lead research biologist. Without funding, the future of Bogus Basin’s hummingbird monitoring program was uncertain.
To keep this vital research alive, Bogus Basin contributed $2,300 to IBO’s hummingbird fund, covering the biologist’s time on Bogus Basin monitoring days. That gift, combined with support from Wild Birds Unlimited (Meridian) and other community donors, ensured the program could continue in 2025.
A Snapshot of Impact
- 179 birds banded so far this season
- 8 of those birds were recaptures—meaning they made it back from their wintering grounds (up to 5,400 miles away!) to the exact same site
- 214 guests attended this year’s events, to date, (up from 90 last year)
- 24 volunteers help maintain feeders and support banding days
- 1 Spanish-language event held on July 3 to broaden access
- All data is submitted to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory to inform policy and land conservation decisions
Want to get involved?
IBO offers several volunteer opportunities — including support at their Lucky Peak banding station, which was badly damaged during the Valley Fire. You can also make a gift to help them rebuild and continue their research.
About Bogus Basin Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area is a 501(C)(3) organization dedicated to engaging the community to provide accessible, affordable, and fun year-round mountain recreation and education. Opened in 1942, Bogus Basin offers 2,600 acres of daytime skiable terrain and 200 acres for night skiing, seven chairlifts and three people-mover carpets, and an 800-foot tubing hill. The Nordic Center offers 37 kilometers of groomed trails for skiing and snowshoeing. Environmental education and community outreach programs, primarily youth, serve over 20,000 individuals annually. Summer activities include The Glade Runner Mountain Coaster, The Mine Shaft Challenge Course, mountain biking, events, hiking and chairlift service for hike and bike transport. Bogus Basin is located 16.5 miles north of Boise, Idaho, and operates under a special use permit with the Boise National Forest. www.bogusbasin.org
