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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Scientists to study long-billed curlew in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming this summer

Long-billed curlew (AP)
Long-billed curlew (AP)

Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A large shorebird that nests in grasslands and uses its extra-long beak to pluck crustaceans from mudflats and wolf spiders from animal burrows will be the subject of an intense study this summer in three states. Scientists say the long-billed curlew is of particular interest because its downward curving beak allows it to live in a range of habitats, but populations appear to be dwindling. Researchers in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming plan to put satellite transmitters on 19 of the ground-nesting birds this summer. That's more than triple the number of birds already being tracked. Scientist Jay Carlisle of the Intermountain Bird Observatory at Boise State University says the birds face challenges on their breeding grounds as well as in wintering areas, mainly in central California.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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