The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) works hard to make sure that the nation’s public lands are healthy 

for everyone to enjoy! The BLM and the World Center for Birds of Prey are informal partners, who share 

the goal of helping people appreciate raptors and understand their needs.

Public lands are special! They offer great places to play and explore. They provide a home for many 

animal and plant species, as well as grazing for cattle, sheep, and horses. And they contain minerals for 

construction, energy, and other uses. Public lands fill many needs!

This publication was produced by the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, 

with assistance from The Peregrine Fund. 

Additional copies may be obtained through the Bureau of Land Management, Boise District Office, by calling 208-384-3300 or 

writing the office at 3948 Development Avenue, Boise, ID, 83705.

Publishing services by the BLM National Operations Center.

2014

BLM/ID-GI-14/007+1110
Hello, Junior Explorer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Welcome to the World Center for Birds of Prey! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Discovery Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

	 Conservation Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Bird Viewing Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

	 Silhouette Hallway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Biology and Ecology Room . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Get Ready To Explore Raptor Habitat! Morley Nelson Snake River 

Birds of Prey National Conservation Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Idaho Raptor Safari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Raptor Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Idaho Raptor Safari Journal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

The Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

The Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Junior Explorer Guided Viewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Initial Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Meridians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Put on Your Habitat Hat! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Dedication Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

	 The Living Is Not Easy for Desert Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

It’s Not Easy Being a Desert Plant Either . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

	 Come Meet the Natives! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

You’re Stepping on Me! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Put Your Habitat Hat Back On! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Don’t Overlook the Overlook! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

	 A Beecham Lullaby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Summary Activities Thinking about Birds of Prey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Junior Explorer Pledge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Volunteer To Help Raptors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

i
ii
1

Junior Explorer,

Get ready to have some fun—and to see live raptors! This booklet takes you first on a self-guided

tour of the World Center for Birds of Prey. Here you can explore the exhibits and see these exciting

birds up close. You can also learn what they need and what people are doing to protect them. Then you’re 

off on a field trip into the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA). There

you will hike to the top of an old volcano and walk to the rim of the Snake River Canyon. The NCA is a

wonderful place to see birds of prey in the special raptor habitat that exists right here in Southwest Idaho.

To become a Junior Explorer, visit the places in this book. While you are there, complete the activities for

that location. Every activity marked by a D counts as one activity. Do as many of the 23 activities as you

wish, but at least: 

Third Grade: Fourth–Sixth Grade:

World Center – 4 activities	 World Center – 6 activities

NCA – 4 activities	 NCA – 6 activities

1 summary activity	 2 summary activities

We hope you’ll learn some new words, too! 

Look for the definitions of many words at the

bottom of the page on which the word appears.

Once you have completed all the required activities, read and sign the pledge on page 31 and mail or bring it to:

BLM Birds of Prey World Center for Birds of Prey 

3948 Development Avenue	 OR	 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane

Boise, ID 83705 Boise, ID 83709

A raptor education specialist is standing by at both locations to check your work and to swear you in as an

official Junior Explorer. You will then receive your Junior Explorer certificate and badge. If you mail in your

booklet, we will check your work and return the booklet to you with your certificate and badge.

If you visit both places in one day, remember 

to bring a lunch and plenty of water!

Enjoy your exploration, and see you soon!

HABITAT:	 A place that provides the food, water, and shelter that an animal needs to

 survive and safely raise its young.

PREY:	 Mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fish that are eaten by other

animals for food. Raptors eat a variety of all prey.

RAPTOR:	 A bird of prey with strong, powerful feet and sharp talons, a sharp-hooked beak,

and excellent eyesight.

Junior Explorers and 

one accompanying adult each 

receive $1 off the regular 

entry fee at the World Center! 

Visiting the NCA is free!
2

to the World Center for 

Birds of Prey!

The World Center for Birds of Prey is also the headquarters of The 

Peregrine Fund, an organization created to make sure that peregrine

falcons, as a species, continue to exist for many years. These magnificent

birds were once in danger of dying off completely and becoming extinct.

Such species are called “endangered species.” The Peregrine Fund’s

special breeding program helped restore the peregrine falcon, and in 

1999 it was removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List!

Now, The Peregrine Fund helps other birds of prey, in this country and

around the world. One endangered species—the California condor—is 

breeding new generations of birds here at the World Center. Once the

young birds are ready to make it on their own, they will be released into 

the wild.

Things To Do Here

Velma Morrison Interpretive 

Center – take the Junior Explorer 

self-guided tour.

Outside – walk a short trail for a 

fantastic view of the Boise Valley, 

where you might just spot raptors 

soaring along the ridgeline! 

Archives of Falconry – discover 

what it takes to be a “falconer” 

and to help conserve falcons 

around the globe.

For more information, visit

www.peregrinefund.org/vmic, call 208-362-8687,

or email tfp@peregrinefund.org.
3

Discovery Room

D	 Around the room there are three things that make a bird of prey different from other birds.

Find them, try them on for yourself, and then write what those features are below:

_____________________ _____________________ _____________________

You can also try on a pairs of wings!

D	 In the feather collection, find an owl feather and a falcon feather.

Notice the differences between the feathers, and draw each one below.

Owl feathers are soft with fringy edges. A few feathers at the tip of the wing even have a

notched edge, something like a comb. Owls’ wings are designed to muffle the sound of air

flowing over them. An owl’s flight is almost silent—making it easier for this raptor to hear its

prey and sneak up on it at night! 

Owl Feather Falcon Feather

D 	Mini-Scavenger Hunt: Look at the habitat wall

	 in the back, and check off each of your discoveries.

___ a screech owl cavity nest inside a tree

___ burrowing owl eggs

___	 a northern harrier nesting on

the ground

___	 a peregrine falcon nesting on a ledge

___ a bald eagle nest in a tree

___ a killdeer with eggs
4

Conservation Room

1A problem for raptors around the world is

exposure to many kinds of poisons. Raptors 

may come in contact with pesticides used to kill

insects that are harmful to crops and people. Or 

they may eat an animal that is contaminated (even

by lead poisoning from bullets). Read more at

www.peregrinefund.org/projects/california-condor.

D 	Why do raptors seek out high places, such as utility poles? Use the code below to discover why.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

	 A	 B	 C	 D	 E	 F	 G	 H	 I	 J	 K	 L	 M	 N	 O	 P	 Q	 R	 S	 T	 U	 V	 W	 X	 Y	 Z

20 15 / 12 15 15 11 / 6 15 18 / 16 18 5 25 / 20 15 / 5 1 20

__ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ / __ __ __

20 15 / 16 18 15 20 5 3 20 / 14 5 19 20 19 / 6 18 15 13 / 16 18 5 4 1 20 15 18 19

__ __ / __ __ __ __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ 

2Another big

problem for raptors 

is loss of habitat.

change the land to meet OUR 

As we humans

needs—building houses and roads, 

planting crops, changing

direction

the

of streams—the

less able to support the wildlife 

land is

that once called it home.

3A third threat to raptors in the wild ispower lines and towers. Raptors like to 

perch on the towers and sometimes even

build their nests on them. If a bird touches 

two wires at the same time, and one

wire is carrying electricity, the bird will be 

electrocuted and die.

Many existing power lines and towers are

being modified, and new lines and towers

are being built, to “raptor standards.” This 

means that the birds will no longer be 

able to touch two wires at the same time. 

Some organizations even build safe nesting

platforms on or near utility poles for osprey

and other raptors.

D 	The Peregrine Fund is helping conserve the California

condor through a special breeding 

program. Enjoy coloring the picture 

of this beautiful condor, as shown

in the photo.

CODE ANSWERS: to look for prey to eat; to protect nests from predators
5

Bird Viewing Hall

D 	What’s your favorite bird in the hall? __________________

On the pie chart, circle what types of animals your bird eats.

Circle the word below that describes how your bird is doing.

Endangered Threatened Neither

On the world map, mark an “X” where your bird normally lives.

Silhouette Hallway

D 	What bird am I?

HINT: Use the key to the silhouettes in the hallway (outside the movie theater)

to help you name the bird described.

A bird that has a wingspan the same size as you: _____________________

A bird that can fly super-fast (look up!): _____________________________

The BIGGEST wingspan here belongs to: ____________________________

A bird that hunts at night: ________________________________________

CARRION:	 A dead animal.

ANSWERS: varies, based on how big YOU are; peregrine falcon; California condor; owl
Biology and Ecology Room

D 	Go to the big, electronic Migration Interactive Display and MATCH each of the birds to a description of

their migration or locations by drawing a line:

Bird Description

Barn Owl	 You can find these birds in Greenland

in the summer.

Peregrine Falcon	 You probably cannot find many of these birds

in Canada.

Barn Swallow	 Look for these birds in Alaska in the

summer, but not the winter.

Turkey Vulture This bird seems to disappear from 

North America in the winter.

Osprey This bird doesn’t really 

migrate at all.

MIGRATION: The seasonal movement of animals, including birds, 

from one place to another.

6
Biology and Ecology Room (continued)

D	 Go to the Glass Case Display of birds. Can you find the

answers to complete this puzzle?

Across

5.	 A bird that is built for changing directions quickly.

7.	 A bird that is built for slow, quiet flight.

8.	 This bird shows different colors in males and females.

10.	 This bird specializes in catching fish.

11.	 The SMALLEST bird you can see in the glass case.

Down

1. The BIGGEST bird you can see in the glass case.

2.	 A bird that is built for soaring (drop the apostrophe).

3.	 A bird that is built for high speed.

4. This gender is BIGGER in many birds of prey.

6.	 Another name for a bird of prey.

9.	 This gender is SMALLER in many birds of prey.

Glass Case 

Crossword 

Puzzle

Fill out the puzzle

while looking at the glass case of birds.

Use the clues.

7

ANSWERS: (Across) 5. sharp-shinned hawk; 7. barn owl; 8. American kestrel; 10. osprey; 11. flammulated owl (Down) 1. harpy eagle; 2. Swainson’s hawk; 3. peregrine falcon; 4. female; 6. raptor; 9. male

6

8

10

2

5

3

11

9

7

4

1
Get Ready To Explore Raptor Habitat!

Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

Now that you have learned what makes a bird a raptor, it’s time to go out into the—(take a deep breath for

all these words!)—Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Whew! You can just

call it the NCA, too. Congress made this a protected area in 1993 because its special ecosystem supports the

highest number of birds of prey nesting in one location in the whole country!

The activities in this section of the booklet show

what it’s like to live as a raptor. If you’re 

lucky, you’ll see different raptors

living here in 

the wild!

Exploring the Outdoors Safely

Before setting off on the two short hikes, take a full 

water bottle with you. Your adventure may be hot and 

dry, and no water is available. Watch your footing. The 

trail up to Initial Point is rocky. At Dedication Point, 

do not climb on the low barrier wall. It’s a long way 

to the bottom! If you see a rattlesnake while you are 

exploring, just observe it from a safe distance.

D Listed below are the raptors you’re most 

likely to see. Find the birds first in the Raptor Guide on page 10, so you know what to look for!

As you see each raptor in the wild, come back to this page and check it off the list.

Year-round Birds: Migrating Birds:

	 __Red-tailed Hawk	 __Prairie Falcon (present during Feb–Jul)

	 __Northern Harrier	 __Turkey Vulture (present during Mar–Aug)	

	 __American Kestrel	 __Burrowing Owl (present during Mar–Aug)

	 __Great Horned Owl	 __Osprey (present during Mar–Aug)

	 __Golden Eagle	 __Ferruginous Hawk (present during Apr–Jul)

	 	 __Swainson’s Hawk (present during Apr–Sep)

Some raptors live in the NCA all year.

Others are here only part of the year.

It gets either too hot or too cold for 

them, or their food disappears! So when 

the Piute [pie-yoot] ground squirrel—favorite food of the prairie falcon—goes

underground in early summer, the falcons migrate to other places where 

they can find other types of ground squirrels.

ECOSYSTEM:	 An area where all the living organisms—animals, plants, and others—exist

together because of how they relate to one another and their environment.

8
9

Idaho Raptor Safari! 

On this safari, you’ll take an inventory of raptors much 

as a biologist does—searching the landscape, ready to 

observe and record the wildlife you find. Tip: Look for raptors 

sitting on fenceposts, telephone poles/wires, power poles, and

rock outcrops—anything that gives them a higher vantage point for 

hunting! But don’t forget to look on the ground, too.

D Use the journal provided on pages 12–13 to record what you see.

There’s a sample page to guide you on page 11. Completing the Safari

Journal counts as one activity in the NCA.

Your safari will take you to Initial Point and Dedication

Point. The latter is an especially good place to view raptors!

At these locations, you can continue your safari on foot.

Take some time to explore. Then do activities for that

location while you are onsite.

What You’ll Need

The Map + binoculars + 

Raptor Guide +

Safari Journal and pencil

(colored pencils, optional)

Let’s Go!

1	 Ask your driver to set the odometer to zero.

2	 Follow along on the Junior Explorer Guided Viewing pages (pages 17–19).

3	 Use the Raptor Guide to help you identify the birds you see (page 10).

4	 Record the birds you see in your Safari Journal (pages 12–13).

INCUBATING:	 Sitting on eggs to hatch them by keeping them warm.

INVENTORY:	 A detailed list.

So Where Are They? 

Best viewing times for raptors are early morning 

and early evening, when they are hunting for 

food. Raptors are most active in mid-March, May, 

and June. In April, they’re incubating eggs in their 

nests; come July, they stay out of the sun or leave 

the canyon during the fierce heat.

I’m king

of the world!
Raptor Guide

Raptors you may see.

10
Idaho Raptor Safari Journal 

Record the birds you observe by describing:

Colors – on the body, wings, or tail, plus any markings on the head

Shapes – long or short tail; broad or narrow wings; rounded or pointed wingtips

Behavior – how the bird flies, where it is perching, whether it is eating anything

Example:

 May 22nd 1:30pm

Hot

about 85 degrees

No Yes, slight breeze

15%

No

Dedication Point

It appeared grey brown on top, but creamy 

underneath except where the wing and body met. There it was 

darker brown. I noticed two stripes on its face. Its wings were 

long and pointy. Its tail was short.

It was soaring back and forth in front of the 

cliffs. Then it soared over us and out over the desert.

I looked at the photos on the Raptor Guide, and 

the bird was a prairie falcon!

11
12
13
14
15

Hello, Drivers! You should know – 

There are NO SERVICES in the NCA, so you should:

•	 Be sure you have a full tank of gas.

•	 Bring emergency supplies—mobile phone service is limited,

and you must be prepared to handle situations on your own.

•	 Bring plenty of drinking water for everyone—especially in late

spring through early fall, when it can be quite hot.

•	 Remind everyone before leaving the World Center that the

next available restroom is a LONG way down the road 

(Dedication Point, Swan Falls Dam, and Celebration Park).

If desired, cut out this page with 

The Route and, on the back, The Map. 

The Route

All roads are paved except for a 2-mile (round trip) gravel section 

at the base of Initial Point.

TO BEGIN: Set the odometer to zero!

Odometer Miles Additional sights/information

Start World Center for Birds of Prey 0.0 Begin driving

Right Hollilynn Drive 1.2

Right Pleasant Valley Road 3.3

Right Ten Mile Creek Road 5.9

Left South Cole Road 8.1

Right Kuna Mora Road 10.5

Left Cloverdale Road 13.5

Right Poen Road 16.5

Left Swan Falls Road 20.5

Left Initial Point Road 23.5 Gravel road to Initial Point

24.5 Arrive at base of Initial Point;

and return

Left Swan Falls Road 25.5

33.0 Arrive at Dedication Point

15
The Map

16
Junior Explorer Guided Viewing

D	 Follow along, and discover what there is to find along the journey!

When you finish reading this Guided Viewing section,

check (√) the box on the last page.

MILE 0.0	 As you leave the World Center, watch for raptors riding

the uplift of air along the ridgeline. American kestrels—

about the size of a robin—are quite common.

MILE 1.2	 Notice the stands of sagebrush to your left.

Right Turn	 These native shrubs provide small animals and birds

with food and places to hide. These animals in turn 

	 become prey for red-tailed hawks and

northern harriers.

Sagebrush has many chemical defenses in its leaves.

You can smell this if you pick some leaves and roll 

them in your fingers. That’s nature’s hand sanitizer

you’re smelling!

MILE 3.3 Right Turn

MILE 5.6 Consider taking a short side trip to the Wild Horse Corrals, 

Optional where you can see the BLM caring for the wild horses and burros 

Right Turn	 that symbolize the American West.

Did you know? People can adopt wild horses and burros 

from the BLM. During the past 40 years, more than 

190,000 horses and 36,000 burros have gone to good homes! ? ?

17
Junior Explorer Guided Viewing continued

MILE 5.9	 Look for raptors hunting the fields to your left, sitting on the

Right Turn	 irrigation equipment, or even sitting on the ground.

MILE 8.1	 Look for northern harriers and red-tailed hawks.

Left Turn In spring, you might even see great horned owls 

	 nesting in one of the trees.

At Start looking for burrowing owls on fenceposts and

MILE 9.6	 on the ground (March–August). Small mounds of dirt

may be the entrance to their burrows—or they can

mark the homes of the Piute ground squirrel.

MILE 10.5 Black plastic tubes served as the entrance to

Right Turn	 human-made burrows for the owls in a 2002 study.

	 (NW corner of the intersection, in the field behind

	 the house.)

MILE 13.5

Left Turn

MILE 16.5

Right Turn

Red-tailed hawks have a red tail and are

the most common raptors you’ll see here.

Northern harriers 

have a long tail and hold their 

wings in a “V” when flying. Males

are grey and white. Females are

brown. Both have a white 

rump patch.

I

need at least

a three bedroom.

18
Junior Explorer Guided Viewing

continued

At Look for the lone tree to the north of the road.

MILE 19.8	 Red-tailed hawks often use this tree as a nesting site.

MILE 20.5 Left Turn

MILE 23.5	 One mile down this gravel road is Initial Point. There’s an observation deck on top, about a

Left Turn	 1/4 mile up the trail. Remember to complete some Junior Explorer activities from the Initial 	 	

	 Point section of this booklet!

MILE 25.5	 Head back down the gravel road and turn left, in search of Dedication Point.

Left Turn

The Great Kern county Mouse War g A True Story

In 1926 the farmers of Kern County, California, had a great harvest—the best in years! Left on the 

ground was stubble and scattered seed. By October, people began to notice mice—everywhere! The 

mice had bred in the stubble and fed on the scattered seeds. Soon there were even more mice, and 

they went looking for food in barns and houses. The people tried to poison the mice, but they kept 

coming. By early January the mice were pouring over the earth in ankle-deep waves, and the roads 

were carpeted with mice. A teacher opened her desk to have a dozen mice leap out. 

Mice occupied the principal’s office. Mice darted from classroom to classroom.

What went wrong? For 20 years the people of Kern County had been killing predators—skunks, fox, 

badgers, weasels, snakes, owls, and hawks. For 20 years the mice had multiplied freely. With the bumper 

crop of food in 1926, the mouse population exploded until the food ran out. Then TENS OF MILLIONS 

OF MICE found they had to migrate or starve. By mid-January they covered an area of 96 square miles!

After 4 months this “war” was finally won but 

at a cost in crop and property damage of about 

$1 million—all because of the lack of predators.

MILE 33.0	 You’ve arrived at Dedication Point! Walk the short trail to the overlook, and

Right Turn	 keep an eye out for prairie falcons, red-tailed hawks, and turkey vultures.

	 Bring your Junior Explorer book, and have fun completing some of the activities!

____ Check (√) here to show that you read the Guided Viewing section.

Because raptors are predators—

hunting, catching, killing, and eating

other animals—they help keep those 

populations in a healthy balance.

19
Initial Point 

Initial Point looms out of the desert and offers

panoramic views of the Owyhee [O-WHY-hee]

Mountains and the Boise Front. In 1867 the U.S.

Geological Survey established a brass marker on 

top of this prominent but small volcano. Early 

surveyors stood right here and mapped EVERY 

PIECE OF LAND in the state from this marker!

D	 Walk to the top of Initial Point and find

the marker. Sketch it here.

Meridians

Long ago, people found places that they 

wanted to visit by using the stars and 

specialized tools. Today, it’s popular to use

GPS (Global Positioning System) units to find

where you’re going. GPS can tell anyone in the 

world the exact location of a place by using

longitude and latitude lines—imaginary lines

that circle the Earth. Meridians circle the Earth 

vertically and show longitude. The horizontal

lines show latitude and are called “baselines.”

The meridians that you see marked on globes 

are called “principal meridians.” One, the 

Boise Meridian, runs right through Initial

Point! Meridian Road and Meridian (the town)

also lie on the Boise Meridian. Look toward 

Kuna, and you can see Meridian Road coming

straight at you!

SURVEYOR:	 Someone whose job is to determine boundaries and elevations of land areas

and structures.

20
21

Put on Your Habitat Hat!

Look at the desert around you. It may seem empty, but it is FULL of

something that is absolutely essential to birds of prey. You see, if they

are to eat, their prey have to eat, too. And the plants that grow here

supply both food and shelter for large populations of ground squirrels and

jackrabbits—the main food sources of raptors here in the NCA.

This area of Idaho lies in a vast, grass-covered plain called a steppe [step].

Sagebrush-steppe, to be specific. Here you’ll find:

•	 Low-growing shrubs (mostly sagebrush)

•	 Bunchgrasses (grasses that grow in clumps)

•	 Forbs (flowering plants with soft stems)

The pie chart shows how much of 

each plant group is normal for healthy 

sagebrush-steppe habitat. Is this what you

see?

D	 Fill in the blank pie chart with your

estimates of the different plant types

you see. Forbs are hard to see from

this distance, so look for cheatgrass 

instead. Cheatgrass is a nonnative

grass that grows in a continuous mat,

much like a lawn.

Why the big difference between the two

charts? Most of the area around Initial

Point has burned in wildfires since the late

1980s. Many shrubs and bunchgrasses 

did not grow back after the fires. Instead,

nonnative invasive grasses, such as

cheatgrass, moved in, crowding out the 

native plants.

15% Forbs

50% 

Bunchgrasses

35%

Shrubs

Forbs

Bunchgrasses

Shrubs

Cheatgrass

When you get to Dedication Point, you will

see an area that looks more like a healthy 

sagebrush-steppe habitat should look.

Cheatgrass

Sagebrush – Steppe Plants

What I see.
Dedication Point

Welcome to Dedication Point, the overlook of the magnificent Snake River Canyon! Look as far and as wide

as you can see, and imagine thousands of creatures living here. They’re out there! Some you may see; others 

may be harder to find.

D	 Unscramble the letters below to discover who calls the NCA home.

Hint: Look at pictures on this page and the next for clues.

	 Z	 D	 A	 L	 I	 R	 	 	 	

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

	 B	 J	 I	 B	 A	 R	 C	 A	 T	 K	 	 	 	

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

C T Y O E O

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

	 D	 A	 G	 B	 R	 E

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

	 N	 U	 D	 R	 O	 G	 L	 E	 S	 R	 I	 U	 Q	 R

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____

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ANSWERS: (top to bottom) lizard; jackrabbit; coyote; badger; ground squirrel
23

The Living Is Not Easy for Desert Animals

Desert animals have developed adaptations to live in this hot, dry environment, through things they do

or through their body features.

D	 Write the number of the adaptation in the circle beside the animal that it describes.

1. Seeks shelter in burrows during the heat of 

the day. Hint: This animal is the favorite food of prairie 

falcons.

2. Has big ears that release body heat when 

resting in a cool, shady location. Hint: This animal 

is the favorite food of golden eagles.

3. They straighten out their legs to move their 

hard, dark bodies away from the hot ground.

Hint: They are very small.

4. Has thick, scaly skin to reduce water loss.

Hint: This animal has no arms or legs.

5. Gets most of the water it needs from the 

animals it eats. Hint: This animal catches prey with 

its talons.

6.	 Is active at night, when it’s cooler.

Hint: This animal is known for being fierce.

7. Has no sweat glands, and so does not lose 

water by sweating when flying or moving

around. Hint: Though it is a predator, this animal is 

not a raptor.

8. Eats plants that contain water.

Hint: There are “two animals” in its name.

9.	 Has a light-colored coat that reflects the light

instead of a dark coat that would absorb the 

sun’s heat. Hint: This animal is a type of wild dog.

10.	 Travels great distances on its strong legs to find

water in rivers and streams.

Hint: This is the fastest animal in North America.

ADAPTATION:	 A characteristic or behavior that a species has acquired over a long

	 period of time that makes it suited to the habitat in which it lives.

BURROW:	 A hole or tunnel that a small animal digs in the ground so it can live or hide there.

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ANSWERS: (left side, top to bottom) 7; 10; 3; 6; 5 (right side, top to bottom) 4; 1; 9; 8; 2

Raptor

Raven

Antelope

Insects

Badger

Snake

Piute Ground 

Squirrel

Coyote

Kangaroo 

Rat

Jackrabbit
It’s Not Easy Being a Desert Plant Either

Walk to the first bench past the gazebo.

Hey, are you thirsty? The plants here get very thirsty, too!

But they have tricks—adaptations—for holding onto the water that comes their way.

Some have a thick, waxy covering to make it harder for water to escape.

Most desert plants have very small leaves, which lose less water than larger leaves would.

Some grow tiny leaf hairs that reflect the sun and keep them cooler.

Some multitaskers use a tap root to pull moisture from deep in the soil and use shallow roots to

absorb rainfall or snowmelt.

At midday—the hottest time of day—many plants “roll up” their leaves to reduce water loss from

exposure to sun and wind.

We all know that plants don’t just sit there, right? They have work to do. It’s called photosynthesis [foto-SIN-the-sis]:

They transform light energy from the sun into chemical energy to feed themselves and grow bigger and stronger.

So if you were a thirsty desert plan, and could work the day shift or the night shift, which would you pick?

Many plants choose to work at night when it’s cooler, photosynthesizing the sunlight they stored during the

heat of the day.

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25

Clue Set 5

I am a tall grass that grows in clumps.

I stay green all year.

You’ll find me at the base of the small rise.

I am a native ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .

4 32 20 6 14 12 26 2 28 28

Clue Set 3

I am a very low shrub with short, narrow leaves.

I appear silvery, since my leaves and branches 

are covered by dense, long hairs.

In April and May I have small flowers that look like

	 balls of cotton.

I am ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .

34 16 20 30 8 26 10 2 30

Come Meet the Natives!

D	 Walk the trail through the shrubs and try to find four different types of shrubs and one grass. Match each

plant you see to one of the Clue Sets shown on this page. Then use the number key to fill in the letters

that will reveal the name of the shrub.

Number Key 2 – a 6 – c 10 – f 14 – h 18 – m 22 – o 26 – r 30 – t 34 – w

4 – b 8 – e 12 – g 16 – i 20 – n 24 – p 28 – s 32 – u 36 – y

Clue Set 1

My leaves are small and covered with tiny hairs.

The tip of my leaves have three “teeth.”

In late summer or early fall I have very small, golden flowers.

I have a sharp odor, especially after it rains.

I am ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .

28 2 12 8 4 26 32 28 14 

Clue Set 4

My leaves are oval and fleshy.

My branches are generally pointed at the tips.

I get clusters of what looks like red or white flowers,

but these are actually more like leaves.

I am ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ .

28 24 16 20 36 14 22 24 28 2 12 8

Clue Set 2

My leaves are narrow and do not have “teeth.” They are often twisted.

I appear greener than other shrubs because my leaves lack hairs.

In late summer I have clusters of yellow flowers.

I am ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 

12 26 8 8 20

____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ - ____ ____ ____ ____ ____.

26 2 4 4 16 30 4 26 32 28 14

ANSWERS: 1. sagebrush; 2. green rabbit-brush; 3. winterfat; 4. spiny hopsage; 5. bunchgrass
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You’re STEPPING on Me!

In the desert, even the dirt is alive! Look at the ground between and underneath the grasses and shrubs.

Then pour a little water from your water bottle on it, and watch it swell up. Those are living organisms that

form a crust on the soil. They make it easier for water to get into the soil, but harder for water to get out.

They discourage weeds from taking root. And they provide a home for healthy microorganisms that are

important to the desert ecosystem.

There are six different types of organisms in this crust. Three should be visible on your walk today, because

they grow on the surface. Three more grow underneath.

D Use the key to color the organisms in the sketch below.

Key

1 = mosses – green

2 = lichens – black

3 = algae – brown

4 = cyanobacteria – tan

5 = fungi – yellow

6 = bacteria – orange 

Mosses – small, green plants that grow in soft clumps and have no flowers.

Lichens – a combination of fungus and algae or bacteria, in which the algae or

bacteria makes food for the fungus through photosynthesis.

Algae – plant-like organisms most frequently found in water.

Cyanobacteria [SIGH-a-no-back-TEAR-ee-a] – blue-green bacteria.

Fungi – microorganisms that eat dead plants and animals and 

turn them into food for living plants and animals. Fungi

include yeasts, molds, and mushrooms.

Bacteria – one-cell organisms living everywhere on Earth and in

the bodies of most living things. They can be useful or dangerous.

MICROORGANISM: A microscopic (really small) life form.

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UNDER THE 

SURFACE
27

Put Your Habitat Hat Back On!

From the top of the low hill, look back over the shrub area. How does this area compare with what you saw

from the top of Initial Point? Look at the pie chart to remind yourself how much of each type of plant is

normal for a healthy sagebrush-steppe habitat.

D	 Fill in the blank pie chart with your

estimates of the different plant types

you see. Around here you might notice

the flowering forbs. Some cheatgrass

is also present.

This area doesn’t look like the area you 

saw from Initial Point, does it?

This area has kept the native grasses and

shrubs that were lost to fires in the area

around Initial Point. When it comes to how

healthy sagebrush-steppe should look,

this is more like it!

Head back to the main trail. As you do so,

look for evidence of small wildlife— 

tracks, holes, and scat.

Forbs

Bunchgrasses

Shrubs

Cheatgrass

15% Forbs

50% 

Bunchgrasses

35%

Shrubs

SCAT:	 Animal droppings, which may contain fur, bones, or other parts of another animal

that this animal ate.

Sagebrush – Steppe Plants

What I see.

I’ll trade you! This

hat for my habitat!
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PLATEAU: A high, level piece of land.

Don’t Overlook the Overlook!

Continue on down the trail to the Overlook.

You are now at the edge of the Snake River Canyon, and looking into a giant raptor nursery! Raptors build 

nests on cliff faces to keep their young safe from predators. The nearby plateau [plat-TOE] is like a grocery

store. Full of prey, it makes for really good “fast” food for a parent with hungry nestlings.

D Golden eagles rise up out of the canyon and soar over the plateau in search of 

jackrabbits and other prey. Help this eagle catch a jackrabbit and then return to its 

nest to feed its young.
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A Beecham Lullaby

Golden eagles have 8–12 nest sites in their 

territory! Each spring the pair checks out several 

nests until the female decides which one she wants

to use that year. This photo shows the 2005, 2006, 

and 2008 nests of the Beecham pair.

D	 Use your binoculars and the directions below

to locate the 2006 nest. You might see young 

eaglets in the nest if the pair is using that nest 

this spring!

D	 True or False? Golden eagles frequently mate for life, with both parents taking turns incubating eggs in

the nest and then finding food for their young. _________

TO LOCATE – From the top of the large outcrop below the cliff go to the right until you see a pale horizontal band in the cliff face.

From the left end of that pale band, go straight up the cliff until you “hit” a horizontal break in the cliff face. The nest is

just above this break, a little to the right.

Beecham golden eagle nest site

ANSWER: true

Rick Raymondi
30

Summary Activities

Thinking about Birds of Prey

Let us know what you learned about birds of prey and 

their habitat, or what you experienced in the places 

described in this booklet.

D Write about your favorite thing, or draw us a picture!

Raptor Rhymes

D Write a poem about a raptor that you saw. Try this! 

Line 1: Write the name of the raptor.

Line 2: Write one or more words about how it looks.

Line 3: Write one or more words that describe what it does.

Line 4: Write about how it makes you feel.

Example Your Poem

Golden eagle ____________________________________

Large and powerful ____________________________________

Soaring on the wind ____________________________________

Awestruck by its majesty	 	 	 	 ____________________________________

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congratulations! 

You have now finished your Junior Explorer experience! 

We hope you had fun and that you learned something along the way. 

Remember to read and sign your pledge and get your Junior Explorer certificate and badge 

(see instructions on page 1).

Junior Explorer Pledge

As a Bureau of Land Management Junior Explorer, I promise to:

D Do all I can to help protect and preserve the natural and

cultural resources of our public lands,

D	 Be aware of how my actions can affect living things and the

evidence of our history,

D	 Keep learning about the importance of nature and our heritage, and

D Share what I have learned with others!

______________________________________ _____________________________

Your Signature Date
Cut out and

save certificate
Volunteer To Help Raptors

Every year, the NCA invites volunteers to help restore the native habitat that is so important

to the raptors you have seen and learned about. The kids in these photos helped plant 

sagebrush seedlings, which were grown from seeds collected by other volunteers. To 

volunteer for projects like this, call the BLM’s Boise District Office at 208-384-3300.

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BLM/ID/GI-14/003+8367