Report #7: Birds of Prey Study Area Simulation Model

The 500,00 acre Snake River Birds of Prey Study Area (BPSA) hosts the densest population of breeding raptors in the world. The Secretary of the Interior has directed the BLM to produce a research report by Jine 1979 delineating the needs of the birds of prey in relation to potential land uses of the area. Results of this report will be used to establish a permanent sanctuary boundary. The BLM has been investigating the reproductive performance, food habits, and density of raptors in the BPSA since 1973. Background data on prairie falcon and golden eagle populations are available from 1966 to the present. Since 1975, the BLM and university contract researchers have been investigating other aspects of the ecosystem. Data collected include: (1) distribution of soil and vegetation types in the area; (2) distribution and densities of pre species in the area; (3) population dynamics of important prey species; (4) distribution and densities of mammalian oredators; (5) food habits of mammalian predators; (6) spatial use and hunting areas of the raptors, and (7) absolute food requirements of the raptors.