The Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area in southwestern Idaho has the highest density of nesting prairie falcons in the world. This was one of the main reasons the protected area was established. Prairie falcons were counted in the late 1970s and again in the early 1990s, revealing a possible population decline across that time span. Researchers assessed the abundance and nesting success of prairie falcons in 2002-2003 and 2019-2021 and compared the results to previous data. The number of nesting pairs increased during those 45 years, and increases were observed across the entire study area. Prairie falcons are declining in other parts of their range due to habitat loss and other threats. This study provides evidence of the value of conservation lands for protecting raptor breeding habitat.  

Alsup, S., Belthoff, J.R., Steenhof, K., Kochert, M.N., and Katzner, T.E., 2025, Prairie falcons (Falco mexicanus) nesting in a national conservation area in Idaho are more abundant now than in the 1970s-1990s: Journal of Raptor Research, v. 59, no. 1, jrr2395. https://doi.org/10.3356/jrr2395