Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Subcommittee Presentation

By Micky Long

Our January program is going to be a little bit different than our usual programs. The first 30 minutes will be devoted to a presentation by our Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion subcommittee on the Audubon name issue followed by our program on Turkey Vultures. The subcommittee members will give a recommendation and explain their rationale. We ask that you use the chat box to ask simple questions, which we will answer via email in the days following the meeting. In the December newsletter, you’ll find a list of articles that give you some background information: (https://www.bitterrootaudubon.org/images/newsletters/2023/Bitterroot-Audubon-Newsletter-December-2023.pdf).  We invite you to give responses and perspectives via email, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and they will be shared with the entire subcommittee and board. The board will then discuss the recommendations and your input at the February Board meeting. 

Breeding Biology and Migration Ecology of Turkey Vultures in Western Montana

Brian Busby, Adam Shreading, Robert Domenech

Bitterroot Audubon is so excited to welcome Brian Busby of Raptor View Research Institute (RVRI) to share his knowledge of Turkey Vultures for our January program.

In recent decades, Turkey Vulture populations have both increased and expanded northward in western North America. At RVRI’s annual fall migration count site in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana, the number of vultures seen per 100 observation hours more than tripled from an average of 174 birds in the first four years of the count (2011 to 2014) to 581 birds in the last four years (2019 to 2022). Given their recent population growth and expansion in the west, coupled with knowledge gaps in Turkey Vulture breeding biology and migration ecology, RVRI outfitted more than 50 birds with GPS transmitters over the last five years to better understand the western subspecies of Turkey Vulture. Brian will discuss early findings from this project, including the timing, distance, and fidelity of migration routes and the difficulty in identifying and locating breeding individuals. Brian will also touch on ecotoxicology and sources of mortality, including the second documented case of a Golden Eagle predating a Turkey Vulture.

Raptor View Research Institute is a non-profit research and education organization established in 2004 and based in Missoula, Montana. The mission of Raptor View is to provide knowledge of raptors (birds of prey) and the ecosystems that support them to the public and scientific community, through research, conservation, and education.

Brian first joined Raptor View as seasonal field biologist in 2015 after graduating from SUNY ESF with a degree in conservation biology. He left after four years to earn his Master’s of Science degree in Raptor Biology at Boise State University studying Barn Owls. He and returned to RVRI full time in 2022.

You are invited to a Zoom meeting on January 15, 2024 at 7PM.  You must register in advance for this meeting using the following link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkceugrjMtH9UqIEC2PJ21pSBLP2Wj9u7K

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.