Achievements

Media

06:43

Episode 1 - Into the Brush

In this first episode, Dr. Jen Cruz and Solai Le Fay introduce us to Idaho's sagebrush ecosystem, where ground squirrels and jackrabbits are crucial prey for raptors. A team of researchers ventures into this rugged landscape, using specialized survey techniques and intensive fieldwork to investigate the troubling decline in these prey species and its impact on the broader ecosystem. Join Dr. Cruz, Le Fay, and the other researchers as they explain the scientific insights and guide us through the discoveries that reveal the delicate balance of this unique habitat.

05:50

Episode 2 - Flight of the Prairie Falcons

In this captivating episode, we focus on wildlife biologist Zoe Bonerbo from the Quantitative Conservation Lab as she studies the nesting habits of prairie falcons. Drawing from research conducted by various experts at the lab, Zoe uses advanced technologies like nest cameras and GPS backpack trackers to understand how these raptors adapt to shifting ground squirrel populations. This episode provides an intimate glimpse into the behavior of these majestic birds and explores the challenges they face in a changing ecosystem. Join Zoe as she delves into the complex relationship between prairie falcons and their prey, revealing surprising insights into their survival strategies and the health of the sagebrush habitat.

05:57

Episode 3 - The Search for Golden Eagles

In this final episode, follow researchers Kevin Myers and Ashley Santiago as they explore the Owyhee Mountains, dedicating significant time and effort to finding golden eagles. Our team joins them to understand how these majestic birds adapt when their traditional food sources dwindle. As Kevin and Ashley tirelessly search for the eagles, they reveal innovative methods to track and study these elusive birds, gaining insights into their shift to alternative prey. Their journey sheds light on the crucial role golden eagles play in the ecosystem and the broader implications for their conservation.

A crew of undergraduate videographers joined the Quantitative Conservation Lab and the Heath Lab in the field to create the following documentary series showcasing some of the current research on raptors and their prey

Publications

See Google Scholar Page

Bontrager, David Roman, Jennifer D. McCabe, Paul W. Juergens, Brian D. Mutch, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2023. “Using Camera Traps to Inform Reintroduction Success and Recovery of the Northern Aplomado Falcon (Falco Femoralis Septentrionalis).” Food Webs 37 (December): e00314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fooweb.2023.e00314.

Martínez-Ruiz, Marisela, Cheryl R. Dykstra, Travis L. Booms, and Michael T. Henderson. 2023. “Conservation Letter: Effects of Global Climate Change on Raptors.” Journal of Raptor Research 57 (1). https://doi.org/10.3356/JRR-22-75.

Orrock, John L., Lars A. Brudvig, Ellen I. Damschen, W. Brett Mattingly, Jennyffer Cruz, Joseph W. Veldman, Philip G. Hahn, and Angela L. Larsen-Gray. 2023. “Long-Term, Large-Scale Experiment Reveals the Effects of Seed Limitation, Climate, and Anthropogenic Disturbance on Restoration of Plant Communities in a Biodiversity Hotspot.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120 (7): e2201943119. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2201943119.

Brown, Peter R., Steve Henry, Roger P. Pech, Jennyffer Cruz, Lyn A. Hinds, Nikki Van De Weyer, Peter Caley, and Wendy A. Ruscoe. 2022. “It’s a Trap: Effective Methods for Monitoring House Mouse Populations in Grain-Growing Regions of South-Eastern Australia.” Wildlife Research 49 (4): 347–59. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR21076.

Sauer, Erin L., Jennyffer Cruz, Erin Crone, Catherine Lewis, Ethan Plumier, Blake Cwynar, David Drake, Bradley M. Herrick, and Daniel L. Preston. 2022. “Multiscale Drivers of Amphibian Community Occupancy in Urban Ponds.” Urban Ecosystems 25 (5): 1469–79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-022-01239-2.

Perrig, Paula L., Sergio A. Lambertucci, Jennyffer Cruz, Pablo A.E. Alarcón, Pablo I. Plaza, Arthur D. Middleton, Guillermo Blanco, José A. Sánchez-Zapata, José A. Donázar, and Jonathan N. Pauli. 2020. “Identifying Conservation Priority Areas for the Andean Condor in Southern South America.” Biological Conservation 243 (March): 108494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108494.

Shipley, Amy A., Jennyffer Cruz, and Benjamin Zuckerberg. 2020. “Personality Differences in the Selection of Dynamic Refugia Have Demographic Consequences for a Winter-Adapted Bird.” Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 287 (1934): 20200609. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.0609.

Posters

Baker, Andrew, Zoe Bonerbo, Eden Ravecca, Kevin Myers, Kevin Warner, Zoe Duran, Megan Yrazabal, Charles Baun, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2024. "Prairie Falcon Predation Continues on Dwindling Prey Populations." Undergraduate Research Showcase 19 April 2024, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.

Fuller, Kirsten, Miranda Terwilliger, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2022. "Mexican Spotted Owl Long-Term Occupancy in a Highly Visited National Park". Raptor Research Foundation Conference 4-9 Oct 2022, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Bontrager, David R., Jennifer D. McCabe, Paul W. Juergens, Brian D. Mutch, Trevor Caughlin, Clint Boal, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2022. "Determining Limitations to Northern Aplomado Falcon Nest Occupancy and Productivity in Coastal Texas." Graduate Student Showcase Feb 2022, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.

Camacho, Leticia M., Jennifer Forbey, Donna Delparte, Julie Heath, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2022. "Developing Rigorous Approaches to Estimating Abundance of Black-tailed Jackrabbits in the Sagebrush Steppe." Graduate Student Showcase Feb 2022, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.

Ramirez, Vanessa, Kirsten Fuller, Emily Salciccia, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2021. "Factors Affecting Acoustic Detection of Mexican Spotted Owls at Grand Canyon National Park." Raptor Research Foundation Conference 8-12 Oct 2021, Boise, ID, USA.

Salciccia, Emily, Kirsten Fuller, Vanessa Ramirez, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2021. "Vocal Activity Patterns of Sympatric Owl Species in Grand Canyon National Park." Raptor Research Foundation Conference 8-12 Oct 2021, Boise, ID, USA.

Ravecca, Eden S., Todd Katzner, Trevor Caughlin, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2021. "Are Predators Able to Adapt to Landscape Changes in the Sagebrush Steppe?" Graduate Student Showcase 22 Feb 2021, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA.

Oral Presentations

Bontrager, David, Jennifer McCabe, Paul Juergens, Brian Mutch, Trevor Caughlin, Clint Boal, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2023. "Limitations to the Successful Reintroduction and Recovery of the Northern Aplomado Falcon in the U.S.". International Conservation Translocation Conference 13-15 Nov 2023, Fremantle, WA, Australia.

Ravecca, Eden, Todd Katzner, Trevor Caughlin, Steve Alsup, Matt Stuber, Kevin Warner, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2023. "Impacts of Habitat Type on Individual Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) Movement and Foraging Behavior During the Breeding Season". Raptor Research Foundation Conference 17-22 Oct 2023, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.

Camacho, Leticia, Donna Delparte, Zoe Bonerbo, Andrew Baker, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2023. "Developing Rigorous Approaches to Estimating Habitat Use of Black-tailed Jackrabbits inthe Sagebrush Steppe". Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Conference 14-16 Feb 2023, Boise, Idaho, USA.

Ravecca, Eden, Todd Katzner, Trevor Caughlin, Steve Alsup, Matt Stuber, Kevin Warner, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2023. "Breeding Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) Foraging Movement and Habitat Selection in Altered Sagebrush Steppe of Southwest Idaho". Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Conference 14-16 Feb 2023, Boise, Idaho, USA.

Cruz, Jennyffer, Zoe Duran, Zoe Bonerbo, Eden Ravecca, Andrii Zaiats, and Trevor Caughlin. 2023. "Looking Back at Historical Vegetation Changes to Ensure a Resilient Future for our Wildlife". Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society Conference 14-16 Feb 2023, Boise, Idaho, USA.

Camacho, Leticia, Donna Delparte, Zoe Bonerbo, Andrew Baker, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2022. "Developing Rigorous Approaches to Estimating Habitat Use of Black-tailed Jackrabbits inthe Sagebrush Steppe". NCA Conference 25-26 Oct 2022, Boise, Idaho, USA.

Cruz, Jennyffer, Zoe Duran, Zoe Bonerbo, Eden Ravecca, Andrii Zaiats, and Trevor Caughlin. 2022. "Looking Back at Historical Vegetation Changes to Ensure a Resilient Future for our Wildlife". NCA Conference 25-26 Oct 2022, Boise, Idaho, USA.

Ravecca, Eden, Todd Katzner, Trevor Caughlin, Steve Alsup, Matt Stuber, Kevin Warner, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2022. "Breeding Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) Foraging Movement and Habitat Selection in Altered Sagebrush Steppe of Southwest Idaho". Raptor Research Foundation Conference 4-9 Oct 2022, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Bontrager, David, Jenny McCabe, Paul Juergens, Brian Mutch, Trevor Caughlin, Clint Boal, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2022. "Determining Limitations to Northern Aplomado Falcon Nest Occupancy and Productivity in Coastal Texas". Raptor Research Foundation Conference 4-9 Oct 2022, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.

Ravecca, Eden, Todd Katzner, Trevor Caughlin, Steve Alsup, Matt Stuber, Kevin Warner, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2021. "Nesting Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) Movement Ecology: How Individual Predators Use Disturbed Landscapes in Southwest Idaho". Raptor Research Foundation Conference 8-12 Oct 2021, Boise, Idaho, USA.

Fuller, Kirsten, Miranda Terwilliger, Gavin Jones, and Jennyffer Cruz. 2021. "Occurrence Dynamics of Mexican Spotted Owls at the Grand Canyon". Raptor Research Foundation Conference 8-12 Oct 2021, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.