“Wranglin’ In Nevada’s Wildlife”
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We are highly specialized conducting Golden Eagle and Raptor Nesting Surveys with 7 years of experience working with Golden Eagles and Ferruginous Hawks specifically, along with other all the raptor species in-between. We are based out of Elko Nevada with practical hands on experience doing eagle surveys throughout the state from Southern Nevada to Northern Nevada, working with the wonderful mining community, renewables/utilities sector, USFWS, BLM, and NDOW. Other states worked include Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, and California. I have personally taken over raptor projects from other companies that weren’t cutting the cheese, saving those clients money, headaches, and liability. We are very familiar with exactly how USFWS prefers these surveys to be done and if we don’t know something, we are not afraid to ask and learn. Rules, regulations, and protocols can change from year to year so it is important to have a positive relationship with USFWS, NDOW, and BLM. We believe that we can help with those positive realtionships.
I have been performing Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) lekking surveys since 2021 in Northern Nevada, Idaho, and Wyoming. Working with the wonderful mining community, oil and gas, and the renewables/utilities sectors. In 2020, I got my start with lekking bird surveys in Kansas working specifically with Lesser Prairie-Chickens (trapping and lek counts). In Northern Nevada, NDOW likes the GRSG surveys to be performed a certain way and have been more meticulous with the data and quality of work that they accept. At Saddle Up Wildlife Consulting, we take this very seriously. Ensuring that all work performed is above and beyond NDOW expectations while creating value to our clients with our knowledge and insights.
With 7 years of experience identifying birds and raptors by sight and sound, I have accumulated a plethora of knowledge and skills when it comes to birds and birding psychology. This is where we excel. Our passion when it comes to bird surveys comes second to none. I got my start in North Carolina and South Carolina banding Painted Buntings, a very unique beautiful bird that migrates to North America during the breeding season. Since then, I’ve had a burning passion to work with all avian species large and small. My work has taken me from the East Coast all the way to Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, Nebraska, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, California, and Arizona. Working with all habitat types, we excel in Migratory Bird Surveys, Nest Clearance surveys, Bio Clearance Surveys, Avian small bird and large bird point counts, Eagle Curtailments, pre construction surveys, post construction surveys, construction surveys, mortality monitoring, habitat assessments, Greater Sage-Grouse surveys, Prairie Chicken/trapping surveys, Eagle and Raptor minute by minute flight assessment/mapping surveys for the wind industry. We have also done nest clearance surveys, and Migratory Bird point counts for the mining industry as well, including bio monitoring, and Burrowing Owl Mitigation for drilling and mining activities. We also have experience for nest clearance surveys and bio monitoring for the cutting of trees for the Energy/Utility companies.
Contact:
505-600-9128
SeanpBasilio@gmail.com
About
Sean Basilio is a seasoned wildlife biologist based in Elko, Nevada, with seven years of field and consulting experience across the western U.S. He leads ground and aerial raptor and Golden Eagle nesting surveys and directs Greater Sage-Grouse monitoring projects. Sean conducts avian surveys across diverse habitats in multiple states, including NV, ID, OR, WY, MT, AZ, CO, NM, CA, NE, KS, and both Carolinas.
His technical skills extend to small-mammal trapping, desert tortoise and Pinyon Jays, amphibian and Burrowing Owl monitoring, prairie dog assessments, and special-status plant inventories. Sean also performs habitat mapping, develops targeted survey designs, and produces clear, regulator-ready technical reports for USFWS, BLM, and NDOW. Practical, field-focused, and safety-minded, he delivers reliable survey results and actionable recommendations for permitting and operational needs.
