President's Message

"Healing Nature"

Thank you to Peter for writing the intro to the last newsletter...I was swimming in the biological excess that is Costa Rica!

Too much for me to say here, but suffice to say that the birds there, all 903 species, were INSANE! I didn't think I could get tired of watching birds, but after one day in the Monteverde area, I was physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted. One of our former docents who gifted me a field guide, absolutely nailed it when she remarked, "Costa Rica is what made me realize there are birds out there other than raptors." That being said, I saw fifteen species of raptors, seven of which I'd never I'd never observed in the wild before. If you check out the bottom portion of this edition, you'll see three of those fifteen species....thank you again, Jeff!

Before my trip I came across this beautiful quote from Rachel Carson...it captured my little vacation perfectly:

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth will find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts...

there is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature--the assurance that dawn comes after night,

and spring after winter.”

Spring is somewhere between two and four weeks early here in Colorado. I saw my first turkey vulture on St.Patrick's Day, and two ospreys on March 31st. As you'll read below, Denver's downtown peregrines returned about a month ahead of schedule. I must admit, I'm very happy to see all three species again. For those of you who are local, please mark your calendars, for Friday, June 5th, and come see us at the Denver Botanic Gardens for our annual Raptor Day at the Gardens. More info in our next newsletter.

Keeping my eyes open for the first Swainson's hawks...Happy Easter and thanks for reading!~Anne Price, President

5280 Peregrine Watch Starts Again!

The 5280 Peregrine Watch has begun after our Mile High monitors Cricket and Noah, alerted us that the falcons had returned to their 1875 Lawrence St penthouse. With our special 4K camera in place from last year, getting everything ready for remote viewing didn't take long, and if you watch the date and time stamp in the upper left-hand corner, you'll see a dramatic beginning for this breeding season over a relatively short span of time.

Everything that happens is self-explanatory until the video timer hits 3:09. The female lands, jumps off the ledge and then runs to the north. If you enlarge the video to full frame, you will see her doing something typical of a bird scraping out a shallow bowl in which to (hopefully) lay her eggs. Peregrines don't normally build stick nests; they typically make a scrape on a rocky or gravel substrate up on a cliff where they lay their eggs. If this is the only scrape she has made, then our camera is perfectly positioned to monitor everything that follows. Stay tuned for what unfolds as the world’s fastest avian predators begin their nesting season in downtown Denver’s glass and steel canyons.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of the Considine Family Foundation for making this camera possible, and for Trey, our IT magician. Last but not least, thanks to Cricket and Noah, two of our local monitors alerting us to what's flying around Denver’s downtown landscape. Noah is also the building engineer for 1875 Lawrence; he ensures everything runs smoothly for Unico Properties, LLC, the owners based in Seattle, Washington.

As you see below, Noah goes the extra mile if needed, to help the peregrines make good housing choices!

Update 3/24/26

24 hours after the above video was filmed, the falcons vanished. This is similar to last year's displays at the same location. They've been heard calling near the building in the morning, however they're not showing up on our camera. Peter has also checked the Salesforce building where they nested many years ago, but they were not there either despite evidence of the falcons using that location as another place to eat.


Since the peregrines have returned about a month earlier than last year, the activities caught on camera above may be related to cementing their pair bonds, which means actual nesting may still be taking place in the coming weeks. Peter consulted with Bud Anderson, a peregrine researcher who has decades of experience with peregrines nesting in downtown Seattle. After hearing about the issues, Bud said they had experienced similar challenges a few times, and suggested a nest tray be placed with the falcons' preferred substrate, pea gravel. Peter built one based on specifications used for the trays in Seattle, and Noah placed the tray in the location the falcon had made a scrape...see video below.

And then, on April 1st, check it out! Watch the date/time clock in the upper left hand corner as the falcons return to their remodeled penthouse.


A Few REF History Links

 White House Visit, Colorado’s First Environmental License Plates, Best Raptor Book Ever,  Our Raptors Cruise to Alaska, Consulting on National Memorial Sculpture, US Naval War College Special Program, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Birds of Prey International Skiing Championships, International Falconry Festival, National Geographic, State & County Fairs,  Natural Solutions Consulting Services

Flocks of Other Ways to Help!

A Special Anniversary Offer on All Three of Our Books!

Celebrate our 46th anniversary by purchasing our

three books at this special price!

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Reviews

“A unique book aimed at introducing young and beginning birders to the world of raptors. . . . creative for certain! Helpful, too.”–Jim Williams, Wingnut Blog, Minneapolis Star Tribune



“A very cool new book.”–Doc Kirby, On The Bookshelf

“Bird enthusiasts of all ages will find this book full of educational fun.”–Skipping Stones

“Beautiful, educational coloring book.”–Katie L.Burke, American Scientist

“All the essays were well-written and provided lots of easy-to-understand information, which allows the reader to identify many different types of raptors. I also really enjoyed the further reading at the back of the book about the kestrel box. The instructions were clear-cut, and the activity was easy and fun to do.”–Hannah, age thirteen, Kids’ BookBuzz

Orders Here! Or you may order on Amazon. Peek Inside

Read more about the author and the illustrator.

New Earrings Arrive!

Presenting: Falco mexicanus!

We are VERY excited about Jabebo's newest earring design, the hardy and beautiful prairie falcon. This large falcon, about the same size as a peregrine, is found only in the dry, Great Basin of North America. Surviving in landscapes tested by drought, wind and snow, this versatile falcon will hunt mammals, as well as birds. Get yours here!

OI (Organic Intelligence) and the World's Only Owlgorithm Work for REF

Another first for REF is being introduced in this video. Let us know what you think, and how we might use our exclusive owlgorithm to enhance your raptor wisdom and experiences!

Special thanks to The Kroenke Group & THF Realty for extending our lease at very affordable rates for the next 5 years. Support like this ensures we will make it through these challenging times.

Thanks to our past and future partners, THF Prairie Center Development, L.L.C., THF Prairie Center Investors, L.L.C. and the City of Brighton, for creating the best intersection in Colorado just a minute or two north of our headquarters!

As the new villages grow at Prairie Center, so do the streets with cool names! Check out some of the street names!

WISH LIST

We're still looking for a gently-used, 20-25 foot RV (Class C) that would serve as a mobile office for traveling programs around Colorado and farther away. Or maybe you have an SUV or pickup truck you would like to donate? We can put it to good use! Please give our office a call if you have a vehicle you think we could use!

(303) 680-8500

Thank you!

Raptor Chronicles

Previous Issues Archived Here

Just in case you've missed any issues, we currently have issues dating back to January 2020.

REI Red-tails High Tech Nest

Folks frequenting the REI flagship store located at the confluence of the Platte River and Cherry Creek might be familiar with the pair of red-tailed hawks which have nested in the cell tower, located in REI’s parking lot off Platte Street. It's easy to spot, even from I-25 and especially when you're crawling along during rush hour. The nest is also visible from the Speer Blvd entrance and exit ramps. This visit is from Peter's first visit on March 14th.

As you see, it was quite windy and the female, the larger of the two, was busy dining on one of the plentiful rats that are found along the Platte River. We're guessing it was a rat (or perhaps a squirrel), because a mouse would have been gulped very quickly. Incubation was not yet underway, so Peter will be checking back to see if this nest becomes active. It was last year, but he learned of it too late, and the young hawks had already fledged before he could get downtown. This interchange is one of the very busiest in Denver; it leads directly to our downtown shopping, performing art complex, hockey and basketball arena, and three college campuses. One of North America’s most adaptive and successful hawks has chosen some prime real estate! Stay tuned and remember, your likes and comments help our Raptor Channel spread the word to all the raptorphiles out there!

Join the 88 Families Helping Our Raptor Sanctuary

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Feasting on Wildcat Mountain

Just as Peter arrived at Wildcat Mountain and got his camera focused on the nest, he caught the female flying off with a large portion of cottontail rabbit. The male already had a very full crop; that’s the large bulge under the throat, which meant he had already eaten his fill. When Peter panned over to find the female on one of her favorite perches, she'd already started devouring one of her favorite meals. You're watching a short segment of what took place over more than one hour. More will be coming in future videos, however, don’t miss out on what happens at about 6:00....it's pretty amazing!

While Peter filmed her gorging on the rabbit, he watched the male settled in to continue incubating the one or two eggs in the nest. The parents are approaching the time when their labors will be rewarded with a new eaglet or two hatching and then the real supply chain of food deliveries will kick into high gear.

Stay tuned for more golden moments from Wildcat Mountain in Highlands Ranch and please remember to like and subscribe to our YouTube channel. This helps our exclusive "Owlgorithm" spread raptor wisdom!

Jeff Wang's Raptor Captures

As winter wanes and spring begins, let's take a little "Spring Break" trip south to the Arizona border, and enjoy three lovely species which aren't found in Colorado...plus a fourth, just for fun.

Above is the gray hawk, Buteo plagiatus. This compact and small raptor bears a lot of resemblance to the red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus. Both species have long tails with multiple bands, rounded wings and a fondness for lizards. The habits and shape of the gray hawk are unusual enough that it was once placed in the genus Asturina, in reference to its accipiter-like flight style. (The new genus for the American goshawk and Cooper's hawk is Astur, but that's another discussion!). Gray hawks range from southern Arizona and Texas through Mexico and into Costa Rica. Look for them in cottonwood and willow stands, often near rivers.

Now, on to the two (three!) black beauties of the southern US, Mexico and Central America...

Above is the zone-tailed hawk, Buteo albonotatus. This is a long-winged and long-tailed black buteo which somewhat resembles a turkey vulture from far away. The two-toned wing with the dark leading edge, paler trailing edge, and long tail occasionally fools both humans and prey alike. They are known to fly with and mimic the rocking flight of turkey vultures, in order to fool unsuspecting prey on the ground. They are generalists, hunting mammals, birds and lizards.The zone-tailed hawk also aggressively defends its nesting territory, attacking animals as large as red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, and even humans.

Now, look closely at the second black hawk below: This is the common black hawk, Buteogallus anthracinus. At first glance the two species may appear identical, but check out the very broad wings of the common black hawk, the proportionally-shorter tail, and the white band on the tail. You typically can see more than one white band on a zone-tailed, but never on a common black hawk. The primaries on the zone-tailed are heavily striped, while the common black hawk has solid black tips on its primaries. This species favors aquatic prey and often perches very close to rivers. They've been observed wading into shallow water to catch frogs, salamanders, fish and crustaceans. Their "buteo-adjacent" genus name also gives a hint about their genetic relationship to the next black beauty below...

This long-legged, "tall" hawk is the great black hawk, Buteogallus urubitinga. No, they are NOT found in the US, but they do overlap in range and share some habitats in Central America with the common black hawk. Their long, thick legs allow foraging on the ground; they prey on mammals, reptiles (including venomous snakes), amphibians, fish, crustaceans, bats and have even been observed eating fallen fruit and eggs.

Yep, that's Anne with a great black hawk that was abandoned at the back employee gate at Marine World Africa USA in the late 1970s. Stuffed in a cramped parrot cage, she was missing all the feathers on her wings and tail. For five years this strong and intimidating hawk went after Anne every chance she got, then finally decided the two of them could work together...just in time for Anne to leave the Bay Area for CU Boulder!

Seattle's Most Exclusive Restaurant

High above the 11th hole at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle is an exclusive restaurant, catering to one couple whose wild game diet is not available to any pedestrian palate. Rabbit, duck, and fish are typical fare on this couple’s menu. As you watch the female devour a very fresh fish you'll also see that access to this dining spot is only available to those who can fly in.

The male left a few minutes earlier, and the late afternoon light provided some excellent views of her table manners. Peter was hoping they would have been incubating by this date; although the nest wasn't in use, their presence indicates they'll be using it again soon. He filmed at the entrance to the Beaver Sanctuary which affords the residents of Madison Park easy access to all kinds of wild experiences just minutes away from their homes. Stay tuned for more updates!

In addition to the United States of America, our Facebook, Newsletter, and YouTube followers are found in the following countries:

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Botswana, Canada, China, France, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Russia, Spain, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

Automatic Monthly Donations: Thanks to everyone who has set up a monthly donations via PayPal and Zelle. We have people from both coasts, a few states in the middle and in Colorado contributing automatic monthly pledges...thank you all!

REF Staff: Anne Price, President & Curator; Peter Reshetniak, Founder & Director of Special Projects; Savannah Grout, Mews Manager; Karen Ogle, Assistant Mews Manager

Docents & Volunteers: Kristy Bortz, Clarissa Cigrand, Megan Considine, Karen Gonzalez, Kim Kistler, Linda Julia, Jackson Lincoln, Jennifer McAllister, Robert Mitchell, Karen Ogle, Mary Ann Ottinger, Peggy Plaus, Anne Price, Jennifer Redmond, Peter Reshetniak, Beverly Rice, Mitch Skinner, Ann Stanz and Jamie Ziegler

Docents in Training: Heather Allen