Season's Greetings!

It certainly doesn't feel like winter nor the holiday season here in Denver; we've had temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s for over three weeks now! I've lost count of the records which have been broken, one of which had stood since 1872. The upside? Lots of time outside bird watching, running, biking, hiking and strolling in the park. Don't forget shopping with friends and outside coffee and wine! As a New Yorker said to us when we visited for a tourism event in 2008, "What's the matter with you Coloradoans? Do you EVER stop moving?"

As the year draws to a close, I must thank all of you for your letters and emails, and for the myriad of ways you've contributed to our birds and mission. It's been a tumultuous year in many ways, with many changes and challenges in our everyday lives. I am comforted by words contained in the Mishnah, specifically Pikrkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 2:16 and attributed to Rabbi Tarfon:

It is not your duty to finish the work, but neither are you at liberty to neglect it.

Our work goes on, one step at a time. I wish everyone a Peaceful and Joyous holiday and New Year!~ Anne Price, President

If you live in greater Denver area, be sure to visit us at the International Sportsmen's Expo at the Colorado Convention Center from January 8-11th. Drop by to say hi and visit with our birds...be sure to bring your kids and your cameras!

Holy Peregrinations

Peter's first report this year from the Puerto Vallarta area of Mexico this opens with the second largest human peregrination in North America. Enjoy the video and the beginning of the holiday season!

Birds of Prey World Cup 2025

The 2025 Beaver Creek Stifel Birds of Prey Audi FIS Ski World Cup Men’s races were one heck of a wild ride this year! Mother Nature threw us several curve balls (sinkers and sliders too), but the incredible Talon and Raptor Crews were right there, managing snow, people and the three races.

The Downhill, Super G and Giant Slalom were run from December 4-7and despite some challenging conditions, veterans and newcomers alike made it to the podium. We had many entertaining and inspiring groups visit us at VIP, including cadets from the United States Air Force Academy and Westpoint. It was also great to see Lt Col Brian Stroud and the crew at the High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site who provided the cool Blackhawk flyover on the final day. None of this would be possible without the incredibly hard-working volunteers of the Raptor and Talon Crews, who keep us smiling and the skiers flying every day!

We love being the “bird of prey” at the best outdoor winter party in Colorado. Gratitude to our partners at the Vail Valley Foundation, Beaver Creek Resort and Stifel!

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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AWARD WINNER

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Winner of the 2020 Skipping Stones Honor Award for Nature and Ecology Books

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!

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.

Join the 89 Families Helping Our Raptor Sanctuary

Help Us Reach 100 Supporting Families!

Wind Turbine Secret Eagle Kill Numbers May Be Revealed

A lawsuit filed in Wyoming to force the USFWS to come clean and publish the number of eagles killed by three wind farms has been filed by Albany County Conservancy (ACC). "ACC has a compelling reason for wanting this kill data. There was an elaborate Wyoming tagging study that found wind turbines killing more golden eagles than all other human causes combined." Read the full report here~Peter Reshetniak, Founder

Mexican Owl Prowl

Finding owls at night involves excellent guiding services, a great deal of luck and even more patience. What you're seeing here involved a scary drive up and over the first ridge of mountains east of Puerto Vallarta in late afternoon on a dirt road. Once Peter arrived at the general location he waited until the sun vanished behind volcanic ridges, but with still enough light to see the Colima pygmy owl (Glaucidium palmarium), which is partially diurnal. After almost an hour with the sun having set and darkness all around him, he was about to give up when his guide Fernando heard the owl responding to recorded vocals of the same species. Sure enough, Fernando was able to get a flashlight onto the tiny owl for a few seconds so Peter could get focused and record a a very brief video. The call you hear is Fernando's recording.

The next owl, the black and white (Strix nigrolineata), was found about 500 meters away from the Colima, and this beauty did not make him wait for hours. It showed up within minutes of hearing a recording of this same species, but from a Central American owl. This species is more common in Central and South America than in Mexico. Fernando said there were only two of these owls known to anyone in Jalisco State, Mexico and he had found this one not long ago. The red eye shine makes the bird look a bit demonic! The true iris color is dark, and this species is between 14-16 inches in height, and weighs a little more than one pound.

Jeff Wang's Raptor Captures

Do not adjust your monitor! Nope, you're not seeing double with your screen brightness turned down: what Jeff photographed a few weeks ago is the PERFECT example of the largest hawk in North America, in both "typical" and dark morph plumage! Both hawks were on the same road, just a few poles apart.

The ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) can weigh up to 4.5 lbs and averages a wingspan of approximately 54 inches. This long-winged buteo of the open grasslands is an expert hunter of ground mammals, ranging from mice to jackrabbits. They are also excellent prairie dog hunters and are sometimes seen standing on the ground waiting for the rodents to emerge. Both hawks display the wide, yellow "gape" or opening of the mouth which runs well under the eye. This allows both adults and young to cool themselves by panting in prairie landscapes with few trees...and swallow prairie dog skulls whole!

Thank you Jeff!

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