President's Message

Happy Fall Everybody!

This is my very favorite time of year! Finally, there is some abatement of heat, and since I love open windows in my house, I've been shocked awake more than once in the last few weeks by the downstairs temps being below 65 degrees. There are a few Swainson's still hanging around, but the starlings are bunching up together in fields and in the trees, and the geese are starting to fly in formation...did I mention Pumpkin Spice Lattes??

We're busy preparing for our raptor identification class, Raptors of Colorado's Shortgrass Prairie. It sold out a few weeks ago, but we've had a cancellation, so we now have ONE space available. If you thought you waited too long, now's your chance!

Lots more coming next month...grab a cup of something warm, hug your favorite person/critter, and get outside and look up!

~ Anne Price, President

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

We've Got ONE Space Available Now!

"Raptors of the Colorado Shortgrass Prairie" Identification Class

Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 11th for our annual raptor ID class featuring Karen Metz and a cast of REF raptor ambassadors. Book Here

Second Creek Eagles Return

On a smoky September 5th, Peter visited the Second Creek nest in Commerce City, Colorado and found the pair of bald eagles perched not far from their nest. Although their breeding attempt failed this last season, previous years at this site have produced offspring and their return this fall is a good sign.

A number of bald eagle nests along the Front Range failed to produce this year (two which we were monitoring), so we're keeping our talons crossed for next spring. Thanks for watching our channel and please subscribe to make the algorithms happy. It all helps us grow and fly higher!

5280 Peregrine Watch Synopsis for 2025

This year’s peregrine story started out full of promise. After finding them nesting last year at 1875 Lawrence Street, we marshaled our resources for this year’s nesting cycle, and we posted our first video on April 18th using footage recorded by a specialty high-resolution camera.

During the following weeks we published more remarkable footage of the peregrine pair behaving like they were going to nest where they did last year. The Episode 6 video has garnered over 11,000 views so far!

Our camera equipment and supporting systems were in place to livestream the entire nesting cycle, but sadly that never happened. The peregrines moved somewhere else, and despite our best efforts, we could not find where they decided to lay their eggs.The adults were seen regularly in the vicinity of 1875 Lawrence, but nobody has spotted any juveniles from this year’s nesting effort. The "nest" may have failed, but we have no way to verify this theory one way or the other.

On September 9th Cricket, our "Spy in the Sky" reported that the adults were back at their Lawrence Street Penthouse. By the time this video is published, the adults and any offspring will likely have started their migration south for the winter. We're keeping our talons crossed that they return to their Lawrence Street penthouse next year, and actually stay there to lay eggs and raise a family!

Huge thanks to Noah, the building Engineer at Lawrence Street for his attention to both the birds and the technology. Gratitude also to Trey, our computer wizard who integrated the specialty camera with a small server and a Verizon cell to remotely view the falcons (all with very short notice), and finally, to the Considine Family Foundation for sponsoring the technology that made it all possible!~Peter Reshetniak, Director of Special Projects

Flocks of Other Ways to Help!

A Special Anniversary Offer on All Three of Our Books!

Celebrate our 45th anniversary by purchasing our

three books at this special price!

Just click

AWARD WINNER

Help Our Book Fly Higher:

Order Today!

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.

Burrowing Owl Bonanza Continues

The discovery of this burrowing owl family just northwest of Denver International Airport has brought a lot of pleasure and amusement to many of our viewers. They'll be migrating south pretty soon, and Peter will keep reporting on their activities until they depart.

The diminutive burrowing owls (5-8oz) found on Colorado's shortgrass prairie ecosystem have to be on constant alert for terrestrial and aerial predators. This family, just northwest of Denver International Airport, has been filmed by Peter for the past several weeks, and on this occasion a local red-tailed hawk decided to circle overhead. This kept these little diurnal owls on full alert for about 30 minutes. Peter will be visiting them again and hopefully capture some more magical moments before they head to their southern wintering grounds.

Join the 88 Families Helping Our Raptor Sanctuary

Help Us Reach 100 Supporting Families!

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

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, 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 donation via PayPal. 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, Karen Ogle, May Ann Ottinger, Anne Price, Jennifer Redmond, Peter Reshetniak, Beverly Rice, Mitch Skinner and Ann Stanz

Docents in Training: Robert Mitchell and Peggy Plaus