Message from the President

As I huddle on the couch in these evenings with a glass of Scotch, this is the time of year when many of us in Colorado are kind of "over" the cold. We've been battling sub-zero temperatures since January, and having to use extra heat lamps to make sure our raptor food actually thaws in our barn each night. Our gyrfalcon is happy, but right on schedule, the eagles, particularly our goldens, clearly have something else on their minds.

It seems almost impossible to believe that spring is coming, but with eagles (and great-horned owls), February is not just the month of pair-bond reinforcement; it's also one of nest construction, refurbishment, and territorial defense. In the Colorado Front Range area, incubation can begin as early as February 11th with bald eagles. If it's warm enough, some of us will see a few early crocuses in our front yards; these delicate drops of color fool us into thinking that the cold is over. We know better...the classic snapshot of April in Denver are tulips bent over under a coat of snow.

That same snow may coat the head and back of a devoted female eagle, tightly sitting on her eggs through blizzards, rain, and wind. The fact that an eagle egg, weighing around 3.5 to 4.0 ounces, comes to life and hatches at all, is a true miracle. There is so much that can go awry, from incorrect copulation timing, a sudden freeze with inexperienced parents, or violent spring winds that down a dry, old cottonwood tree, to a slight misstep with sharp talons on a nest barely large enough for a parent.

We hope you enjoy this video deep dive into the preparations both eagle species are undertaking right now, as the days slowly lengthen, and the promise of spring and new life renew us all.

Thank you for watching!~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

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day from the Star K Ranch bald eagles! Despite the snow and bitter cold, incubation is underway. Stay tuned for updates on this eagle nest as the season continues. Enjoy, please like the videos and post your comments...they help our channel grow!

The two images below are provided by Laura Chapman, a long time REF supporter and a regular eagle monitor at the Star K Ranch. The male continues to bring nesting material to improve the structure. Sticks and grass make a house a home!

Bluff Lake Nature Center

Located at the eastern edge of Denver's former Stapleton International Airport, the Bluff Lake Nature Center is a wonderful place to restore some small measure of connecting to the organic world. No artificial intelligence here, just 123 acres that can help you keep a bit of your sanity amidst industrial living. Enjoy this introduction, and stay tuned as we follow the nesting raptors in the coming months.

13th Annual Eagle Festival at Barr Lake State Park

On February 8th we were pleased to be invited back to Barr Lake State Park for their Eagle Festival. This fun day celebrates all things "eagle", with the emphasis being on the numerous bald eagles wintering at the park. There are also at least two breeding pairs constructing and refurbishing nests within the park and surrounding lake area.

Our audience in the Education Center was treated to not one, but both of America's eagles, with Peter holding our male golden eagle, and senior docent Jennifer Redmond handling our female bald eagle, who tipped the scales that morning at a record 14 lbs, 14 oz! It was a great opportunity for visitors to see the physical differences between "booted" eagles and sea eagles, as well as the size difference between males and females. Thanks to the staff and volunteers at Barr Lake State Park!

Broadmoor Golf Club Eagle's Nest Being Rebuilt

For six years we've been documenting the eagles nesting at the 11th hole at the Broadmoor Golf Club, bordering Madison Park, in Seattle Washington. This year they are busy rebuilding the damage to their nest, which happened last fall. Construction appears to be going well, and we're hoping for a productive 2025. Stay tuned to our Raptor Channel!

A Special Anniversary Offer on All Three of Our Books!

Celebrate our 45th anniversary by purchasing our

three books at this special price!

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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 Coming Soon!

We've got a NEW raptor design coming out soon! Kevin Abbott of Jabebo Earrings and Anne have collaborated on a new species to add to our raptor collection. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

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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.

Raptor Remarks

This is the first in a series of short videos illustrating features, attributes, and behaviors of raptors that will help improve your raptor encounters. The first is about the "crop" found in diurnal raptors. Give us your feedback, and let us know if there is a subject you would like us to cover. Enjoy!

Join the 86 Families Helping Our Raptor Sanctuary

Help Us Reach 100 Supporting Families!

New Nest at Barr Lake

Head east on Eagle Boulevard at Prairie Center in Brighton, Colorado past the larger than life-size bronze bald eagle, and as you drive under Interstate 76, look to the southeast to see the newest eagle's nest at Barr Lake.This nest is just minutes away from our Brighton facility...very convenient for filming!

A Golden Super Bowl Sunday at Wildcat Mountain

Taking advantage of very little traffic on Super Bowl Sunday, Peter drove down to Wildcat Mountain in Highlands Ranch to see if he could get lucky and find the golden eagles preparing for this nesting season. If you remember, last year despite a good start, they abandoned their nesting cycle. They're back, and on this day Peter caught the female at the historic nest which has been active for over 100 years. Stay tuned while we follow all the eagle nests we've been documenting over the previous years, and please be sure to like our videos and leave comments!

(Those pesky algorithms need reminding!) ;-)

The Second Creek Nest in Commerce City is Active Again!

The Second Creek nest in Commerce City is busy with both parents preparing for another successful year of raising young bald eagles. Follow our media channels to watch their progress...thank you for watching!

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

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, 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

Docents & Volunteers: Kristy Bortz, Clarissa Cigrand, Megan Considine, Karen Gonzalez, Kim Kistler, Linda Julia, Jennifer McAllister, Denis Murray, 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