The 26th Annual Hawks Aloft Raffle Quilt
It's our annual fundraising effort, stitched with the loving hands of 14 volunteers! The quilt made its debut at the Monte Vista Festival of the Cranes, on March 9! This year's quilt features hand-painted feathers modeled after the molted feathers of our avian ambassadors and beautiful hand applique by Barbara Deshler. Tisha Cavanaugh did an exceptional job on the machine quilting! Thank you to all who helped created this quilt:
Evelyn McGarry, Allison Schacht, Sami Sanborn, Lizzie Roberts, Barb Deshler, Cynthia Figueroa-McInteer, Steve Elkins, Ed Chappelle, Mary Chappelle, Rick Deshler, Carol Meincke, Donna Barnitz, Tisha Cavanaugh and yours truly.
Purchase
tickets here! We will draw the winning ticket at our annual holiday party on December 7, 2019~
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Birding and Photography at the Ladder Ranch
An Exclusive Members-only Event
Saturday, May 11
$200 per person
Spring Update: On Wedsnesday, April 3, 2019, the Ladder Ranch already hosted a raptor triefecta -- Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk and Swainson's Hawk, along with four Vermilion Flycatchers and Black-chinned Hummingbirds at the feeders! Our trip will happen at peak songbird time with warbles and trills bursting from all corners of the lush vegetation. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity.
Check out their new website
Whether your passion is birds, photography, archaeological sites, petroglyphs, or geography, this promises to be an unforgettable experience. We are partnering with Ted Turner Expeditions (TTX), to enable a very limited number of guests to spend a full day exploring the
Ladder Ranch
. Its 156,000 acres encompass four tributaries of the Rio Grande, the
Animas Mountains, and the Seco, Palomas, and Cuchillo streams. E
ach has different ecosystems and is home to diverse wildlife including elk, bison, mule deer, javelina, and over 250 species of birds. The Ladder Ranch is also rich in history, with ancient artifacts and adobe home sites ready to be explored.
Some of the southern New Mexico bird specialties here include Scaled and Gambel’s Quail, Common Black Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Acorn Woodpecker, Brown-crested Flycatcher, Cassin’s Kingbird, Cactus Wren, Tree Swallow, Bridled Titmouse, Phainopepla, Pyrrhuloxia, Black-throated Sparrow, Hooded Oriole, Scott’s Oriole, and some unusual warblers: Grace’s, Black-throated Gray, Black and White, and Lucy’s. It is common to see 40-60 species on a casual day and, if migration is hopping, sometimes things are going so fast that you can’t even count the birds!
Depending on the interests of participants, each UTV (the primary mode of transport in this terrain) will focus on either photography or birds, with no more than three guests in each vehicle, plus one HAI trip leader, either Gail Garber (birds) or Larry Rimer (photography), plus TTX guides, David Barfield, or Ken Stinnett. If your interest is photographing birds, we will focus on that. If seeing birds and seeking out specialties excites you, then that will be the focus. The groups will meet up for a gourmet lunch, prepared by Chef Taffy Glenn of the Sierra Grande Lodge.
The trip begins and ends at the The Sierra Grande Lodge
http://sierragrandelodge.com
, in Truth or Consequences with discounted lodging rates for Friday and Saturday nights for our group. (
Friday: King $176+ tax, Queen $156+ tax double occupancy. Saturday: King $188 + tax, Queen $175.50 + tax).
Z
one-tailed Hawk image from Wikipedia, Vermilion Flycatcher image by Tony Thomas.
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Looking Back at 2018, by Trevor Fetz, Lead Avian Biologist
Currently, I am working on the 2018 annual report for the Middle Rio Grande Songbird Study. As you will recall, most of New Mexico fell back into extreme to exceptional drought after receiving essentially no precipitation throughout the fall of 2017 and winter of 2018. The bird numbers from the winter and summer 2018 field seasons reflect the impact of the drought conditions on an avian community still trying to recover from the long-term, exceptional drought of the early 2010s.
Winter avian density was lower in 2018 than 2017 in 12 of 15 habitat types, with the decrease being statistically significant in two habitat types. Although we surveyed the same transects the same number of times during both years, we had 4,993 fewer avian detections across all species in 2018. The numbers would have been worse if not for the 2018 invasion of Steller’s Jays and Mountain Chickadees. We had 627 Steller’s Jay detections in 2018 (vs. zero in 2017) and 291 more Mountain Chickadee detections in 2018 than 2017. Among the species that showed the biggest declines between winter 2017 and 2018 were Dark-eyed Junco (1,833 fewer detections in 2018), American Robin (1,080 fewer detections) and Yellow-rumped Warbler (915 fewer detections).
Summer avian density in 2018 was lower than 2017 in 11 of 15 habitat types, although in only one case was the decrease statistically significant. Overall, we had 3,881 fewer avian detections in summer 2018 than 2017. The species showing the largest decreases in summer 2018 were Blue Grosbeak (895 fewer detections), Spotted Towhee (890 fewer detections), and Bewick’s Wren (636 fewer detections).
Although I have only glanced at the data from winter 2019, it is clear that bird numbers were up compared to 2018. Hopefully, bird numbers also will be higher this summer.
Spotted Towhee image by David Powell
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Notice:
One of our staff members recently received a threatening phone call. For safety’s sake, our doors will now be locked at all times. Thank you for your understanding!
Just give us a knock or a call at 828-9455!
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Owls of New Mexico!
We are pleased to introduce our brand new T-shirt, featuring images of our Avian Ambassadors and nearly every single species of owl that might be found in our state. Designed by Scott Lowry, this unique T-shirt is the perfect gift for a loved one during the holidays. After all,
whoooo doesn't love owls?!
The shirt comes in both long and short sleeves. All shirts are $30 and can be ordered on our website or can be picked up at the office. Ladies sizes are available in short sleeves; all long-sleeved shirts are unisex, and we also have youth sizes in short sleeves.
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Conservation Project: An Adventure Outside
by Ellie Althoff, Education Coordinator
With new literature being published about nature deficit disorder and the benefits of ecotherapy, it is no surprise that educators want their students to spend time
outdoors. On a sunny Friday morning, 5th grade students at Cochiti Elementary School were able to spend time doing just that while simultaneously bettering their school. These students previously had learned the difference between materials that are recycled, reused, and those that go to a landfill. Afterwards, they used this information to clean up their school grounds and sort the materials they found. Together, the classes collected two full bags of litter!
Although this task may seem unappealing at first, the 5th grade students fully embraced their conservation project. From half a block away I could hear students exclaiming, “I found a piece of trash!” before excitedly running over and placing it inside the trash bag. This shows that achieving goals, even if they are small, give students a sense of accomplishment and pride. Facilitating these achievements while also protecting wildlife and our local habitats is just one of the many positive outcomes of Living with the Landscape.
We thank PNM for funding three Title 1 elementary schools in the Albuquerque Metro Area in the 2018-19 school year. This year-long program serves every student in the school with multiple classroom presentations featuring live birds of prey, as well as field trips and conservation projects for the upper grade levels. The application process for the upcoming school year will begin May 1, 2019.
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A Festival to Remember, by Katrina Hucks, Raptor Rescue Coordinator
For the 25th year, Hawks Aloft attended the Monte Vista Crane Festival in Monte Vista, CO. The San Luis Valley is an important migration stopover site for Sandhill Cranes, migrating by the thousands to take advantage of the valley’s richness in grains and yummy invertebrates. The flocking birds draw in masses of people, too, who come to celebrate the rich wildlife the San Luis Valley has to offer. This year, we brought 16 birds to the event and two of them made their Monte Vista debut – Beauty the Turkey Vulture and Tula the American Kestrel. The booth was a success, drawing visitors to learn about our organization, learn about our avian ambassadors, and to just learn about wildlife! One of the coolest things about the booth we run during the weekend is when people come up and remember talking with us and seeing the birds!
While Ellie led the way at the booth, Gail, Amanda, and myself led four raptor tours on the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge grounds. After a snowstorm on Friday, the weather was somehow perfect for Saturday and Sunday. Tour participants got excellent looks at nesting Great Horned Owls, soaring Red-tailed Hawks, and hovering Northern Harriers. Several tours also got great looks at two more difficult species to spot, like Rough-legged Hawk and Golden Eagle! We also saw some other great wildlife like
pronghorn and elk. One of my favorite parts of the weekend was getting to hang out with our amazing volunteers, Ed and Mary Chappelle, Chellye Porter, Larry Rimer, Lizzie Roberts, and Allison Schacht.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this year another great one at the Monte Vista Crane Festival!
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Discover the Darien
& Canal Zone of Panama
with Hawks Aloft and Canopy Family!
November 9-18, 2019
Only 4 spots remain!
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We are excited to offer our newest adventure destination tour – Discover the
Darien region of Panama
! Darien National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site! Mark your calendars for November 2019.
Panama, a biologically and culturally diverse country connects North and South America. It is a haven for wildlife watchers of all kinds, especially birders. The Canopy Family has operated ecotourism lodges in Panama since 1999. Their mission is “to share the nature, history and culture of the Republic of Panamá with passion and enthusiasm, focused on customer satisfaction and guided by the principles of conservation and social responsibility.”
This trip will be lead by Gail Garber, Executive Director, and Katrina Hucks, Avian Biologist. Katrina worked as a hawk migration counter at Canopy Tower in Panama prior to beginning work at Hawks Aloft.
Trip Highlights
- Look for Harpy Eagles! (as of this writing a new nest has been found with indications that the pair is incubating eggs)
- Visit the Darién region of Panama, a vast area of the eastern part of the country with no
roads and diverse wildlife. Stay at the Canopy Family’s Canopy Camp
- Explore local culture, including a native Embera village
- Take time to photograph the amazing wildlife that includes not only birds, but a vast array of other wildlife from butterflies to monkeys and reptiles
- Relax and enjoy rainforest-level views from the famous Canopy Tower.
Hawks Aloft has offered trips to Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, and other international destinations at least once a year to experience diverse wildlife and new cultures. Join Hawks Aloft and the Canopy Family on the trip of a lifetime!
Trip limited to 12 participants with three trip leaders. (Only 4 spots remain)
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AmazonSmile Donations, by Angela Green, Office Manager
This month I’d like to let you know about an exciting
way to donate to Hawks Aloft: AmazonSmile. Many
people shop regularly on Amazon, but did you know that in addition to shopping, you can give to your
favorite charity?
Instead of shopping through the main Amazon website, go to
smile.amazon.com. It’s the same
company and essentially the same website. The difference is, the charity of your choice will receive
0.05% of the purchase price when you buy any of millions of eligible products.
Hawks Aloft currently has the ongoing support of 138 Amazon customers. These folks have generated $1,103.64 to date for us!
Interested in giving through AmazonSmile? Simply go to
smile.amazon.com and sign in to your Amazon account. You’ll be asked which charitable organization you’d like to support (hint: choose Hawks Aloft!). Next, start shopping. That’s it!
Thanks in advance for signing up to give to Hawks Aloft, and happy shopping!
Above Mary Chappelle, volunteer and board member, and Lady Kiki, our educational Merlin.
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Help support our non-releasable raptors through our Adopt-a-Raptor program. Hawks Aloft houses and cares for 25 permanently disabled raptors (and one corvid!). Our Avian Ambassadors travel throughout the Southwest, helping us to educate the public about how to help protect these beautiful animals. We provide them with top-quality housing, food, and medical care for their entire lives. It costs an average of $2000/mo. just for their food. When you adopt a raptor, you help feed our birds, make home improvements, and provide veterinary care for one avian ambassador of your choice. Prices range from $35-$100 depending on the species.
Click here to Adopt a Raptor
such as Dulcita, our very large Great Horned Owl, photographed here by Larry Rimer. When you adopt a Hawks Aloft raptor you will receive:
- A one-year Hawks Aloft membership
- An Adoption Certificate
- An information sheet about the individual bird you have adopted
- Exclusive access to video updates about your bird
- Your choice of:
A professional 8×10 photo of your bird, or
A stuffed Audubon Bird with realistic vocalizations
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Support Hawks Aloft by Shopping at Smith's!
Many of you have long been Hawks Aloft supporters, and a good number of you have also been longtime Smith’s shoppers. For those not in the know, the grocery chain has a program that provides a small kick-back quarterly to nonprofits when their supporters link their shopper’s cards to the organization.
The company recently changed their policies regarding the program—so even if you’ve signed up in the past, you may need to do it again! The good news is that it is easy to do.
2)
Either create an account or sign-in to an existing one
3)
Once logged in, click on “Account Summary” on the left sidebar
4)
From there, scroll down to “Inspiring Donations Program” and click “Enroll”
5)
A searchable list will come up, you can either search for “Hawks Aloft” or enter our ID number for the program, GL430
6)
Shop using your card and now that every time you do so, you help out Hawks Aloft!
We appreciate your ongoing support in this, and so many other capacities!
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*Check out intakes and thank-you's after the Photographer's Gallery*
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Photographers Monthly Gallery - Larry Rimer
Longtime volunteer, Larry Rimer, spends a good portion of his time focusing on wild bird photography, often on his property located at the very edge of the metro area. It is with considerable time and great patience that he captures birds going about their daily lives in complete comfort. Larry is active in all aspects of Hawks Aloft, from field research and raptor rescue and even educational outreach. Thank you, Larry, for all that you do for Hawks Aloft!
- Viewing the world from a different angle. A juvenile Northern Harrier.
- A wasp killing a bee, photographed on the window of Larry's home.
- Pinyon Jay adult feeding a fledgling.
- Red-tailed Hawk
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Thank You to our March Donors!
Daniel Abram
Arthur & Catherine Arenholz
Edward Barengo
Beta Sigma Phi
Nancy Bowsher
Charles Brandt
Niels Chapman
Edsal & Mary Chappelle
Darkside Hobbies
Gamma Psi Omega
Sarah Hamilton
Leslie Kuhn
Nelson Leonard & Linda Rodgers
Judy Liddell
Anthony Lopez
Sue Lyons
Tom & Edel Mayer
Jo & Alan Mickelson
Tony Mistretta
Glenda Moore
William Musser & Kathleen Sullivan
Michael & Analee Neumann
Miguel Palaviccini
Dave Parsons
Daniel Paulsen
PayPal Giving Fund
Michael & Cheryl Quaintance
Renee Robillard
Donna Royer
Allison Schacht
Lynne Schluter
Bruce & Anita Sisk
Brad & Victoria Stamm
Virginia Sunderland
Denise Suttle
Nancy Thonen & Virginia Edley
Reuben & Michele Weisz
Frank Wilson
Nancy Wilson
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Our Veterinarians and Rehabilitators
Kariana Atkinson, DVM
Mary & Ed Chappelle
Linda Contos, DVM
Cottonwood Rehabilitation Center
Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
Eye Care for Animals
Ray Hudgell, DVM
Gavin Kennard, DVM, DACVO
Daniel Levenson, DVM
Mike Melloy, DVM
Lisa Morgan
New Mexico Wildlife Center
Bob Peiffer, DVM, PhD
Petroglyph Animal Hospital
Kathleen Ramsay, DVM
Santa Fe Raptor Center
Southwest Veterinary Medical Center
Samantha Uhrig, DVM
Ventana Animal Clinic
Wildlife Rescue of New Mexico
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March Intakes
Red-tailed Hawk – dead on arrival
Cooper’s Hawk – dead on arrival
Common Raven – leg injury
Cooper’s Hawk – wing injury
Burrowing Owl – caught in attic turbine
Red-tailed Hawk – broken wing
Peregrine Falcon – broken wing
Great Horned Owl – dead on arrival
Cooper’s Hawk – broken wing
Mallard – caught in fishing line
Peregrine Falcon – unable to fly
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And Thank You to Our Corporate Donors:
Amazon Smile Foundation
Avangrid Renewables
The Binky Foundation
Central New Mexico Audubon Society
Charles Schwab
Coca-Cola Foundation
Farmers Electric Cooperative
Four Corners Bird Club
Gathering of Nations
Holbrook Travel
Intel Corporation
Kroger Company
Land of Enchantment Wildlife Foundation
McFarland Cascade
Nichols Ranch
PNM Resources Foundation
Peabody Natural Resources Company
Sonepar USA
Summit Construction
Summit Line Construction
Tetra Tech
The Verdes Foundation
Wild Birds Unlimited
Wildside Nature Tours
Womack Wealth Management
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Raptor Rescue Team
Nirankar Ambriz
Victoria Ambriz
Daniel Archuleta
Mary Bruesch
Ed Chappelle
Mary Chappelle
Joanne Dahringer
Shannon Harrison
Ty Horak
Denise Inight
Jeannine Kinzer
Arlette Miller
Laura McCammon
Bill McCammon
Evelyn McGarry
Julie Morales
Eliane Notah
Chellye Porter
Amanda Rael
Larry Rimer
James Robinson
Anita Sisk
Bruce Sisk
Davedda Thomas
Tony Thomas
Frank Wilson
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Field Survey Teams
Chuck Brandt
Wendy Brown
Mary Bruesch
Ed Chappelle
Gill Clarke
Ed Clark
Charles Cummings
Vicki Dern
Roger Grimshaw
Fred Hashimoto
Joan Hashimoto
Jerry Hobart
Kay Jackson
Bob Kipp
Maurice Mackey
David Meyerson
Arlette Miller
Glenda Moore
Natalie Nunez
Bonnie Long
Dave Parson
Chellye Porter
Donna Royer
Susan Russo
Renee Robillard
Sam Sanborn
Allison Schacht
Martin Schelble
Dianne Schlies
Lisa Schluter
Mary Smith
Mary Walsh
Christie Wilcox
Steve Youtsey
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Education and Outreach
Chuck Brandt
Mary Bruesch
Ed Chappelle
Mary Chappelle
Rebecca Ezechukwu
Evelyn McGarry
Arlette Miller
Chellye Porter
Elizabeth Roberts
Allison Schacht
Anita Sisk
Bruce Sisk
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6715 Eagle Rock Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM 87113
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Who We Are
Gail Garber,
Executive Director
Trevor Fetz,
Lead Avian Biologist
Ellie Althoff,
Education Coordinator
Angela Green,
Office Manager
Maggie Grimason,
Senior Editor
Katrina Hucks,
Avian
Biologist and Raptor Rescue Coordinator
Amanda Schluter,
Biologist
Mirinisa Stewart-Tengco,
Webmaster
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Our Board of Directors
Alwyn VanderWalt
Chair
Mary Chappelle,
Vice-chair
Terry Edwards,
Treasurer
Sarah Beans
, Secretary
Dagny Cosby,
Board Member
Carter Cherry,
Board Member
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