Raffle Quilt #26!
by Gail Garber, Executive Director
It’s hard to believe that we have made that many raffle quilts during our existence! Our actual 25
th anniversary date is February 20, so logically, this should be quilt #25. But, even as we were planning and organizing for the start-up called Hawks Aloft, we also were planning that very first quilt, a humble design compared to what you see today.
The design for the 2019 quilt, like all the others, was developed by yours truly using a computer program called AutoCad. Because we are a bird group the quilt usually has an avian theme. This year, I wanted to feature some of the feathers that our educational birds molt naturally during the summer months. My friend Donna Barnitz and I got together in December to paint faux feathers inspired by Red-tailed, Ferruginous, Swainson’s and Rough-legged Hawk feathers. We then passed these on to Barb Deshler, a master appliquer, who hand stitched them to the background.
As has been our practice for the past 20 years, we planned to hold our retreat at my cabin in the Jemez Mountains, a funky place first constructed about 70 years ago as a two room cabin with an outhouse down the hill. Over the years, successive owners have added on to the very basic accommodations so that the cabin now boasts indoor plumbing, three bedrooms, and a large kitchen and dining area. We can host 12 for our retreats, but it is a cozy affair.
In 2017, a surprise snowstorm dumped 6 inches on Saturday night, creating some nightmarish driving scenarios as we headed down the hill, while the city cars were left stranded up there until after the county road was plowed. So far, 2018 has been a "real" winter, dumping some 30+ inches of the white stuff prior to the retreat with more forecasted for the actual weekend.
Thankfully, Ed and Mary Chappelle volunteered their lovely Corrales home for our event! With an open floor plan, we were able to gather in the kitchen dining area so we could all visit with one another. Ed and Rick Deshler, our master cutters and trimmers were set up on the kitchen counters, while other early-birders, Mary, Carol Meincke, Cynthia Figueroa-McInteer, Sami Sanborn, and Barb made the foundation pieces and figured out the significant math involved in a quilt like this! The next morning, Steve Elkins, Evelyn McGarry, Lizzie Roberts, and Allison Schacht joined us for a sew in! And stitch we did, all day long, with breaks for incredible meals and snacks--even shrimp cocktail--prepared by Evelyn!
But, it became apparent after the Saturday dinner, that we would not finish that night, thanks to an overly complex outermost border that "she-who-shall-not-be-named" created. We adjourned around nine that evening and a subset returned on Sunday afternoon to finish, which we did in short order. The quilt top has moved on now to its next stop with Tisha Cavanaugh, who is the most talented machine quilter that I know. Look for our quilt to make its debut at the Monte Vista Crane Festival in early March!
Thank you to all who helped with this effort!
Above images by Steve Elkins and Gail Garber. L-R: (Seated) Evelyn McGarry, Allison Schacht, Sami Sanborn, Layla Chappelle - (dog), Lizzie Roberts, Barb Deshler. (Standing) Cynthia Figueroa-McInteer, Steve Elkins, Ed Chappelle, Mary Chappelle, Rick Deshler, Carol Meincke, Gail Garber. Not Shown: Donna Barnitz, Tisha Cavanaugh.
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The Winter Field Season Reaches its Peak
by Trevor Fetz, Lead Avian Biologist
The winter field season for the Middle Rio Grande Songbird Study got off to a late start due to contracting and funding issues. But, as February arrives, we are pushing hard to complete all surveys by the end of the month. Overall, bird numbers are much stronger than they were last winter. Last winter we had large invasions of Steller’s Jays and Mountain Chickadees in the bosque, but the abundance of most regularly-occurring species was well below normal. We haven’t documented any Steller’s Jays this winter, but overall bird numbers are close to normal. The Russian olive and New Mexico olive berry crops in 2018 were generally poor across the entire study area (or were over-exploited during the fall), which is keeping the numbers down for some species that come to the bosque to exploit those resources. Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, and American Robin are among the species that can be present in particularly large numbers when the berry crops are large, but have been present in relatively low numbers so far this winter. But, other species that flock to the bosque to exploit the berry crops are still present in strong numbers, including Western Bluebird, Eastern Bluebird, and Cedar Waxwing. Bluebird numbers are particularly high this winter.
Among the most common wintering species, Dark-eyed Junco abundance appears to be higher than during any of the last several years. In contrast, White-crowned Sparrow abundance appears to be lagging. My most interesting detections so far this winter have been a Red-naped Sapsucker in north Corrales, a Brown Thrasher in south Corrales, and a Pacific Wren at La Joya. Hopefully, bird numbers will stay strong and I’ll have some more interesting detections during February.
Yellow-rumped Warbler image by Tony Giancola
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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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What's in a Name?
Thank you all for your suggestions and your votes. It was a close one! The winning name for our little fellow, the Elf Owl, is:
Cricket
--one of the main foods consumed by Elf Owls.
Nominated by Janet Ruth!
While we all loved our newest ambassador, Cricket, he was only destined to be with us for a very short time. He passed away unexpectedly in January. He will be missed by all.
Image of Cricket and Flame, the Flammulated Owl, by Larry Rimer.
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Learning in Style
by Ellie Althoff, Education Coordinator
Do people all learn in the same ways? The answer may seem obvious: No, they don’t. Scholars have identified several different learning styles including visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing. The more complicated question then is: How do you incorporate all of these styles into a lesson so that all students benefit equally? We have tackled this issue by having a student-centered approach where the students get to problem solve, ask questions, and are active participants in presentations.
The kindergarten students at South Mountain Elementary School were able to experience one of these program in mid-January. Students listened to a short presentation while seeing two live Avian Ambassadors. Later, they played a game in which they were physically moving to demonstrate how raptors hunt their prey. Finally, they were able to feel bones and feathers, artifacts in our collection, and were encouraged to ask questions in order to deduce what animal they belonged to. Through each of these components, the students were able to learn about bird biology using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles.
Image by Ellie Althoff
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HELP WANTED
Hawks Aloft seeks a skilled Albuquerque-based web developer and consultant who can update, improve, and optimize our WordPress website.
Must have professional and demonstrable skill in web design and development with the ability to teach the basics of maintenance to our staff. There is a the opportunity for some ongoing work, but this will likely be a less than 20-hour, one-time contract.
This is a paid opportunity, and rates are competitive.
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Field Studies Training Class
Are you interested in volunteering for one of our raptor monitoring studies? There are opportunities for local projects such as raptor monitoring in the Middle Rio Grande Bosque as well as further afield along the Upper Rio Grande Gorge and western New Mexico. Class will include an overview of the various projects, monitoring protocol, as well as the requisite equipment, physical requirements, and camping needs.
In general, volunteers need to possess a GPS unit and be familiar with it's operation (we do not provide training for this equipment), be able to hike at least three miles and have good directional abilities. Some projects are more rugged than others and require special back country skills.
If this describes you, please
contact Katrina to register for class. A very limited number of spaces are available.
Tuesday, March 5
5:30 p.m.
Albuquerque class location will be provided at registration.
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Bosque Magic
by Katrina Hucks, Raptor Rescue Coordinator
On a sunny January day, I walked along the levee road in the bosque near Alameda Blvd. I was performing a bird survey, where I regularly look and listen for birds that are using the bosque. It’s easy to get caught up in surveying, but it always pays off to pay attention to other small details.
The wind blew, and I caught a glimpse of fur in the crook of a tree. A sleeping raccoon! I spent several minutes watching, but the raccoon did not stir. I listened to the sound of the Dark-eyed Juncos twittering, and watched a Ruby-crowned Kinglet work the vegetation near me. As I continued surveying along the levee road, I saw something bright out of the corner of my eye. It was a coachwhip! In the Southwest, these lightning-quick snakes can be a beautiful pink color, like the one I saw. They have intricate coloration and shading on the scales, giving them a braided appearance, like a braided whip. Coachwhips have a reputation for being easily scared, but this snake did not mind my presence. I was so surprised to see a snake in January, on a day barely above freezing! I watched the coachwhip for a few moments before leaving it to continue enjoying the sunshine. It was a great reminder to stop and appreciate the Earth and all of her creatures.
Image of coachwhip by Katrina Hucks
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Raptor Rescue Training
Sunday, February 24, 2019 at 1:00pm at the Hawks Aloft Office (6715 Eagle Rock Rd. NE, Suite A).
For new rescuers, this will be a valuable opportunity to learn how to capture and transport raptors and learn from others. For seasoned rescuers, this would be a good time to brush up on your skills and teach any newcomers about tips and tricks you've found helpful on rescues.
We will cover:
Materials
Secure raptor holds
Capture techniques
People skills - informing and connecting with callers
Please email
Katrina
to sign up! Space is limited.
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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! 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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Spring Sightings
by Amanda Schluter, Biologist
Along with our other duties as biologists at Hawk Aloft, Katrina and I will be presenting a class on "Spring Songbird Migration" at Oasis Albuquerque, a nonprofit dedicated to lifelong learning. It will include the different summer migrants found in the Middle Rio Grande bosque and when to expect them to arrive. We will address key identification features for migrating birds and address some common mis-identifications, too. From soaring raptors to fluttering warblers, we hope to help birders learn some new skills about New Mexico’s spring visitors!
A few of our Avian Ambassadors will be there to help us demonstrate raptor identification and discuss their unique migration patterns. For more information about our class and the other classes that Oasis is offering visit their website at
https://www.oasisnet.org/Albuquerque-NM/Classes.
Spring Sightings: Songbird Migration in the Middle Rio Grande Bosque
Where: Oasis Albuquerque
3301 Menual Blvd. NE Suite 18
Albuquerque, NM 87107
When: Monday February 25
th
Time: 1:00-2:30
Price: $10
Warbling Vireo image by Tony Giancola
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Lunch and Future Planning
by Maggie Grimason, Senior Editor
Last week I was lucky enough to sit down with Katrina Hucks, Avian Biologist, and Raptor Rescue Coordinator, Amanda Schluter, Biologist, and two of our superstar (and new!) board members, Dagny Cosby, and Sarah Beans to generate new ideas for Hawks Aloft. Specifically, we discussed amd brainstormed about how to reach more people and different generations, along with new funding and networking channels, and how to creatively generate income that sustains our mission.
The five us sat down at Vinaigrette and spent several hours generating ideas. We talked about sponsoring paint and trivia nights with local businesses (any artists or “Jeopardy!” fans out there?), working with other businesses that support local nonprofits by donating a portion of the day’s profits, tabling at more events with lots of foot traffic, and increased collaboration with other entities working with wildlife throughout the state.
As we mull over all the possibilities—please let us know, if there is something you would be excited to participate in! Have you seen other nonprofits have great success with a certain mode of fundraising? Have other ideas? Please feel free to reach out to
Maggie
and share some of your thoughts—all of your feedback is appreciated!
Ellie Althoff at our booth at Bosque del Apache Festival of the Cranes in 2018
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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 Flame, our very tiny Flammulated 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 - Frank Dobrushken
Frank Dobrushken is a local photographer who experiments with many genres. He moved to Albuquerque in 2013 from Seattle. He has won many awards at the New Mexico State Fair, club competitions and through ANMPAS. He was a judge at the Shades of Gray show. He has been profiled in
The Journal of Creative Arts & Minds.
A portfolio of some of his work is online at:
- Great Blue Heron
- Snow Goose
- Sandhill Cranes in flight
- Sandhill Cranes taking off
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Thank You to our January Donors!
Jessalyn Brach
Niels Chapman
Aaron Daily
Nancy and Bryan Hall
Victorie Hart
Lois Herrman
Holbrook Travel
Janet Hoover
Tiffany Latner
Sue Lyons
Dr. Michael and Sheri Milone
Adrienne Nichols
Miguel Palaviccini
Chellye and Jeff Porter
Don & June Reynolds
Allison Schacht
Lynne Schluter
Barbara Stewart-Hager
Bernice Tsosie
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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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January Intakes
Sandhill Crane – broken wing
Great Horned Owl – trich infection
Great Horned Owl – wing injury
Barn Owl – car collision
Golden Eagle – shot in wing
Sharp-shinned Hawk – broken wing
Greater Roadrunner – broken leg
Cooper’s Hawk – DOA
Red-tailed Hawk – unable to fly
Great Horned Owl – DOA
American Kestrel – head trauma
Greater Roadrunner – neurological issues
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And thank you to our corporate donors:
Amazon Smile Foundation
Avangrid Renewables
Binky Foundation
Central New Mexico Audubon Society
Charles Schwab
Coca-Cola Foundation
Farmers Electric Cooperative
Four Corners Bird Club
Gathering of Nations
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
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Our Board of Directors
Carter Cherry,
Chair
Mary Chappelle, Treasurer
Terry Edwards,
Director
Alwyn VanDerwalt
, Director
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