Sky Hunters Environmental Education
Winter 2008 Newsletter
Winter Wishes from all of us at Sky Hunters. We plan on providing a helpful, informative, electronic newsletter on a quarterly basis. Please let us know if you would rather not receive this newsletter by sending an email to accipiter@sky-hunters.org
Sky Hunters Environmental Education was founded to teach respect and awareness of wildlife and habitats in California, using live birds of prey to emphasize our message. We take great pride in providing small group presentations geared toward enlightenment, enrichment, and empowerment. Experience has shown us that the personal introduction to these wild creatures will capture your imagination, and hopefully your heart, and our conservation message will be delivered with wildlife and wild places in mind.
A Year In Review 2007 - Sky Hunters
As 2008 approaches, it is time again to look back, review our accomplishments, and to make plans for the New Year. I am very thankful for the new friendships I have made this year and for the lasting relationships that continue to grow and flourish.
Sky Hunters’ continued to pursue our mission of teaching awareness and respect for wildlife and wild places in 2007. We have completed our third full year of operation and have provided 100 paid presentations, 14 free presentations, and participated in 6 environmental educational booths during the year. We were short of exceeded last year’s totals of 120 presentations, but still reached approximately 6,200 school children in 2007, mainly in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Adult and mixed age group public presentations reached an additional 2,700 people. Presentations are generally an hour in length and focus on natural history and the importance of wildlife in our communities.
By far the most popular program requested this year was “Hunters of the Sky” our raptor biology presentations which focus’ on habitats and how we fit into them. The “Who is Eating Whom” program, our very interactive food chain presentation continues to provide a stimulating way of looking at the connection of all life, and the importance of a balanced and healthy ecosystem. “Around the Clock with an Owl and a Hawk” storytelling presentation was perfected for the younger students (preschool through 1st grade). We are able to feature the topics of co-existence, respect, and habitat use through a half-hour story, then follow up the story with differences between birds and mammals in a second half-hour of supervised hands-on instruction with bones, feathers and skulls. We were also pleased to of the increased interest in “Silent Hunters – Owl Biology” presentations featuring our two different owls. The “Commuting on the Wing” all about migration; the “Dinos to Modern-day Birds” looking at avian evolution through fossils; and “Why People Can’t Fly,” on comparative anatomy continue to move slowly.
The main area of growth for Sky Hunters this year was with the birds. Each and every one of these noble raptors deserved to live its life free and wild, but unfortunate circumstances prevented that opportunity. Sky Hunters tries to make their lives as full and happy as possible. Enrichment and plenty of quiet time to just “hang out” is important. Daily interaction and attention is provided, as well as an appropriate diet, fresh air, and private space.
Both of our Great Horned Owls, have moved onto Sky Hunters permits from Wildlife Rescue, Inc. Our older bird will be 17 years old this spring and is considered retired from programs due to health issues. His buddy, who came into Wildlife Rescue as a nestling in 2002 and who was raised by the original owl, has stepped up admirably, developing his own style in programs. He is a master at demonstrating how an owl can look straight down his back, and is comfortable displaying the impressive wingspan of his species. He reminds everyone that he is not cuddly, and is not above nipping his handler if pushed too far. Both of these magnificent owls are (photo by Michael Kern) a joy to work with and a privilege to have in our program.
Sky Hunters Red-tailed Hawk came into the program in May 2006 and had to get used to me as a new handler. These birds are smart and don’t always transfer their loyalty willingly. She decided that she didn’t like me very much until last spring when she laid two eggs and allowed me to help turn them. She seemed to change her attitude and has worked better with me ever since. She is a spectacular example of a large, broad-winged hawk and is a thrill to work with.
Our little American kestrel continues to be the classroom charmer. He is comfortable with most every situation and seems to instinctively know what is needed. Even the most nervous child will soon be leaning forward watching his antics. He is Sky Hunters’ first bird, arriving in September 2004 just after our permits were approved.
Sky Hunters Barn owl has done well in programs, he is so inquisitive and has to check out each and every classroom he comes into, much to the pleasure of the students. He has cast pellets during presentations, giving a first hand view of how the owl pellets are regurgitated, a simple act, yet impressive. I am very glad that he has gotten over being car sick on the way to locations
.
We were very lucky to add a new bird, a peregrine falcon, to our Sky Hunters family in September 2007. This individual had spent time at the facility in rehabilitation, had been released back into the wild, only to return to rehabilitation after 10 months in the wild. The second time in was due to an elbow injury that prevented him from returning to his life in the wild. He has a fantastic history in himself as he was taken from the wild nest as an egg, hatched in the laboratory, and then fostered in a different falcon species nest. He has lived for 17 years in the wild and will be retiring to education for his remaining years. He is responding well to training and to limited exposures. We are taking things slowly to give him plenty of opportunity to settle in to his new role as an ambassador. I am working up a new program around adaptability of wildlife to our urban habitats and he will be featured prominently in this new program.
(photo by Michael Kern)
Watch for us in the New Year, as we will be looking for new ways to encourage you to conserve and protect wildlife and wild places. I am already planning some adult slide presentations and looking at the possibility of more auditorium-sized presentations. While we will always focus on small, interactive groups, we are being asked more and more to provide larger venues. As long as the birds are up to it, so am I.
I wish to thank my husband, Grant, who continues to support my efforts with much love, encouragement, and the financial backing needed to keep us going. Sky Hunters has a dedicated Board of Directors, without whose input, support, (and hand-holding) I would not have enjoyed such a successful year. Thank you, Lisa Konie and Shirley Tavenier, for your dedication, support, and hard work in keeping Sky Hunters moving forward. A special Thank You to our veterinarian, Jane Johnson-Ricker, another calm, rational soul in love with these beautiful birds. To Nancy Conney, of Sky Hunters Raptor Rehabilitation and Education in San Diego, my mentor and friend — what did you get me into? Thanks for encouraging me through each step of the process. Thank you to all our loyal teachers and supporters in booking presentations each year.
Happy Holidays and all the best for the New Year
Watch for Sky Hunters and let us know how we are doing!
Thank you to our Sponsors of our Educational Birds:
Laurie Mann for American kestrel sponsorship for her neice Michelle Overton.
Bonnie Bedford-White for an American kestrel and a Red-tailed hawk sponsorship for her grandchildren Beth and Zachary Kloock.
Mike and Alma Rogers for an American kestrel sponsorship.
Update on Educational Birds from Wildlife Rescue, Inc.
In our last newsletter we identified that both of Wildlife Rescue's educational birds were coming onto Sky Hunters permits. We are very pleased to announce that the Red-shouldered hawk has been transferred to the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley's MOU and will remain with his handler of the past 4 years. He will continue to be part of the rehabilitation education through this placement. Good luck and Congratulations!