International Raptor & Falconry Center

Nice surprise flying overhead. I was working outside taking advantage of the warmer temperatures that didn’t include gale force winds; looked up. This is a juvenile Northern Harrier Hawk. Although they are super common in my flying fields outside of Sedona (see one nearly every day), I don’t see them as much in the Flagstaff area unless in a wide open field. Because they are obligate mousers, they live in wide open habitats such as grasslands or open fields that support lots of mice. They’re a weird looking hawk because they have a facial disc (like an owl) and they are often confused as one. They have a wide wing span that supports a light wing load in order to fly low to the ground, and use that facial disc to listen for mice. They are one of the few raptor species that display dichromatic sexual dimorphism (fancy way to say females and males are different colors). Males are grey and females are a tawny brown. The obvious white rump patch was the dead giveaway for juveniles. If you live in Harris Hawk country, you will have to look at wingspan and flying behaviors to tell the difference. Harriers look much bigger than they really are and will fly very low to the ground with a bit of rocking. No Turkey Vultures yet but suspect they will start showing up any day now!

There are many women in science who have made history or accomplished great things by overcoming greater challenges, but Rachel Carson has to be the most influential and single handed woman in science history. I admire several women who are legends but she remains my #1 hero. And as a closeted lesbian, she was far from what is portrayed as a “token DEI” hire. She earned all on merit and had to do it twice as hard and 100x better than any man. …and without the protection of the true spirit of DEI protection. Before climate change was a household term, Rachel Carson was warning the world about the dangers of human impact on nature. Her groundbreaking book, Silent Spring, exposed the deadly effects of pesticides and sparked the modern environmental movement. Facing fierce opposition from the chemical industry, Carson’s work led to the banning of DDT and the eventual creation of the Environmental Protection Agency. An agency that ensures we have Clean Air and Water (Act) and an agency that is under great threat due to greed, tyranny and incompetence. This isn’t about protecting wildlife, it’s about protecting our lives as well. Want to know what we are going back to; read Silent Spring and/or Silent Spring Revolution. Most are too young to remember what the world was “before” environmental protections and those that are old enough have forgotten or don’t care. We do not want to go back! As a marine biologist, writer, and fearless advocate, she changed the way we think about our relationship with nature. We are part of it’s not something to exploit. Her legacy lives on in every single environmental protection effort today. If you love seeing Bald Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and Ospreys you can thank Rachel Carson. #RachelCarson #SilentSpring #EnvironmentalHero #womeninstem #womeninscience

Super Bowl ad, I did not, and do not watch the Super Bowl or any NFL games for that matter; however, I have thoughts on an ad played during it…

At IRFC, inclusivity is one of our core values, and we proudly recognize and celebrate Black History Month—even when governments and institutions may fail to do so. Representation and acknowledgment matter, and we are committed to ensuring that all voices in conservation and education are uplifted. Falconry, often seen as an elite and exclusive pursuit, has deep roots in American history—and Black falconers have played a significant role in shaping this tradition. One is Rodney Stotts, a master falconer who turned his life around through working with raptors. Growing up in Washington, D.C., Stotts faced many challenges, but his introduction to raptor conservation through the Earth Conservation Corps transformed his path. Today, he uses falconry as a tool for education and empowerment, mentoring youth and advocating for diversity in the field. Shawn Hayes is a pioneering Black falconer, raptor trainer, and educator who has made a significant impact in the world of falconry. With decades of experience, he has become one of the most well-respected figures in the field, breaking barriers as one of the few Black master falconers. As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s essential to highlight figures like Shawn and Rodney, who have not only mastered an ancient culture but have also paved the way for others to follow. This should remind us that falconry is for everyone, and our work must continue to inspire a more inclusive future for the culture. #BlackHistoryMonth #Falconry #RaptorConservation #DiversityInFalconry #EnvironmentalJustice #Sustainability #ClimateAction #DiversityInConservation #AbsoluteInclusivity

Druantia’s 2024 year in review! What a year she’s had! She arrived on April 21st and was in horrible feather condition and severely underweight (I put 600g on this bird). As I went back to the beginning, looking for photos I just couldn’t believe the difference between then and now. And once she moults this summer, she will be even more stunning. ?? She was physically weak and unable to fly to her roosting perch because she had NO tail at all. And the feathers she did have were just awful. She was “kidnapped” as the adorable baby vulture she was and most likely not provided a proper diet or care for a developing baby vulture. At some point the kidnappers realized they didn’t want a pet vulture (and it’s illegal) and turned her over to the Raptor Conservation Alliance in Nebraska. By then she was already imprinted and deemed non-releasable. Because she was so underweight we were not sure if she was a female or male so we did a DNA test and she is a girl! After her Gender Reveal Party, she spent most of the summer growing new feathers and gaining weight in a stress free environment. She did a lot of playing with her insane toy collection and bathing in her frog pool. In August it was time to go to work! She hit the ground running. She was very popular at all the events, programs and experiences she was a part of and changed many minds at every single one. So many said they never “liked” or “cared” about vultures because they always thought of them as ugly, gross, mean, dumb, evil, dirty… BUT! They met her and changed their minds. She did her first flying experience at the beginning of January. The wife (a gift for her husband) didn’t want to choose her because she thought vultures were ugly. I said the first thing people say when they get to see her up close is “she’s beautiful”. I brought her, pulled her out of her transport crate and she spread that six foot wingspan and the first thing the husband said? “Wow! She’s beautiful!” I looked at the wife and said, “told you”. ?? It was the best ‘I told you so’ ever! She completed her free flight training (mostly just sunbathed) and loves her job! She just adores all the attention she gets from her public. Now she is grounded for the season to moult but will do programs that don’t require flying. Her 2025 is going to be epic! Follow her on her YouTube playlist: https://lnkd.in/gW7c7FXn #vultures #turkeyvulture #vulturesarevital #raptorconservation #raptoreducation

Finishing up year end reports for our permits and here’s Leroy’s 2024 in review! He was a very busy boy this year. Just Leroy alone reached 5% of the Flagstaff population and 3.5% of the Sedona. Made his debut appearance at the Prescott Library and remains most everyone’s favorite when they meet him. That’s a lot of impact for a sweet Harris Hawk weighing only a pound and a half. Druantia’s is up next! Here’s to a bigger impact in 2025! #raptoreducation #raptorconservation #harrishawk #falconry

??Happy New Year!?? 2024 was a better year than the two previous years that were absolutely awful and I hope 2025 is even better for everyone! ???? Obviously this isn’t every moment otherwise the video would be too long but it is a good overview of what the Flying Team did during 2024. Let’s go 2025!

If you’re local, please join us! World Falconry Day 2024 is going to be a good one.

These are some of the program participants that have had the opportunity to spend time with IRFC Flying Team up close and personal after a program. My goal during every program is for the public to connect with the birds on a deeper level but these one-on-one interactions are where the birds truly inspire. It’s why I try to keep it informal and tell stories about the birds themselves. I have had people tell me that it was a spiritual experience/awakening, the best day of their life and even cry. This is where the real impact of conservation is made. Changing behavior doesn’t come from a list of facts (but are still important) but from being moved by emotions. One of these gentlemen told me that before coming to the program he was not a fan of vultures, BUT! after meeting Druantia and learning about vultures, he is now an absolute convert. This is the case after every interaction with Druantia, she’s doing her job! ???? Throughout the spring/summer when telling people that we are getting/got new birds; Joe Public: “what kind?” ME: “a Turkey Vulture” Joe Public: “oh” …ME: “and an owl” Joe Public: “OH I LOVE OWLS!” See the difference here? This the value of education; changing the minds of the public. I love falconry, research, rehab and these are all good things but the most important thing I do to save raptors is educate! We can collect data and release rehabbed raptors but until we change our behavior collectively; it doesn’t matter. SIDE NOTE: the baby owl is not coming this year AGAIN! The eggs failed AGAIN! Which I was not told until it was too late to find another baby, so I will be doing something else for next year. Maybe another owl from a different breeder or…

???? Happy International Vulture Awareness Day! ???? Every year on the first Saturday of September people from all over the world celebrate vultures. They absolutely deserve their own day and celebration. For the 23 species of vultures all over the world, life has been anything but amazing. They suffer from an image problem made worse by the entertainment industry and media. They have been associated with the dead and portrayed as evil, ugly, gross, dirty and list goes on. However! Nothing could be further from the truth! They provide a priceless ecoservice to the humans who prosecute and discard them by riding the environment of deadly disease such as rabies. With a pH of 2, their stomach acid rids the environment of bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that would otherwise make our world a horrible place. They are designed with a bald head to stay clean and bathe regularly. When I tell people how intelligent they are; the first response is usually “really?!” They are charismatic and gregarious as well as highly social. Please keep an open mind and learn how wonderful these birds are. Learn about the Asian Vulture Crisis and the fight to save our African Vultures…they are literally fighting for their lives and from extinction. Most of you know about the California Condors, this could be the story for our other two vultures species in North America. Don’t let it be! Learn more about our female Turkey Vulture, Druantia by visiting her on our website Flying Team lineup. https://lnkd.in/gYWwGeyM