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Introduction
Eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, kites, osprey and harriers
are all raptors! Their beaks are hooked, rather than straight, and they seize and kill
their quarry using powerful feet and sharp talons.
In the annals of human history, raptors have always been an integral part of mankind's physical and spiritual world. Over 4,000 years ago raptors began to be used in some cultures to help put food on the table via the art and science of falconry. Spiritually, they symbolize the highest aspirations of purpose, power, clarity, and focus. Today, scientists use raptors as barometers of environmental health. Drastic declines in the populations of Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, for example, pointed to the larger problems posed by habitat disturbance and destruction, environmental toxins, and shootings to name a few.
The Raptor Education Foundation uses these magnificent birds as ambassadors for the vast "silent majority" of living creatures: the diversity of plants and animals that creates and supports human life. The raptors in the Foundation's care are permanently impaired, unable to survive any longer in the wild. Instead, they have found a new home and a new role as educators, and nature's ambassadors. In a technological age they connect us back to the elemental forces of nature. In a digitally scattered and clouded culture, they focus our vision.
One Touch of Nature Makes the Whole World Kin: William Shakespeare
"The only wildlife theater company in America promoting science to cure Nature-Deficit Disorder*"
The Raptor Education Foundation (REF) has been promoting environmental literacy since 1980 by providing schools, corporations, conventions, and gatherings of all sizes unique innovative programs and seminars that connect people with the natural world. REF utilizes an extensive cast of live, non-releasable raptors to focus attention on environmental concepts and issues. Other environmental Consulting Services are also available. These consulting services benefit from REF's extensive natural history experience and network of associations at an international level. REF has field experience in Africa, the Caribbean, Micronesia, Fiji, Mexico, Central and South America, Australia, Indonesia, and Russia.
In 1999, working with Colorado legislators, Colorado's Governor Owens and numerous county officials, REF designed and issued Colorado's first-ever motor vehicle license plates featuring an environmental/wildlife theme and benefiting REF's environmental literacy mission. The Colorado Respects Wildlife license plates are available only to qualified REF members. The beautiful graphics featuring America's national symbol, promote REF's mission on the streets and highways of Colorado as part of REF's ongoing Driving For Wildlife campaign. Thousands of vehicles display these exclusive license plates, and their numbers increase every day. Shouldn't you be driving for wildlife and spreading respect?
In 2002, REF published a revised and expanded edition of its popular coloring book: Raptors, the Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, and Owls of North America. Reviews from raptor scientists, librarians, and parents confirmed another significant achievement featuring 51 raptors in beautiful color illustrations and line drawings by renown wildlife artist, Donald Malick. Precise and informative vignettes of each species written by Anne Price, REF's Curator of Raptors, completes the book's mission. This book is in its 8th printing. Fidget's Freedom, REF's second book aimed at the beginning reader, written by Stacey Patterson, and illustrated by Russia's premier wildlife artist, Vadim Gorbatov is now available in all better book stores. The story illustrates "hacking" a peregrine falcon into the wild, which is the process utilized by scientists world-wide to bring back endangered raptors from the edge of extinction. Bulletin: As of October 26, 2007, Mr. Gorbatov has completed all the illustrations for the second book of the trilogy, Fidget's Folly. Fidget's Family, the final in the trilogy will follow. All of REF's books focus on generating interest in science at a young age, which is what REF's live raptor programs have been doing longer than any raptor organization in America.
The Foundation operates as a non-profit 501 (c) (3) educational organization with special permits issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Collaborating with the Colorado Hawking Club, REF established the first-ever educational clinics for new wildlife field agents at the Colorado Division of Wildlife. These clinics cover raptor identification, husbandry techniques, and maintenance for individuals practicing falconry in Colorado and regulated by CDOW. Expanding these clinics in 2007, REF added a private online reference site for all CDOW officials. REF has received numerous awards and commendations for its programs. The most recent (Oct/2007) recognition was the 10 Best Bet award for "Going Green" in Denver in 2008. In 2005, Anne Price, REF's curator of raptors received international acclaim by being featured in the world's oldest continually published sportsmen's magazine. In the November, 2007 issue Anne received her own byline with an article about Eagle Falconry in the U.S.
A small staff, along with highly-trained and dedicated docents, provide programs and services across the United States and abroad. Members are found world wide. Corporate and foundation partners include Panwy Foundation, Wolf Creek Charitable Foundation, Frontier Airlines, Vail Valley Foundation, Gary Williams Energy Corp, Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation, Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation, El Pomar Foundation, Chevron USA, and the California Academy of Sciences, to name a few. Since its inception, REF has been self-supporting, without relying on state or federal dollars.
500 schools utilize REF programs in Colorado alone,
and over 1,000,000 students have participated in REF's unique programs. Millions of people
have experienced REF's public seminars nationwide. If you have seen raptors, you have seen
REF. Read some of our reviews,
and other
kudos.
Hear More:
*Nature-Deficit Disorder-thanks to author Richard Louv.
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Raptor Education Foundation is a Certified Mile High United Way Affiliated
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Mile High United Way:
(REF) Designation
Code: 0294
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Last revised February 05, 2008
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