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Protect yourself, your pets, your working animals from
mosquitoes (West Nile Virus) by using what we use to protect our raptors. It's as
good as DEET, but safe.
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January 31, Brighton: Two very
special guests were provided an in-depth tour of our birds
and mission. Sgt Dean Sanchez (right) and
Cpl James Cathcart spent
a couple of hours meeting all of our raptors and learning
about our mission of the past 32 years. Sgt
Sanchez and Cpl Cathcart, both Marines were keenly
interested in all of our non-releasable raptors and our
educational efforts to advance the public's understanding
and perception of these magnificent animals. Sgt Sanchez is
serving with the
Wounded Warrior Regiment and will
be hosting 40 Wounded Warriors at the upcoming Super Bowl.
Cpl Cathcart is no longer on active duty. Look for REF to be working on some joint missions with the Wounded Warrior Regiment in the future. Our sincere thanks for all those warriors serving our country in these challenging times. Semper Fi. |
Lysenkoism has been alive and well in the
United States thanks to the eco-Imam Algore, but after the
accompanying article's release in the Wall Street Journal, maybe
Soviet Science aka Lysenkoism will finally die. Don't hold
your breath, however, too many politicians and Algorian hucksters
are making too much money from their quest to de-carbonize your
life. Just
click... There is also some really inconvenient data that
leads one to expect
frost fairs once again, on the Thames, in the not too
distant future. Sorry Al, the numbers
just
don't add up! And
from Germany the news about electric cars is not so green and not so
good...just
click.
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Raptor Credit Card.
Snowy owls are showing up in lots of locations
where they normally do not appear. This is a cyclical occurrence.
One unfortunate bird made it all the way to Hawaii where it was
promptly shot by a government agent---no kidding, the first snowy
owl ever to make it to paradise was shot to death by an "official'
appendage of some bureaucrat's brilliant decision making
process, who will no doubt, receive a promotion and pay increase.
And we wonder how we find ourselves in the bottom end of the
porcelain appliance looking up! Just
click...
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Raptor Credit Card.
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January 22, 2012 Brighton, CO:
The 24th Annual Docent Awards Banquet occupied the Brighton
Armory on Sunday evening, and REF Docents dined on a
variety of dishes supplied by attendees as we came to
enjoy each other's company and review the past year's
accomplishments. One of highlights of each docent
banquet is to honor the Volunteer of the Year. In
2011, despite taking a 3 month absence to ride his bicycle
approximately 3,000 miles across the US for the
Fuller Center, Tom Weber, once again captured
the Volunteer of the Year Award. The beautiful award
included an exquisite photo by Rob Palmer, of a wild
snowy owl which visited Colorado a couple of years ago. Tom
appears with Anne Price, REF's Curator and the
evening's Master of Ceremonies. More below...
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During the banquet Certificates of
Achievement were awarded to Tim Sanders, O.B.E.,
and Ree Thompson for their completion of the
self-mentoring course to become qualified for the hands-on
apprenticeship portion of REF's training program. Mr. Sanders, our first international candidate ( U.K. ) with some prior raptor experience, and Ms. Thompson with some previous raptor handling studied independently under the tutelage of REF's Curator and have now started their hands-on-training.
Congratulations to Mr. Sanders and Ms. Thompson! More
developing.... |
Green groups are always looking for a new way to separate you from your wallet, and this massive scam against Chevron Oil is another great example of the lengths the Greenies will go to to make a buck. Full disclosure: we have received funding from Chevron in the past, but no dollars from the Kennedy clan. Just click...
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Their Faces
Tell Our Story... January 5-8, 2012:Denver- The Colorado Convention Center once again hosted an international gathering of all types of outdoor enthusiasts. Of course, we were there as well, in a new location within the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife Youth Fair site. And as we have said for years, the impact of our presence is best conveyed by the faces you will see as you peruse the huge variety of visitors who come to our display.
This young man, mirrors the warrior below. They both convey reverence and respect. Our 31 year old female golden eagle was admired by thousands of visitors.
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One warrior admires our female golden
eagle standing with Anne Price, REF's Curator.
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Our most engaging raptors were the
micro-owls. We saw enough smiles to warm us through
the freezing winter days ahead. Thanks to the
International Sportsmen's Expositions and the
Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife for hosting us
once again.... See more photos...
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Besides chopping eagles to pieces (along with other birds), wind turbines are a very expensive form of energy generation as a new report from the UK makes clear to all except those that are economically illiterate. Unfortunately the latter group occupy the seats of power in governmental agencies, especially where they have bought into the AGW scheme foisted along by the likes of the eco-Imam Algore, the munificent and all knowing. Just click... Without your tax-dollars being sucked into these schemes, they collapse because they are not self-sustaining, as Colorado now faces the loss of several thousand jobs with the impending Vestas closures.
Meet up with REF at the annual Sportsmen's Expo at the Colorado Convention Center, and get to know a raptor up close and in person. See this great piece on CBS News from opening day. Just click...
While the Algorian crowd is drumming around their solar campfires, the oil industry has been quietly returning to drill in more stable countries. The results are now in, and they are fantastic! America is now a net exporter of hydrocarbon based fuels, and as you will read in the attached report, things are getting better, just as Julian Simon has repeatedly predicted in his numerous writings. So despite the Malthusian rants from the likes of Paul Ehrlich, Simon's predictions continue to prove themselves. Now if the political elites would just step out of the way with their manipulations, and let nature's marketplace deliver energy to its multitudes, everybody's wallet would see benefits. Just click...
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A new theory of climate activity has been proposed, and with some careful reading (somewhat technical), you will come to a startling conclusion. Well, maybe not so startling to those who have followed the skeptic's side of the AGW, Algore computer modeling scheme. The unified climate theory has a lot more going for it, than blaming everything on a tiny portion of the earth's atmospheric make-up, and an even tinier portion of that gas attributed to Homo sapien activity. Just click...
The avalanche of data and disclosures that are destroying AGW models get more momentum from new data far below the Dead Sea. Gosh, it turns out that the Dead Sea was completely gone about 120,000 years ago. One note, there were no Homo sapiens mucking things up with their industrial hydrocarbon farting. So what happened? Well Al, natural stuff happened, which is probably too much for you to fathom. Just click... let the Dead Sea speak! However, the Algore acolytes at the United Nations are proceeding ahead full steam with their mission , which has nothing to do with science or reality. And, until the AGW hysterics can answer eight very direct and simple questions about their fanciful theory, they know their hoax is about dead. Sorry Al...not really!
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December 3, 2011-Beaver Creek, CO:
Anne Price, REF's Curator appears on a live broadcast to
Europe on Austrian channel
ORF
with sports anchor Rainer Pariasek at the Birds of Prey course.
Millions of viewers watching the races became re-acquainted
with REF's mission and thousands visited our display at this
year's event. Note our male golden eagle up on the Jumbo
Tron. We have been involved with the Birds of Prey course activities since we participated in the opening ceremonies in 1997, when we flew one of our hawks down to the finish line at Red Tail Camp. During these years the Vail Valley Foundation has sponsored our appearances featuring our educational mission and the birds that make it all possible. For more pictures from our display, just click...
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Their
Faces Tell Our Story One of the runs in the Birds of Prey course is named "Screech Owl." Our little Eastern screech owl generated hundreds of responses just as shown. By far the most unknown of the course namesakes, visitors are shocked to learn he is not a "baby". For more pictures from our display, just click...
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Parents and their children, however,
tell the main story behind our continued public educational
mission. This picture captures the moment both mother and
son will never forget, and it is moments such as this that
will continue to hold out hope for raptor conservation, and
a general respect for all wildlife. Many thanks to all of the great folks at the Vail Valley Foundation, and all the volunteers and staff at Beaver Creek Resort that helped us through the complicated logistics of getting us up on the mountain each day. And last but not least, our thanks to Mr. Dean Johnson who arranged for special housing for staff and birds. For more pictures from our display, just click... |
The world's newest religion is showing signs of progressive decay, deconstruction, and death. Another death blow will occur in Durban as the cardinals of the AGW faith gather to consider what has happened to their articles of faith. In one word, science has happened. Despite all the political manipulations of greedy, scientists, politicians, and business types, the scientific method continues to sort the wheat from the chaff. Just click...
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We are in the Holocene period after the last great glacial epoch. That is good news. When you track the historic record of human prosperity it corresponds with warming periods (interglacials) and we are in such a respite from the cold right now. Thank goodness we are, because all great increases in human culture and development, overall wealth and health correspond to these warming patterns throughout our short history as Homo sapiens. Hell on earth will not be a fiery ball as Algore the munificent will have you believe. It will be a frozen waste land where little moves and solar panels crystallize into piles of dust. Just click... UPDATE: More damaging e-mail leaks further confirm IPCC scientists knew their theory was troubled, but sought to cover up the unsupportive data and get rid of those who wouldn't buy their political spin...just click.
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World-wide, the sun is setting on subsidized
solar energy. It looks like people are waking up to the facts
that without massive government subsidies (tax support) the
allegedly clean and sustainable supply of sunny energy isn't worth
it...yet. How long will it take for "yet" to become now is the
question, but it is obvious that the costs to everyone "now"
is the issue. Failing solar firms are sucking tax payers dollars
into somebody's pockets, but the public isn't getting kilowatts
enough in return. Just
click... Is there any chance that the
current crop of political candidates will grasp the reality
of what is going on? Just
click... The chart on the left says everything in a single glance. The 1.3% for renewables are receiving massive subsidies which are unjustified by the results. World energy consumption by source. “Renewables” are solar, geothermal, wind, and biomass. Note that the traditional use of firewood for cooking is not included. Data from the BP Statistical Review Wind is no answer:Altamont's turbines have since 2008 been tethered four months of every year in an effort to protect migrating birds after environmentalists filed suit. According to the Golden Gate Audubon Society, 75 to 110 Golden Eagles, 380 Burrowing Owls, 300 Red-tailed Hawks, and 333 American Kestrels (falcons) are killed by Altamont turbines annually. Read about the California wind rush....just click.
And
remember, stored solar energy (hydrocarbons/fossil fuels)
helped end slavery-read
about it. |
Raptors often seem invincible to someone not acquainted with the variety of defenses lesser species have at their disposal. This is a great example of what a gull can do to a white-tailed sea eagle. These eagles are cousins to the American bald eagles. As the fantastic photo illustrates, gulls can be quite adroit in defending what is theirs. Note the eye of the eagle is closed to protect it from the unwelcome wrangler. Just click...
32nd Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
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The Jabebo folks have added a wonderful new raptor earring design to their collection, and we are pleased to have them available for all of our members and followers. Again, if you do not know, these are made from re-cycled cereal boxes. Go to our order page to learn more and order. |
Berkley's BEST data release by Professor Richard Muller has been scrutinized and instead of showing a continuing warming during the past decade, the data actually shows that the temperature has been flat for at least 11-13 years despite increases in carbon dioxide. Take a look at two graphs and see how data is conveniently manipulated. Just click... And if that is not enough, take a look at temperature graphs for the past decade. Data supplied for the graphs is available to anyone- just click...
24 teachers evaluate our program, Raptors Need Clean Water Too, presented during the Thornton Water Festival in May. Thanks to our sponsors for helping us continue this important program. May we create a program for your school, group, or business?
32nd Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
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October 19, 2011:Boulder County-When you see those exquisite pictures of raptors in natural settings, look twice. You may be looking at one of REF's birds posed in a natural setting and recorded by a dozen or more photographers who are client's of Joseph Van Os Photo Safaris. Van Os bills this photo shot, the "World's best raptor shoot." and we agree. Take some time and look at the slide show link (left). The tour is led by Perry Conway, a National Geographic caliber photographer himself, and a friend of REF's for more than two decades. |
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In the tall grass, REF's Northern Caracara proves extremely popular for her unusual looks as the most obscure member of the falcon family you will ever see. Thanks to Joseph Van Os and all of his clients who have spread our raptor's beauty all over the world, and contributed approximately $50,000 to our environmental education mission in the process. |
If you still have doubts about the AGW carbon
credit con, then maybe, just maybe this story about what is
happening in Africa will awaken you from your utopian green dream
Algorian stupor. Excusing climate colonialism because of
carbon dioxide sequestration is insanity at its worst. Just
click... And, should you be hungry for more doses of
reality about the bizarre world of climate scientists, just
click... Finally, spend a few hours of your
day and just a few dollars to read
Donna Laframboise's book about the IPCC. Donna's deep look
into the organization promoting AGW reveals the corruption,
self-dealing, and hypocrisy of this UN political cabal.
Here's a stunning quote from her book, and the Mr. Pachauri referred
to is the head honcho of the IPCC:
According to Pachauri,
a "rapid transformation of the economic system" is required.
Government "must redefine cultural
patterns" and major lifestyles changes must occur everywhere.
[FOOTNOTE 25-1]
Affluent
countries, he says, "can't continue to consume at this level."
And then there's this beauty: We have been
so drunk with this desire to produce and consume more and more
whatever the cost to the environment that
we're on a totally unsustainable path. I am not going to rest easy
until I have articulated in every possible forum the need to
bring about major structural changes in
economic growth and development.
That's the real issue. Climate
change is just a part of it.
[bold
added]
Pardon me? Climate change is part of what? Let's read those sentences again. According to Pachauri the real issue is bringing about major structural changes in economic growth and development. Responding to climate change is merely one aspect of a much larger plan.
I am not making this up. The above quote may be found in a 5,000-word profile of Pachauri that appeared in Nature. Considered one of the world's most prestigious scientific publications, in late 2007 it named Pachauri 'newsmaker of the year.' If you think that AGW is little more than a scam to separate you from your money and liberty then you are attached to other agendas, but not the scientific method.
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September 24, 2011: Meeteetse, Wyoming. Anne Price, REF's Curator, introduces one of the denizens of short grass prairie ecosystem (a burrowing owl) during the 30th anniversary of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) being re-discovered in the Meeteetse area. REF was invited to be part of the festivities acknowledging the work of the ranchers, scientists, state and federal agencies, and the local community to bring America's most endangered mammal back from the brink of extinction. We displayed our burrowing owl, peregrine falcon, and golden eagle for two days at the Meeteetse school, where the festival, discussion panel, and other exhibits were centered. Wyoming Game & Fish had several displays, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife personnel from the National Black Footed Ferret Conservation Center (which is actually headquartered in northern Colorado) brought a live female ferret for interpretive programs as well. We learned that all the black-footed ferrets in the wild today are descendents from the last wild ferrets captured around Meeteetse, meaning quite literally that all US ferrets were “made in Meeteetse.”Many thanks to our sponsors for making our appearance in Meeteetse possible:
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We
thought our official raptor duties were over Sunday afternoon, but events
turned suddenly and unusually while we walked into town for dinner. Just
feet away from us, a young male sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus
flushed either from the base of an aspen tree, or perhaps under a parked
vehicle, and landed just nine feet in front of Anne. We realized that he
was a juvenile male, and that he was carrying a house sparrow, still alive.
We froze, not wanting to cause him to flush in the road, which was quite
busy, considering what a small town Meeteetse is (pop. 321). We wound up
watching this little hawk for over an hour, while he eventually killed, then
plucked, and began to consume his dinner. By this time we had attracted a
bit of a crowd, as we frantically asked folks to either cross the street, or
walk very slowly around the diminutive raptor as he ate. Anne commented
that he was eating slowly, and pausing to squint his eyes, which is usually
not a good sign in a raptor…it can mean that they are ill, dehydrated,
starving, or all three. He did not move; the owners of the car that he was
eating just inches away from returned, took some photos, then wondered how
they could leave without frightening the “sharpie”. Finally it was agreed to
shift the car into neutral, and simply roll/pull it backwards away from the
hawk, and then start the engine. All this was done, and still he did not
move. Just click for more on this encounter. |
Avian olfaction was thought to be minimal or non-existent with most species, however, recent studies are confirming the importance of olfaction in more and more species. The Turkey Vulture's olfactory prowess is well established, but now more and more birds are joining the parade. Read this study and rethink the possibilities of the birds we think we know. Just click...
The most prestigious and most often cited scientific publication, Nature Journal of Science, has just published what should turn into the complete disssssssssing of AGW and the Algorian eco-jihadists that have been milking the public teat for billions in a variety of green schemes that are failing all over the country and the world. Unfortunately, the American political parasites are pushing harder to expand these fraudulent schemes." After 20 years of academic supremacy and hundreds of billions of dollars of costs; the Anthropogenic Global Warming theory seems headed for the dust bin of history. Perhaps the admirable action of the Nature Journal of Science to place scientific integrity above partisan politics will be a valuable lesson for the scientific community in the future." Just click... More research supports Algore's nomination for the scammer of the century.
CERN researchers have revealed data from experiments that further erodes any rational support for the theory that global warming/climate change, or whatever it has currently morphed into, is caused by man made increases of carbon dioxide. The CERN experiments actually point to a cosmic influence. Maybe the Algorians are really from outer space after all? Just click... and click again... Sorry Al- not really! And, if you have not had enough, here is another half billion dollar bankruptcy of tax payer funds that were pillaged by another green energy scheme from California. They didn't even make a full year of operations and over 1,000 workers lost their jobs. Sea levels, by the way, are shown to be falling instead of rising to flood coastal cities, but the media mouthpieces of disaster report not such things.
Support us every time you shop with our exclusive Raptor Credit Card.
32nd Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
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32 Years
Spreading Respect for Wildlife Sept 2, 2011: Denver, CO: After a hiatus from one of Colorado's largest public events, we were very pleased to come back for this year's festivities. Our birds, of course, continue to attract everyone's attention, which makes our educational mission that much easier. One of our new Docents, Tim Sanders, introduces his audience to an Eastern Screech Owl. This little adult owl is one of our most popular ambassadors helping us with our work. |
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Thousands of moments like this
continue to reinforce our mission of placing raptors in
close proximity to people...the results are always the same:
WOW! Our Mews Manager, Shelley Doris, spreads
the word about Golden Eagles. For more pictures, just click...
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The crowds on Saturday and Sunday
were enormous while the weather was some of the best we have
experienced in early September. An early morning chill
reinforced everyone's anticipation of the coming Indian
Summers we are famous for in Colorado. A moment of
reverence for this young man and lady summarizes raptor
rapture. For more pictures, just click...
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The 28th Annual Taste of Colorado
gave thousands of people an opportunity to get a "taste" of
Colorado's wonderful wildlife. As we always say,
"their faces tell our story." For more pictures, just click...
Support us every time you shop with our exclusive Raptor Credit Card. Photo by Anne Price |
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UPDATE: Our "Name That Vulture" Contest was a
hit! Here
are the winners posing with REF's Curator, Anne Price and
Colorado's only native vulture, the turkey vulture. Kathy
and son Nathan correctly identified all seven vultures and
won a Colorado Respects Wildlife license plate
membership, an autographed copy of our book Raptors,
and a pair of our California condor earrings. After a cool,
shady morning, our ten year old male turkey vulture is shown
here sunning his wings in the afternoon light, striking the
perfect pose with our winning team. Thanks to all who
entered the contest! For more pictures, just click... Photo by Tracey Baldwin |
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More enraptured Homo sapiens
cannot get enough as our appearance at the Taste of
Colorado marks our 32 year promoting environmental
literacy. On September 3, we will be celebrating
International Vulture Awareness Day with a special
contest and the appearance of Colorado's only vulture...see
above.
Emory Rowe, another of REF's new Docent staff is
shown with our Screech Owl. For more pictures, just click...
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August 5, 2011-Adams County Fair
Grounds: Just a few minutes away from our Brighton facility,
we were welcomed back to the
123rd year of the largest county fair in Colorado.
Senior Docent, Kevin Corwin presents the Red-tailed
Hawk (left) and the Prairie Falcon below along with two owls
and a golden eagle to enraptured members of the audience.
Anne Price, REF's Curator presented a 45 minute program featuring raptors indigenous to Adams County. Lots of photos were taken and follow-up questions completed the hour long appearance.
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Creating these moments is still the
essence of our mission. Thanks to everyone who
continues to support our pursuits over these past 3 decades. Support us every time you shop with our exclusive Raptor Credit Card. |
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Once again, as we always say, their faces tell our story as we approach or 32nd year promoting environmental literacy. |
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If It's
Saturday, It Must Be Vail! Once again, thanks to the Lionshead Merchant Association, we have been spending our Saturday afternoons greeting hundreds of visitors who have come to Vail, Colorado for the quintessential Colorado experience: wildlife and wonder. Our Raptor Rendezvous continues its popularity with young and old alike. Our last scheduled appearance will be August 13th- come by for a visit.
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Many visitors to the Vail area do not realize they are in Eagle County until informed of that geographic fact at our display. However, once informed of that fact, and where they could come across one of these magnificent birds they stop and ask dozens of questions. |
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Senior Docent, Jen McAllister,
intrigues this group of visitors with our recently acquired
Northern Caracara. Despite being a member of the
falcon family, this bird comes across to almost everyone as
more of a vulture than anything else. Many visitors from Mexico recognize the Caracara instantly and are are always curious to learn more about their national symbol. photos by Anne Price. |
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Eugenie
Reshetniak: 1921-2011. "Jenny" passed away
July 16th after a protracted battle with severe spinal
stenosis. An early and sincere supporter of REF's mission
she provided both financial sustenance in our early years
along with moral support during tough times. She spent her
last years being cared for at Berkley Manor and will
be put to rest next to her husband, Alexander, in the
Tower of Memories at
Crown Hill Cemetery this Friday the 22nd of July at
12:00pm Coming to America in 1960 from Australia via a German prison camp, where she endured as a captured slave laborer for the 3rd Reich until the war ended. She managed to survive Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler and worked hard to support her family of displaced persons as they found their way to the last best place, here in Denver, Colorado. From the little Ukrainian village of Zabara, she re-started her life over from nothing on several continents and demonstrated an outstanding and tireless work ethic to all around her. She is survived by her son, daughter, and beloved grandson, Alexander. She outlived almost all of her old world friends and family at home, and those new world friends from the small Ukrainian Orthodox community which has almost vanished from Colorado. Her simple peasant honesty, honor, and integrity will be sorely missed. |
32nd
Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
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July 5, 2011:Breckenridge, CO-
Our annual appearance at the Riverwalk Center in
Breckenridge, Colorado brings hundreds of visitors an up
close and personal look into the world of raptors. The
one hour program features a free-flying segment with
audience volunteers. Environmental learning is our
mission and nobody does it better. For a video clip,
just click to
see the hawk flying. Thanks to the Town of
Breckenridge and all of the sponsors of the Riverwalk
Center for supporting our environmental education
mission and the Imagination Express children's
program series.
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A new theory for the origin of birds does not pursue the line of reasoning that birds evolved as they adapted for flying abilities. This competing theory illustrates quite well that science is not based on consensus, but on evidence and facts supporting the current line of thinking or an alternative. Just click...
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June 26, Brighton, CO: Our
continuing collaboration with the Audubon Society of
Greater Denver completed another of our popular raptor
identification seminars. Limited to 20 participants
attending for half a day, attendees were led through the
detailed and more esoteric aspects of identifying the hawks
and falcons of Colorado.
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This fine focus on hawks and falcons
benefits from the Foundation's living field guides coupled
with a very comprehensive photo library collected by REF's
Curator, Anne Price, who leads the participants through the
difficulties of raptor identification. Senior Docent, Kevin
Corwin, is pictured with REF's Northern Goshawk Thanks to the following photographers for contributing to the success of this lecture series: Bill Schmoker, Lee Farrell, Robert Palmer, Kevin Docholiday, Tom Weber, and Peter Kaplan. Support us every time you shop with our exclusive Raptor Credit Card. |
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June 18 & 19: Denver's Civic
Center: REF's summer season starts officially with our
appearance at Denver's Pride Festival. For two days
our display draws thousands of visitors who, as the pictures
illustrate, are enraptured with raptors. Senior Docent, Kevin Corwin, answers questions about the eastern-screech owl as adoring fans ask a myriad of questions about one of our most popular raptors. |
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"It's NOT a baby?" was probably the
most common question asked as everyone learned about this
little adult 5 ounce killer. Thanks to everyone who continue
to support our 31 year old environmental literacy mission. Photos by M. Bolster.
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Support us every time you shop with our exclusive Raptor Credit Card.
32nd
Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
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Jabebo Earrings Support Our Work!We are offering Jabebo Earrings for the very discriminating raptor connoisseur out there. We have selected a variety of raptor designs and offer discounts on purchases of 3 or more sets. $9.50 each for 3 or more. One or two may be purchased for $12.50 and all prices include shipping and handling. To those unfamiliar with Jabebo designs, they are made from recycled cereal boxes. You can actually see the cereal art on the back side of the earrings. Each pair of earrings also tells a story because of the different designs for each ear. Visit our Jabebo display, and be amazed!
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The Altamount Pass Wind Resource Area supplying electrical power to the Bay Area of Northern California has been shredding an average of 67 golden eagles each year for the past 30 years. That's 2,010 golden eagles contributing their lives to the green energy needs of California consumers. The numbers are astonishing, and as the national government pushes for more "sustainable" energy sources, more and more raptors are chopped into pieces if they are lucky. If they get unlucky, they get crippled, and do not die for days or weeks. If you take the time to read the studies, all of this "sustainable" energy is very expensive, unreliable, and still needs conventional supplies as a back-up when they go down. Google knows what is reliable and cheap for their massive electrical needs at their server farms, its coal! We need more nuclear, and more clean coal electrical supplies, and we need them now. Two thousand golden eagles have been sacrificed on the altar of energy stupidity for the religion of Green imbeciles. How many more raptors will die before common sense returns? Just click. And this sustainable green jihad wrecks the economy. As the folks in Canada are learning, "blowing in the wind" is just another word for dirty expensive energy.
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May 17, 2011: Front Range
Community College in Thornton, Colorado once again
hosted a series of presentations from experts in their
fields, which were presented to thousands of students who
attend every year. the programs are designed to
introduce students to the hydrological cycle and how
it interacts with all species sharing the planet. Here, a peregrine falcon, is shown while its history as an endangered species is discussed, as well as it successful removal from the endangered species list. The peregrine's consumption of food contaminated with DDT compounds ingested by waterfowl brought home the interlaced food web in living fashion. See more pictures here...
Raptors Need Clean Water Too: Teacher
Evaluations
Presentation Content:
4.8
Teaching Effectiveness: 4.9 Student Interest: 5.0 Curriculum Appropriate: 5.0 Average Total Rating: 4.9 # of Evaluations: 24 |
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Programs started at 09:30 and
continued through the lunch hour. Thousands of
students moved through a variety of indoor and outdoor
displays to develop an extensive grasp of how human
communities, wildlife, and water interact, and what is
needed to keep the water supply healthy and available to the
demands of growing front-range cities in Colorado. Thanks to the City of Thornton's Water Department for continuing to sponsor REF's appearances at this important event.
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Hiding behind regional haze mitigation plans is an amazing story looking into how Xcel Energy, working with Governor Ritter and some other politicians ripped off Colorado consumers in pursuit of alleged clean energy schemes. The only cleaning that occurs is to the wallets of energy consumers in Colorado. Some of Colorado's largest and greediest special interest groups have managed to pass legislation, which may vey well be illegal. Just click...
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April 26th. Aurora, CO- At
about 7:00pm REF offices received an emergency call from the
Aurora Police Dispatcher's office advising us to call ASAP!
An Aurora restaurant had called reporting "an owl" had flown
into one of their glass doors and was staggering around
looking menacing.
Officer Brown, one of Aurora's finest, responded to the call and as he approached the bird on the ground it flew off a short distance and landed on the car as shown. At this point, REF was in touch with officer Brown directly via cell phone. To confirm the owl's real identity (Bubo virginianus), officer Brown took the picture on the left, and sent it to REF's cell phone. REF's help was too far away to act quickly, so officer Brown was provided instructions how to capture the young great-horned owl, which was suffering from a mild concussion. Officer Brown executed his newly learned skills quickly and had the young owl in a box, in his patrol car heading for Aurora police headquarters where an REF officer would meet him and take the suspect into our care for transfer to the Birds of Prey Foundation in Broomfield. Could he be charged with attempted
car-jacking? |
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Before moving the "bad bubo" into an
REF kennel, officer Brown posed for this mug shot with his
suspect firmly in hand and displaying those mighty
talons that permit these owls to be such formidable
predators. Thanks to officer Brown and the entire Aurora police department responsible for helping this situation turn out safely for all concerned, especially the young owl. Lots of young great-horned owls have just fledged, so keep yourself alert to wild and weird suspects careening around your neighborhood. Thanks to officer Brown, and the great folks at the Aurora Police Department. For more excellent pictures of some young owls on a nest, just click... Support us every time you shop with our exclusive Raptor Credit Card. |
Save The Eagles International ( STEI), based in Spain, is calling for a halt and re-think of construction of wind-farms harvesting energy using wind turbines. STEI claims the use of a variety of large spinning blades to gather "free" energy has the unwanted side affect of chopping thousands of birds into bits. Many raptors, especially eagles, are included as the big birds are easier targets for these Cuisinearts of the air. Just click... Feather frappe anyone? Challenge Green Assumptions: A major new challenge to green assumptions, is that wind and wave energy may not be renewable after all. Look at what is being reported on by a thermodynamics researcher- Just click...
32nd
Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
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For Raptors! America's first and arguably greatest conservation president speaks out in behalf of our exclusive wildlife license plates. Tell your friends!
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32nd
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October 16: Brighton, CO:
Geoff Boen, of Scout Troop 109 with friends and family
spent all day installing a wooden post floor into the small
courtyard in front of our offices. Geoff also had his team
paint the cinder block wall behind him, and build an
industrial strength picnic table. This was part of
Geoff's Eagle Scout project fulfillment, and we were very
fortunate to benefit from Geoff's hard work. Geoff and his team donated at least 200 hours to the project, and assembled material donations from as far as a lumber mill in Trinidad, Colorado. The results were much more than we expected, and were put to immediate use with our Raptor ID seminar held on October 19th....see above. Thanks to Geoff's team members for their help:
Garrett Cook
Taylor Young
Sherri Cook
Steve Cook
Zach Randall
Ben Randall
Veronica Randall
James Randall
Kelly Boen
Jodie Boen
Stephen Boyd
Johnny Batram
Tyler Hilton
Congratulations Geoff, for a job well done! More developing...
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A Yakima Nation couple have been convicted of violations of the Lacey Act by selling eagle feathers and eagle body parts on the black-market. The number of eagle wings, feathers, talons, and other body parts confiscated at the homes of the perpetrators was staggering. The continued justification of eagle slaughter behind the curtain of religious freedom is a travesty of common sense, science, and civilization. From live eagle sacrifices to the killing of eagles to part them out for religious bling, American Indian tribes are prostituting their alleged principle of "harmony with nature." Just click...
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No matter how much supporters spin it, Colorado’s Renewable Energy Standard is an ill-advised law that forces consumers to use expensive, unreliable power with little “green”benefit. Over the next decade, Colorado working families and businesses will have to pay nearly $3.8 billion in additional electricity costs that will not be subject to any rate cap in order to meet the RES and will be collected from ratepayers via the ECA. Just click... Or how about all of those wonderful "green jobs" coming out of our current national administration...what is really going on? Just click...
Shocking! The top educational bureaucrat from the current administration, Arne Duncan, admits the obvious, but cannot add one and one and come up with the logical answer. Yes, the government monopoly school system is dumbing down their clients and their customers. The students are the clients and their parents are the customers. We've addressed the shortcomings and solutions with America's educational process for 3 decades as have other organizations and individuals. Maybe it is finally making an impact? Do you think they will actually take a lesson here? Just click...
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Royalty in the United Kingdom certainly has its privileges. Besides the cash for being in the royal gene pool, you get a ready audience for any stupid fancy you might wish to spout off about. Now the bonnie prince is telling anyone who will listen that the "Islamic" way of life will solve all the world's environmental problems. Did the fanciful prince ever think to ask the various women of the world living under the benevolent blessings of Islam what they think of his royal effluence? How peaceful and eco-friendly is it for the Prophet to marry a six-year old girl and then wait until she was nine to consummate the marriage? Sharia law is to live under the whim and wham and whip of Allah's will. Maybe the royal rube will change his Christianity to the great Islamic rule book? Just click...
 If you have ever wondered if the plastic great-horned owl decoys that cost from about $20 to $40 have any positive affect on scaring pigeons...here's your answer. We have seen this type of scenario in many different areas. Pigeons aren't stupid, and quickly figure out they decoy is dead! Don't waste your money. |
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I
n May 2008 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) released to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) the 2007 Hopi Tribe eagle and hawk collecting reports. In 2007 the Hopi Tribe collected 36 golden eagles and 19 unspecified (red-tailed) hawks in northeastern Arizona. The Hopi’s reported take from 1986 to 2007 is 405 golden eagles, 154 red-tailed and other hawks. (This report will soon be updated for 2008 and 2009).
On February 26, 2008 Acting USFWS Director Kenneth Stansell issued a new permit to the Hopi Tribe for 2008. As in the past, the permits authorized the Hopi to take up to 40 golden eagle eaglets in 2008. The permit continues a limitation first imposed in the 2007 permit that limits the take of eagles by the Hopi to no more than 18 from Navajo lands.
Since 2003, the USFWS HQ in Washington, D.C., issues the Eagle permits. The Regional Office in Albuquerque issued a separate, new permit on March 31, 2008 for the Hopi to take red-tailed hawk nestlings in northeastern Arizona in 2008. The hawk permit limits the numbers of red-tailed hawks that can be taken to no more than 50. Previous permits did not limit the number.
The USFWS reports that the only permits issued in 2008 was to the Hopi Tribe. (In 2006 and 2007, the USFWS issued permits to Jemez Pueblo in New Mexico to capture up to 2 golden eagles in the Valles Caldera National Preserve, administered by the Forest Service; to Taos Pueblo to shoot one mature golden eagle on Taos Pueblo Tribal lands in Taos County, New Mexico and to Isleta Pueblo to take two mature golden eagles on Pueblo lands in Valencia and Bernalillo County, New Mexico. The USFWS reported on May 2, 2008 that Taos and Isleta permitees failed to file their collecting report as required by the 2007 permit).
The permits may not legally be used to take eagles or hawks within any area of the national park system except under 36 CFR 2.1(d) where such take is specifically provided for in law or as a treaty right. The 1999 Hopi attempt to take eagle nestlings from Wupatki National Monument in Arizona resulted in PEER’s scrutiny of the eagle-gathering permits. There is nothing new to report about the rule proposed by the Interior Department in January 2001 that requires that the superintendent of Wupatki National Monument, Arizona allow members of the Hopi Tribe, in possession of a USFWS permit, to take golden eaglets in the park. The rule has not been made final. However, the National Park Service (NPS) last wrote to PEER on March 27, 2003. The NPS stated that “…there continues to be no planned action related to this issue at anytime in either the near or far distant future.” To follow all the reports, just click... Remember, all these birds are being taken to be killed for the purpose of a "religious sacrifice." Welcome to the politically correct 21st century.
Thanks to Frank Buono for his continued efforts to follow this travesty and to keep us informed.
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Raptor Fulbright Report Lauren's story is now available for the rest of us...enjoy! 12/27/09: An avid falconer since age 14, Lauren McGough has always had a love of eagles and the world’s wild places. At 17 she traveled to Mongolia to hunt with the Kazakh eagle falconers. While studying at the University of Glasgow, Lauren began flying golden eagles on the moorlands of Scotland as well as discovering the unique tradition of eagle falconry on the European mainland. Recently graduated from the University of Oklahoma with degrees in Zoology and International Studies, Lauren is back in Mongolia on a ten-month Fulbright scholarship to apprentice under the eagle falconers of Bayan-Olgii. Eagle falconry is only one aspect of humanity's relationship with raptors that goes back approximately 5,000 years. Lauren will be bringing a contemporary look at this ancient tradition as it is practiced in one of the world's most remote and wild places. And as possibly one of the first women accepted into this traditionally all male activity, Lauren will have some unique observations to share with all of us. Lauren is pictured in Scotland after a successful hunt. On the right is Andrew Knowles-Brown.
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32nd
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Raptor Credit Cards: If you are one of the millions of people who use credit cards wisely, then please use one of ours. Just by signing up and getting one of ours, your first purchase will generate $50 for the Raptor Education Foundation. Then, each time you buy something, we will receive percentage of your purchases automatically. What a great way to help REF keep its mission flying. And for those of you who want to design your own card with a special raptor image, just let us know what type of raptor image you want, and we will get that to you. Then you can design one of your own cards that also benefits our mission. We offer the Screech Owl, the Bald Eagle, and the Golden Eagle cards. Take a look at our other birds, and we will provide you a picture of your favorite raptor which you can use to create your own unique Raptor Credit Card. Or just let us know what your favorite raptor is, and we will make sure your favorite raptor is delivered to you to customize your own exclusive card. ContactUs |
Support us every time you shop with our exclusive Raptor Credit Card.
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August 24, 2009: So what would happen if Black Bears decided that they could kill some little old lady that had been feeding them as a ceremonial tribute to their god, Ursus, as their ritual to show their gratitude for the food some kind and stupid Homo sapiens provide? Could the bears invoke their sovereign nation status as immunity for the murder? Could they hide behind the veil of their religious freedom to sacrifice one or two stupid Homo sapiens each year as a tribute to their god, Ursus? Well they could, but Homo sapiens would still kill the responsible bear, and any other bear that happened to be snacking on the remains of the dearly stupid Homo sapiens. How you decide to interpret the actions of the bear will certainly show your bias. Aren't you just a racist or speciesist as some say? Bears having rights to their own religious freedom? Are you insane? So what if America's eagles got together and decided that sacrificing a few Homo sapiens (American Indian babies in this case) each year is a right of their passage from fledgling status to the honorific of Adult Eagle? As eagles, do they not have sovereign nation status as elegantly described by Henry Beston? Does that not allow them to take such actions as they please? What's the death of a few Indian babies anyway? It's not like the eagles are using automatic weapons and killing hundreds of them... there are plenty of Indians around. Hell, those Indians would hit the warpath and certainly kill the offending eagle, and who knows how many more just to send a message. Stupid, right? Well that's what is being invoked by one Indian named Friday for murdering a bald eagle...its a right of his wonderful religious practices as a member of a sovereign nation. We say this is the height of barbaric insanity. And the Interior Department authorities continue to issue permits for this insanity, because they have become invertebrates before the god of "religious freedom." Just click... Follow this story in the pages of our web over the past years. What say you? Where are all the other "erstwhile" environmental or raptor groups/organizations hiding? Peter Reshetniak
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Patrick Tidwell, Eagle
Scout, finalizes his Eagle Scout project with REF as he
spends some time at a photo shoot with the eagle of his
choice to create an exclusive poster commemorating his
project at REF's new facility in Brighton, Colorado.
See Patrick's project
below.
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The federal government has completed an extensive court case against a Wyoming utility for the death of hundreds of eagles, hawks, and other raptors. The utility operates electrical transmission lines and had failed to update old fashioned power poles which were shown to be electrocuting a large variety of raptors when the big birds used the poles as perches. Just click...
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His Day of Many Proud
Accomplishments Memorial Day
Weekend Eagle Scout candidate, Patrick Tidwell walks along the new fence posts of his Eagle Scout project. It was installed with the help of 30 scouts, friends, and family. This is the first Eagle Scout project to benefit the Raptor Education Foundation at their new Brighton headquarters. Patrick's project was also the largest and most complicated project to benefit REF's operations over the past 29 years. Not only did Patrick and friends install a brand new 400 foot long fence along our frontage road, his organizational skills managed the entire project from starting at 08:00 hrs to cleanup and departure at 15:00hrs. Wow! Let's also not forget, that Patrick's proposal and planning document was the most comprehensive we have ever seen, and they threw in a thorough cleanup of our entire nine acre site just because a few of the scouts ran out of stuff to do. Thanks to Patrick, his immediate family, and his scouting family. All of us at REF are eternally grateful! Are you ready for an eagle scout project?
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32nd
Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95The current economic cycle brings a series of lessons which might instruct anyone paying attention to what is going on. One of the basic disconnects with virtually all economic theorists is still not being addressed in any substantive manner. One serious scientists brought his focus on economy and ecology back in 1933 at a time when America was in the midst of the Great Depression. That scientist was Frederick Soddy, the winner of the Nobel Prize in chemistry (1921), and his book, Wealth, Virtual Wealth and Debt, is a brilliant look at our economic system. It offers much to anyone interested in such things, and it offers a way out of our current dilemma. This new section will address many of the issues that have come back to haunt all of us again. Just click...
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Carbon Pets
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A New Year's resolution could not be any better if it would simply serve to remind Homo sapiens of their own limits. To that end, one of our favorite authors wrote in The Outermost House:
"We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals. Remote from universal nature, and living by complicated artifice, man in civilization surveys the creature through the glass of his knowledge and sees thereby a feather magnified and the whole image in distortion. We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."
Working with raptors for the past 29 years, many of us at REF have learned to acknowledge some small part of the quote above, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to remind other humans of this unconventional perspective about their momentary presence in this vast spinning, dancing, waving and pulsing universe. If unfamiliar with Beston, we urge you to make yourself acquainted with his perspectives. You will benefit yourself and all around you. Happy New Year!
And in the same vein about who we as humans are, science is rapidly seeing us in an entirely new light. "If you have gone through life blithely thinking of yourself as a "human being", then 2009 will bring the shocking news that it is time to think again. You are a "human-microbe hybrid" or "super-organism", dependent on a vast number of microbes that live in or on your body, do vital jobs for you, and both influence and provide unique indicators of your health....Their numbers are staggering: 10 trillion microbes live with the average human." * And only about 1trillion cells are human, so Beston's quote above takes on another entirely more personal meaning. 2009 will be the year of the hybrid in more ways than Toyota can deliver.
*Link to the speech about you as a super-organism. It will blow your collective mind.
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If you need the comfort of the crowd to make a decision, then you should take a look at the 31,000 American scientists who reject the Ayatoldyah Aglore's amazing Algorian climate changing algebra. He will not debate his wonderful theory with anyone, unless he can put them through his movie machine and do a mind-merge-meld, whatever. Just click...
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We copyrighted this back in 1998, when our instincts knew the reality of anthropogenic global warming was BS. In 2008, the numerous proofs of global warming, and its causes, confirm our instincts- just read Unstoppable Global Warming-every 1,500 years by Singer & Avery if you are still drinking the cool aid that the Prophet Algore Ayatoldya is pouring into the public drinking fountain. Otherwise, put this on your car's window and watch people's brains heat up. |
Rational people are waking up... this helps them on the
way. Read what Bjorn Lomborg has to say in
"Cool It".
BL is the author and economist that Algorian's love to hate! Our self-sticking vinyl (4" x 5") slogan is supported by real evidence from all over the globe. Evidence, not consensus is what real science is all about. $3 each: Order Here. |
The despicably reprehensible sacrifices of live golden eagles continue to be permitted by America's federal government. Yep, you are reading it right! Killing beautiful golden eagles for the sake of some religious fairy tale. Our updated report from Frank Buono lays bare the facts of what has happened over the past few years. Your politicians continue to support this barbaric behavior (among others), because they are spineless to deal with what is done under the guise of religious freedom. Everyone, however, came completely unglued when a well known football player got caught killing pit-bulls that wouldn't fight successfully in the culturally justified "sport" of dog fighting. Where's the indignation, uproar, or disgust when another set of Homo sapiens kill golden eagles and other raptors for the sake of some culturally justified "religious ritual" ? We think these Homo sapiens deserve at least the same opprobrium for behavior that is equally barbaric and disgusting. Just click... Our thanks to Mr. Buono for caring enough to continue tracking this federally enabled barbarism, and politically correct brutality. Where do you stand?
32nd
Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
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We copyrighted this back in 1998, when our instincts knew the reality of anthropogenic global warming was BS. In 2008, the numerous proofs of global warming, and its causes, confirm our instincts- just read Unstoppable Global Warming-every 1,500 years by Singer & Avery if you are still drinking the cool aid that the Prophet Algore Ayatoldya is pouring into the public drinking fountain. Otherwise, put this on your car's window and watch people's brains heat up. |
Rational people are waking up... this helps them on the
way. Read what Bjorn Lomborg has to say in
"Cool It".
BL is the author and economist that Algorian's love to hate! Our self-sticking vinyl (4" x 5") slogan is supported by real evidence from all over the globe. Evidence, not consensus is what real science is all about. $3 each: Order Here. |
32nd
Anniversary Savings for our exclusive license plates:$19.95
 |
We copyrighted this back in
1998, when our instincts knew the reality of anthropogenic global warming
was BS. In 2008, the numerous proofs of global warming, and its causes, confirm
our instincts- just read Unstoppable Global Warming-every 1,500 years
by Singer & Avery if you are still drinking the cool aid that the
Prophet Algore Ayatoldya is pouring into the public drinking fountain.
Otherwise, put this on your car's window and watch people's brains heat up. Rational people are waking up... this helps them on the way. Our self-sticking vinyl (4" x 5") slogan is supported by real evidence from all over the globe. Evidence, not consensus is what real science is all about. Visit our new section devoted to global warming issues ..just click $3 each includes shipping
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The Raptor Education Foundation is pleased to announce its exclusive carbon sequestration program for those individuals and corporations leaving large carbon footprints on the environment. Our program is unique, requires virtually no capital investment, and shows immediate environmental benefits. Just click...
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Crafts Gallery collectibles: Our brand new Crafts Gallery opens with truly unique ways to celebrate the beauty of raptors for any sincere raptorphile. Together with our new Arts Gallery, you will be seeing the finest in raptor art, brought together for you from all over the world. Visit our Raptor Collection and see what we offer. All revenues support our environmental education and research projects. |
Please visit our Raptor Collection Gallery for a rotating show featuring the peerless work of Louis A. Fuertes-arguably the best bird painter to come out of the American wildlife art movement.
| As a free service to interested parties, we post a Lost Bird Alert. This service is designed to get information about any lost bird species onto a public bulletin board so that the bird can be quickly re-united with its owner. REF assumes no liability for incorrect information submitted for posting, nor will REF act to recover, or take charge of any lost bird. Information will be updated daily, or more frequently as information reaches our offices. Posting deadline is 3:00pm MST M-F. | In order to facilitate rapid dissemination of this data to help recover any lost bird, please provide the following information: Your name and contact (phone, e-mail etc.), species lost, date lost and last known location, any hardware attached, i.e., federal or state bands (include numbers), transmitters, jesses, etc. Your name for the lost bird, if any, last known feeding time for the bird, any favorite foods, and any behavioral traits that might help recovery. |
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Last revised:
February 04, 2012
