Sammy Riccio

The HawkWatch International Education team has some pretty great humans, but the stars of our team are the Raptor Ambassadors. When we deliver a program, once the bird is out, not much else matters. Fortunately, seeing people’s awe at our amazing raptors is one of my favorite parts of the job. And while there is […]

When you think about raptors, maybe you remember a fun science exercise from your past where you dissected owl pellets. Dissecting pellets is a fun and useful way to gain information on diet! Studying what animals eat provides a way to examine species interactions in addition to gaining important insight into ecological relationships.  Most raptors

If you’ve ever had the opportunity to see a bird of prey up close, you’ve probably noticed one of the key attributes that makes a raptor a raptor… those feet! Handling birds equipped with sharp talons comes with some inherent risk. So, why do we do it?  Having a raptor in-hand gives you an opportunity

Climbers flock to the same cliffs raptors love to nest on—sheer cliffs that are difficult to access and have commanding views. During nesting season, however, our presence can spell trouble for raptors, such as Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, and climbers may be at risk of getting attacked by territorial birds. A little pre-climb planning

Whether we’re heading to New Mexico to set up a migration site or driving 300 miles to bring outreach programs to high schools in a remote corner of the Intermountain West, our staff spends a lot of time on the road. All that drive time leaves us with plenty of opportunities to binge-listen to our