HawkQuest, founded in 1986 by Kin Quitugua,[1] is an environmental education organization based in Parker, Colorado, which uses participatory lectures including live raptors to help people "understand and appreciate the interaction of wild living things in their natural environment."[2][3]
 HawkQuest logo | |
| Formation | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Type | NGO |
| Purpose | Environmental education |
Founder | Kin Quitugua |
| Website | www.hawkquest.org |
HawkQuest has partnered with Xcel Energy to create classroom programs that use the bird cams deployed by the energy company.[4][5][6]
Founder
editKin Quitugua, master falconer and founder of HawkQuest, was born in Guam and moved to Colorado with his family when he was young. In college, he met master falconer Rick Cole, who took him on as an apprentice. After becoming a master falconer himself, he founded HawkQuest to teach others about nature with the help of his birds.[1]
The birds
editAs of 2010, HawkQuest had 28 individual eagles, falcons, owls, and hawks. The 15 species represented are bald eagle, golden eagle, American kestrel, peregrine falcon, prairie falcon, barred owl, burrowing owl, barn owl, great horned owl, spectacled owl, Eurasian eagle-owl, Eastern screech owl, ferruginous hawk, red-tailed hawk, and Harris's hawk. All of these birds are either injured or have been imprinted to humans and would not be able to survive in the wild.[7]
Programs
editHawkQuest provides interactive lectures to groups of all ages, bringing the birds to schools,[8][9] nature centers,[10] and other venues.[11][12][13] HawkQuest raptors can be seen at close range at events such as Native American markets, renaissance festivals, educational symposiums, and craft fairs.[14][15] Their classroom-in-the-wild program takes students outdoors into the birds' natural environment.[16] They will set up opportunities for bird and photo enthusiasts to photograph the raptors in the wild.[17]
In 2007, HawkQuest presented their message to almost 1.5 million people in 555 events.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b Crum, Anna-Maria (2004). "Chapter 2: Kin Quitugua". Animal Behaviorists. Benchmark Education Company. ISBN 1-4108-0412-7.
- ^ "HawkQuest". hawkquest.org. HawkQuest. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ "What is HawkQuest". hawkquest.org. HawkQuest. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ "Bird Cams - Xcel Energy". creyete.com. creyete.com. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Bird Cam". xcelenergy.com. Xcel Energy. Archived from the original on 25 July 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Teaching Aids". hawkquest.org. HawkQuest. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ "Raptors of HawkQuest". hawkquest.org. HawkQuest. Retrieved 2 August 2010.
- ^ "Hawk Quest Assembly on Tuesday March 24". apscms.net. Iowa Elementary. 20 March 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ Kryder, Dylan Otto (28 November 2009). "Birds alight to delight of Broomfield middle school students". broomfieldenterprise.com. Media News Group. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Denver Botanic Gardens Holds Birdhouse Fundraiser". cbs4denver.com. CBS Television Stations Inc. 9 July 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "BBHC celebrates raptors with HawkQuest programs". bbhc.org. Buffalo Bill Historical Center. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Hawk Quest". steamboatpilot.com. Steamboat Today. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "HawkQuest Day a Great Success!". wildbirdlanding.com. Wild Bird Landing. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Hawk Quest" (PDF). dentonrc.com. Grapevine Sun. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "HawkQuest in the News". hawkquest.org. HawkQuest. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ "Outreach Programs". hawkquest.org. HawkQuest. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- ^ "Raptor Photography at Spruce Mountain with HawkQuest" (PDF). douglas.co.us. Douglas County. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Program Statistics 2007". hawkquest.org. HawkQuest. Retrieved 31 July 2010.