Red or Blue? Help Pick The Color of Burning Hawk T-Shirts

Dear Friends,

We have a burning issue here at Burning Hawk Wines, one of utmost, critical and major strategic importance….and that is the dilemma of which T-Shirt color to choose ?

Yes, like many brands we are making the leap into the realm of chotskes (except these are philanthropic chotskes). We will start by getting some shirts made for our fans and provide an additional product to raise awareness of our wine brand and funds for the conservation projects we support .

Eventually we will have multiple options but for our first low budget run of shirts we need to pick one.  Can you please give us your feedback by letting us know which color RED or BLUE you prefer?

We value your input and the first 5 to respond will recieve a shirt although it might not be your favorite color

 

 

 

 

 

Bird of Mouth Newsletter — October 2009

Dear Friends,  Wine Lovers and Bird Freaks: Please enjoy our October Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/burninghawk10

• Sipping for Sakers
• Buy Affordable, New Wines
• Get Your Tail to the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
• Golden Eagle Released!
• Burning Hawk Helps Yuba County
• Progress Made on Raptor Landfill Problem
• Get Your Stomp On!

We hope you  enjoy the read. Thank you for your involvement in Burning Hawk Wines.

All the  best,

Team Burning Hawk

Sipping for Sakers – Join the Effort to Save Saker Falcons

Dear Friends,

Today, in collaboration with the conservation bloggers at Bird Freakwe have launched “Sipping for Sakers” an awareness-building and fundraising effort. 

For the month of October we are highlighting the important work of biologist Rick Harness and colleagues who are on a mission to save the endangered Saker Falcon in Mongolia. Rick and Co. have identified that powerline electrocutions are one of the major threats to these amazing hunters. The Saker Falcon’s population  is less than 10,000 so action needs to be taken to retrofit and reconfigure the power poles. 

Supporting Rick’s Save the Saker Project in Mongolia: either by purchasing Burning Hawk Wines (note, we have released our new selection  of wines), spreading the word about this effort to your friends,  or making a direct contribution to Rick’s project via the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program. Everything you need to know can be read at Bird Freak.

A little over a year ago we started Burning Hawk Wines after a red-tailed hawk was electrocuted in Windsor, California and started a fire in a grape vineyard. And now, thanks to your participation and purchases this cause-focused business has the ability to make a difference whereever threats to birds exist, including the  Mongolian Steppe.

Thank you.

Red Tailed Hawk Electrocuted, Sparking Yuba & Nevada County Fire

At the time of writing this blog post, over 3 square miles of Yuba & Nevado Counties have burned.

Calfire tanker drops fire retardant over the Yuba Fire Saturday. Photo by CalFire / Wes Shultz

The fire’s cause has been identified as a red tailed hawk  electrocuted in the powerlines. Please see Dry Winds, Heat Fan Wildfires Across California

That fire, which was ignited by burning feathers from a red-tailed hawk that flew into a power line, was more than 15 percent contained, but about 600 homes were still threatened Sunday. Voluntary evacuations remain in effect for parts of the community…The Colgate Powerhouse — the oldest powerhouse in the state — and two others were powered down, along with four major power lines. Together, they produce 300 Megawatts of power for the area…About 1,385 fire personnel are in the area fighting that blaze, though the steep, rough terrain made their work difficult

This problem, technical termed  “Avian Powerline Interaction,” remains a largely unknown issue outside  of the scientific, regulatory and energy utility community. But it is one which as you read has a major toll: costly power outages, fires, risk to human life and communities; wildlife injury or death.  At the time of writing the costs of fighting this one blaze were calculated to be $1.8 million.

Many utilities, PG&E being one of them, have programs in place to prevent and respond to this problem. Please read: PG&E Renews Avian Protection and Recieves  Audubon’s First Ever Corporate Achievement Award & Avian Protection Plan . You can also visit www.aplic.org to learn more.

But in reading these documents a few questions emerge. As  of 2007, PG&E had retrofitted and made “Bird Safe” over 12,000 power poles, obviously a substantial investment and effort. But how many power polesof line out of their 70,000 square mile grid and service area does this represent? It would also be interesting to see the PG&E analysis and mapping that highlights the risk zones where migratory birds, fire fuel load and the power grid overlap. And with this mapping, how much work remains and how much would that work be estimated to cost?

We wish the communities impacted by this fire a speedy recovery, extend our thanks to the fire fighting personnel tackling this blaze as well as the utilities and conservation groups working to eliminate this problem in the first place.

Utilities to Pay For Bird Deaths

There are so many environmental and conservation  issues these days. As a result it can sometimes be challenging to remember that the Burning Hawk issue is still massive. And remember that the the Burning Hawk wine initiative was launched to pitch in and help.

Here is an article in the Billings Gazette reminding all of us that this issue is still massive, impacting our energy system and most valued birds of prey.

http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_d9fc9894-6e94-11de-8937-001cc4c03286.html

The Hungry Owl Gets Thirsty!

From April 17th to May 29th, please team up with Burning Hawk Wines to support the Hungry Owl Project!

Since the early days of the Burning Hawk wine initiative we have developed a great deal of respect for The Hungry Owl Project and their work to protect birds of prey and other avian friends by showing people that these birds can be effective pest control partners.

Based in San Anselmo and working under the auspices of Wildcare, the Hungry Owl Project team is on a mission to:

“…reduce the need for harmful pesticides & rodenticides by encouraging natural predators, through conservation of habitat, erecting nest boxes when appropriate, through research & education, and by providing a resource of help and information on alternative methods of sustainable pest management.”

Please take some time to completely read the HOP website at www.hungryowl.org. It is such an inspiring and educational experience.

Like our farmers and winemakers at Windsor Vineyards and Burning Hawk, The HOP team knows the value of having birds of prey and avian predators in our communities and agricultural landscapes. Predatory birds such as owls, hawks, falcons and even blue birds eat the same insects and rodents that cause problems for farmers, grape growers and land managers. To eradicate these pests, many farmers have for decades developed the habit of using costly, and many times toxic, pesticides, herbicides and rodenticides. But in many cases there are more natural alternatives that do just as good of a job and also deliver additional benefits. If we welcome back birds of prey into our landscapes as part of our overall Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs we can help boost their populations, expand their habitat and bring them onto our team as partners in pest control. Air and water quality will be improved for our neighborhoods and communities and at the end of the day farmers and land managers might be able to save a bit of money too!

The Hungry Owl Project is growing as a restorative force to be reckoned with here in our community. We are glad to team up with HOP and lend a hand as have so many others.

So in addition to directly supporting and funding their work, for the next 6 weeks you can also purchase Burning Hawk wines with the knowledge that 10% of your purchase will fund The Hungry Owl Project.

Rocky Mountain Raptor Results

As many of you are aware, the Burning Hawk wine team has waged an all out vino-sipping, raptor-conserving and environmental-educating fundraising effort over recent weeks. From the beginning of March until mid-April we worked in collaboration with Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Raptor Program to raise awareness and funds for their important work.Beginning with a live auction of inaugural vintages of Burning Hawk wines and following-up with an educational and cause-marketing effort we are happy to report that $900 has been raised by cause-minded wine lovers. Our entire team at Burning Hawk salutes the staff and volunteers at the RMRP for their fundamentally important work. And together we thank you our “Causetomers” for aligning your wine purchases with your values.

We also look forward to tracking the progress of the Golden Eagle in the RMRP’s care. This eagle, which like our original hawk was electrocuted by powerlines, has made remarkable progress. There is a good chance that it will be released this summer to fly again in the future. But the injuries and trauma it has experienced have been great and it is not out of the woods (or back into the woods) yet.

One Golden Eagle & The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program

Today we’d like to share information that highlights the work of the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program and a stunningly beautiful Golden Eagle they are rehabilitating. This month 10% of Burning Hawk Wine sales will be contributed to this organization for their important work caring for injured wildlife and educating future generations of wildlife stewards. 

It starts with a picture……….

 

This Golden Eagle, shown here in the hands of RMRP medical team, was injured in a very similar fashion (at around the same time) as the hawk which was tragically killed here in California and inspired our Burning Hawk Philanthropic Wine initiative.

We asked Judy Scherpelz, Director of RMRP to share some notes about this Golden Eagle’s original injury and what is being done to ensure this bird can fly again in the wild.

NOTES FROM JUDY

• Golden Eagle 08-115 (Case number means the 115^th bird admitted in 2008)
• Admitted 7/7/08.  Found approx. 25 mi. north of Cheyenne, WY

• A pair of golden eagles have built their nest on top of a transmission tower (one of those giant ones).  This bird was hanging (by its talon) on the tower, about 30 ft. off the ground.

• The rancher who found him climbed the tower and freed the bird, which was quite angry at the time.  (They rarely say thank you!).  The bird was then transported to the RMRP.

• He was admitted with a fractured right tarsometatarsus (the lower leg bone just above the foot).  He also had electric shock injuries (burns ) around the fractured area and the right foot.

• When the bird was admitted, the leg was bandaged, wounds were treated, bird was stabilized (fluids, food, meds, etc.)

• Healing of the fracture was slow because of the damage from the electric shock injury.  X-rays on 10/1/08 showed signs of infection in the foot.  Bird had surgery on 10/8/08 to remove the infected tissue form the foot.  Meds and wound care followed.  The bird had limited use of two toes on the right foot.

• 10/21/08 – Bird had surgery to realign the fracture because the foot had rotated out of alignment.  A fixator (metal bar) was inserted in the bone to keep everything properly aligned.  This process was successful; fixator was removed 12/16/08.

• 2/16/09 – the bird was moved to our large flight (140’ flying space) where he is now re-learning how to fly and how to be an eagle.  Once he regains his flight skills, he will need to build up stamina, and then will go through hunting training.

The team at the RMRP is cautiously optimistic that this Golden Eagle, after a tremendous amount of compassionate and costly care, will be released to fly again in the wild. Their best estimate for a release date is sometime this summer. We asked Judy to explain what motivates her and her team to do the work that they do and here is what she wrote:

“I feel so fortunate to be able to dedicate my life to helping raptors, our community, our environment, our planet. The birds are so magnificent – tough and fragile, and we can give them a second chance at flying free. And when you see “that look” in the eye of a child, the wonder and amazement, the realization that it is up to us to take care of our planet – then you know that you have made a difference for now, and for future generations. The people in this program are amazing – the volunteers are so dedicated, so compassionate, so determined to help these birds. I am very lucky to have this staff – we are like family to each other. Our work is so hard – we have to be dedicated to the program and to each other. There is so much death, so much strife, so much suffering of humans and animals. We can truly make a difference in all of this if we work together. “

The entire team at Burning Hawk Wines extends our thanks to Judy and her team at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.

This month 10% of your total purchase of Burning Hawk Wines supports this important organization. Please make your purchase online by using code RMRP1 or call 1.800.289.9463.

 

 

Golden Eagle in good hands after surgery

Administering Anesthesia to Golden Eagle

Golden w/Splint

Golden Eagle with Snowshoe Cast

Golden Eagle talons

Removing cast/bandage

Bandage removed showing treated area

Golden Eagle perched & recovering

Golden Eagles recovering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Triple Pundit, Bird of Mouth & The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program Vino Enjoyment Challenge

Today we sent out the March eNewsletter for Burning Hawk in which we share important and exciting information, including the announcement of a month-long initiative to raise awareness and funds for the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program.  This initiative “left the nest” last night in Fort Collins, Colorado at the Lincoln Center where the live auction of 6 bottles of inaugural Burning Hawk wines raised $600! Our partners in this contribution were Rick Harness and colleagues at EDM International!

And until March 31st at Midnight 10% of your total net purchase will fund this amazing little avian organizational train that could. So all aboard for the RMRP! (Note: just a few minutes ago, Jacqueline and Will Smith stepped up to the plate (or palate) and placed  the first order!  Thank you, the RMRP thanks you and enjoy the vino!)

Below are links to this month’s newsletter plus one more from The Triple Pundit that you do not want to miss. 

• Got Fervor? Sip Wine & Fund the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program
• New Video: Go Behind the Scenes with Burning Hawk’s Wine Label DesignerMike Currie
• BirdFreak Names Newsletter, Wins Vino
• Issue Alert: Communication Towers and Threats to Birds

ONE MORE THING…Finally, this bit of  hot-off-the-press cause marketing journalism isn’t in the eNewsletter but we had the great honor of being interviewed this past week by Gennefer Snowfield from The Triple Pundit. This was a great opportunity to reflect on all that’s happened in just a few months since the unfortunate incident “Burning Hawk Starts Vineyard Fire” ignited our imagination and sparked this effort. Please read Burning Hawk Wines: A Cause That Inspired A Brand.

Please help spread the word. Hawk on!

The Price of Power

Today our colleagues at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds sent us a very comprehensive article on global avian electrocution issues.

Please check out the following article, The Price of Power, written by James Lowen. This article was originally published in the World Bird Watch Magazine, a publication of Birdlife International.

The headline reads:

“A ubiquitous part of modern life, electricity and the infrastructure that provides it, have devastating effects on several bird species. James Lowen investigates the long-running campaign that several European BirdLife Partners have been involved in to try and mitigate this serious problem.”

We hope you find this article informative and thank the team at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds for sending it our way.