Every bird counts: Volunteers survey area’s eagles and other raptors

Posted 1/16/18

As Cal pulled to the shoulder, Ahalt stared out the window. A rough-legged hawk hovered over a field divided by a fence strung between weathered wood posts, recycled from a downed tree years ago.

Ahalt was spending a cherished day off …

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Every bird counts: Volunteers survey area’s eagles and other raptors

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Moments after climbing into the truck on Saturday, Susan Ahalt, also known as “The Bird Lady,” barks a command to her new friend Cal Horton: “Stop the car!”

As Cal pulled to the shoulder, Ahalt stared out the window. A rough-legged hawk hovered over a field divided by a fence strung between weathered wood posts, recycled from a downed tree years ago.

Ahalt was spending a cherished day off volunteering for the Big Horn Basin Midwinter Eagle Survey, a count of raptors in the Big Horn Basin sponsored by the Bureau of Land Management. After laboring every day of the year caring for sick and injured birds — many that don’t make it — she wanted nothing more than to see birds in all their grace.

“I get to see all these birds wild and free,” said Ahalt, her eyes lighting up with every sighting.

The Bird Lady had invited Nathan Horton, lab manager and golden eagle research assistant at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West’s Draper Natural History Museum, his father Cal, who doesn’t really know much about birds but wanted nothing more than to spend time with his son, and Jen McKibben, a graphic artist for Polecat Printery in Powell, along for the trip.

Cal discovered early in the morning that his giant truck with room for five was more important than his ability to spot raptors. He was especially keen at spotting ravens — beautiful to watch, but not on the list of birds to watch for the day. The former law enforcement officer in Sheridan is now a heavy equipment operator in the coal industry.

“It’s always an experience traveling with [Nathan],” Cal said.

“Every day with my son is rewarding. I learn a lot about wildlife — and new words,” he added with a chuckle.

Like everything Ahalt does, she took this day of volunteer work seriously. She was excited to observe the first raptor, chart the sighting on the map and get the bird on the spreadsheet. She was just as excited to see every bird through the day — a slow drive through the region that covered 91 miles in about seven hours. The only break taken was while passing through the Oregon Basin, a short lunch of gas station sandwiches on a plateau overlooking the Absaroka Range.

The crew saw dozens of rough-legged hawks and several goldens. The bulk of Nathan Horton’s job is coordinating the Draper’s long-term golden eagle research, now in its 10th year.

“Nathan [Horton] is a supreme eagle spotter,” Ahalt said.

The Center of the West is preparing a new exhibit named, “Monarchs of the Sky,” documenting the work of the museum’s golden eagle research team. The exhibition will open this coming June.

“We have a unique opportunity to bring stories from our field studies to the public. Nathan [Horton] has distinguished himself in golden eagle research,” said Charles Preston, senior curator of natural science and founding curator-in-charge of the Draper Natural History Museum and its Draper Museum Raptor Experience.

Horton works with the Ironside Bird Rescue often. When a bird in Ahalt’s care dies, Horton takes the carcass to the Draper’s lab and catalogues the species for their bird herbarium. The skins are laid flat for storage and occasionally an articulation of the creature’s skeleton is prepared for display. But Horton also is one of the few consistent volunteers for Ironside. He helps with building maintenance of the many bird shelters on the facility as well as assisting with care for species. He’s been at the natural history museum for six years after a four-year stint in the Marines.

While touring through the Elk and Oregon basins, the volunteers were in awe to see goldens soaring effortlessly in the strong wind. First, there was excitement as an eagle was spotted. Then there was a silence, all in awe of the beautiful and rare bird’s majesty.

By the end of the day, Ahalt’s crew had counted 30 rough-legged hawks and eight golden eagles. Most kept their distance. But a few put on a show, spreading their wings and cruising over the gorgeous landscape — the sagebrush seas in the flats and rock formations and buttes leading to the foothills of snow capped mountains.

Not even sloppy roads — at times making the four-wheeled behemoth into an out-of-control sled — could shake Ahalt. No matter the conditions, she was diligent in covering every single inch of Route 6 of the survey.

“This day is all about Susan,” Nathan Horton said. “We’re here to make it special for her.”

About 100 volunteers scoured the region on assigned routes. The Big Horn Basin Midwinter Eagle Survey has been running for more than three decades, part of a national effort. Wildlife professionals from the BLM, U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service coordinate local efforts across Wyoming for the program. All raptors are counted in the survey.

For 30 years, Ahalt has served northern Wyoming as one of only three wild bird rehabilitation facilities in the state.

Before she could begin her day off, Ahalt delivered a prairie falcon to a veterinary clinic for surgery, fed the birds, gave her corgis some love and took a couple calls. Her last call was hard on both ends.

“If you’re strong enough, take it out in a field and put it down yourself. If not, take it to your vet, ask him to do it and have him send me the bill,” she tells the last caller, who had found a mortally wounded bird. Ahalt was sweet and understanding, but also brutally honest. Over years of rehabilitating birds, she has learned not to mince words. There’s just too much to do in the day — all too often with heartbreaking results.

Ironside, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, helped about 200 birds in 2017. The monthly vet bill alone can run thousands of dollars. Much of the expenses are for surgery to repair broken bones, in hopes the birds can be released back to the wild. Ironside doesn’t receive financial support from state or federal agencies — surviving solely on donations. To find out more information or to make a donation, email thebirdlady@tctwest.net.

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