Two handlers with hawks on their gloved hands speaking to a few adults in an outdoor classroom while additional TPF staff members speak to schoolchildren in the background.

Bill Saltzstein

Improving Collaboration Between Our Ambassador Raptor Care Teams

Global

Our team of avian ambassadors at our headquarters at the World Center for Birds of Prey (WCBP) in Boise has been around for nearly twenty years, but did you know that we have a second avian ambassador program? Since 2022, a Red-tailed Hawk named Amazona and a Ridgway's Hawk named Leo have been valuable members of our Dominican Republic (DR) team, helping educate the public about raptors, and more specifically, the threats faced by the Critically Endangered Ridgway's Hawk.

Over the last year, our WCBP and DR teams engaged in a two-part information exchange to increase collaboration and strengthen the two programs. “There was a mutual desire to share information,” says Curator of Birds Stephanie Ashley, who heads up our WCBP raptor care team. “We’re very proud of the program we’ve built in Boise, and our DR team shares our goal—to build a world-class ambassador program.”

The exchange began in August of 2024 when Project Coordinators Carlos Suárez and Gabriela Díaz traveled to Boise for our annual planning meetings (pictured below). While here, they built extra time into the trip to shadow our WCBP ambassador care team. The pair observed everything from facilities to training methods to education programs and more. “This was an incredible opportunity to meet with passionate and dedicated people,” says Carlos. “Having full access behind the scenes helped me understand how the WCBP staff manage their program and how to adapt protocols and procedures to maintain the highest standards.”

Members of the World Center for Birds of Prey and Dominican Republic ambassador care teams pose for a photo with ambassador Gyrfalcon Freyja and Verreaux's Eagle-owl Oliver.
courtesy of Carlos Suárez


 Then, in January 2025, Stephanie traveled to the DR to observe the team’s work and offer further guidance. At the same time, she reports that she also learned a great deal from the experience. “Getting to go down there helped me to better understand the Ridgway’s Hawk and the challenges our team faces, and therefore, be able to better educate folks about that program here at the WCBP,” she explains. “I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity.”

The trips are already paying dividends. “We now have an open line of communication between our team and the team in the DR, and we’re sharing stories and information almost every day,” says Stephanie. “The goal is that we can support each other, and so as they're running into challenges, we can be there to help, and vice versa. It benefits all of us, humans and birds.”