Website review
This review may include AI-generated content and is not individually verified. Domain, certificate and other facts come from the observed data on this page.
What is Hawks Aloft, Inc.?
Hawks Aloft, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, focused on conserving native wild birds and their habitats. Its work centers on four areas: avian research, raptor rescue, conservation education, and collaboration with other organizations. It was incorporated in 1994.
What that looks like in practice
- Avian research — field studies and monitoring of birds in New Mexico.
- Raptor rescue — responding to injured or distressed birds of prey.
- Conservation education — public programs and workshops, including photography workshops and wildlife-focused events.
- Cooperation — partnering with other groups to support wildlife and landscape conservation.
The organization also runs trips and events, such as wildlife travel programs and a wildlife conference, and offers memberships and a raffle supporting its work.
Who it is for
- New Mexico residents who want to support local wildlife conservation.
- Birders and photographers looking for workshops or field opportunities.
- People who find an injured raptor and need guidance.
- Travelers interested in guided wildlife trips tied to a conservation mission.
A practical next step
If you want to get involved, start with the "What We Do" areas and choose the one that matches your interest — volunteering or reporting a raptor rescue, joining a workshop, or becoming a member. If you are considering a trip or event, check the specific dates and registration details on Hawks Aloft, Inc. before planning around them.
How can I get help with an injured or orphaned bird of prey in New Mexico?
For an injured or orphaned bird of prey in New Mexico, contact Hawks Aloft, Inc., an Albuquerque-based nonprofit that operates raptor rescue alongside avian research and conservation education. It is a 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in 1994, so its rescue work sits within a broader wildlife-conservation mission rather than a stand-alone animal-control service.
What to do first
- Call before you handle the bird. A wildlife rehabilitator can tell you whether transport is appropriate and where to take it.
- Keep the bird in a quiet, dark, ventilated container — a cardboard box with air holes works — and do not offer food or water.
- Note the exact location where you found it; release or reunification depends on that information.
- Avoid bare-hand contact with talons, beak and wings. Use gloves and a towel, and keep children and pets away.
How Hawks Aloft fits in
The organization lists raptor rescue as one of its core activities, so it is a reasonable first call for hawks, owls, falcons and similar birds. If it cannot take the bird directly, expect a referral to a permitted rehabilitator or to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, which regulates wildlife in the state. Start at Hawks Aloft, Inc. for current contact details.
A practical scenario
A homeowner in Rio Rancho finds a stunned Cooper's Hawk under a window. The right sequence is: contain the bird, call Hawks Aloft or the state wildlife agency, describe the injury and location, then drive it to whichever facility is designated. Do not attempt home care — a bird that appears only stunned may have internal injuries or a fracture that needs a vet.
Decision criteria
- Immediate danger to people or pets: call local animal control first.
- Clearly injured raptor: wildlife rehabilitator or Hawks Aloft.
- Fledgling on the ground with adults nearby: usually leave it alone and observe from a distance.
- Unsure whether the bird is orphaned: call and describe what you see before intervening.
What volunteer opportunities are available with Hawks Aloft?
Hawks Aloft lists its work in four main areas—avian research, raptor rescue, conservation education, and cooperation with other organizations—and those are the natural places volunteers plug in. The site's own framing points to field research, bird handling and transport, education and outreach, and event support as the broad categories of help it needs.
H3 Likely ways to help
- Avian research: assisting with surveys, monitoring, nest checks, and data entry. Fieldwork in New Mexico often means early starts, heat, and long drives, so reliability matters more than prior experience.
- Raptor rescue: helping with intake, transport, and care of injured birds. This is the most schedule-sensitive option; it rewards people who can respond on short notice and follow handling protocols exactly.
- Conservation education: staffing tables, leading or assisting school and community programs, and representing the organization at festivals. Good for people who enjoy talking with the public and can commit to scheduled events.
- Events and fundraising: the site mentions an annual raffle quilt and conference-style gatherings, which typically need ticket sellers, setup help, and check-in volunteers.
- Travel and field trips: Hawks Aloft runs wildlife trips, including to the Pantanal in Brazil and Panama. Volunteers sometimes help with logistics, though these are usually paid programs rather than volunteer roles.
H3 How to choose If you want hands-on wildlife work, start with research or rescue. If you prefer flexible, people-facing work, education and events are the better fit. A useful first step is to contact Hawks Aloft directly and ask which roles are currently open, what training is provided, and what time commitment each expects—nonprofits' volunteer needs shift with the season and grant cycles. The organization is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, so most opportunities are local unless a project specifically involves travel.
For context on similar bird-focused volunteer programs, you can compare how other organizations structure their roles at American Bird Conservancy or National Audubon Society.
How can I become a member of Hawks Aloft?
You can join Hawks Aloft by using the "Become a Member" button on their homepage. The site has separate paths for new members and renewals, so choose the one that matches your situation.
Hawks Aloft is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, focused on conserving indigenous wild birds and their habitats through avian research, conservation education, raptor rescue, and cooperation with other organizations. Membership supports that mission directly.
H3 Practical next steps
- Go to Hawks Aloft, Inc. and select "Become a Member" (or "Renew Membership" if you are returning).
- If you have questions about levels, benefits, or the renewal process, use the site's contact options before paying.
- Check the events and news sections if you want to combine membership with activities such as the New Mexico Wildlife Conference or photography workshops.
H3 What membership supports Your dues help fund field research on wild birds, educational programs, and raptor rescue work in New Mexico. If you want your contribution to have a local conservation impact and you value birds of prey and habitat protection, this is a straightforward fit. If you are mainly looking for a guided trip, note that travel programs like the Pantanal and Panama trips are separate offerings, not membership benefits.
H3 Decision criterion Join if you want to support New Mexico bird conservation year-round. If you only want to attend a single event, check that event's own registration page first, since membership and event signup appear to be handled separately.
What educational programs does Hawks Aloft offer for schools or the public?
Hawks Aloft runs its education work as one of four core programs, alongside avian research, raptor rescue and cooperation with other organizations. For schools and the public, the practical entry points are live raptor programming, guided field trips, workshops and talks, and travel-based learning.
School and youth programs
- Classroom visits and assemblies built around live birds of prey, typically used by teachers to support life-science units on food webs, adaptations, migration and habitat.
- Field trips and outdoor learning tied to New Mexico habitats, where students see birds in context rather than only in a presentation.
- Age-appropriate content is the norm; a first-grade assembly and a high-school ecology class would not get the same script, so tell staff your grade level and curriculum goals when booking.
Public programs
- Talks, workshops and photography workshops open to individual adults and families. A 2026 photography workshop on birds of prey is a good example of the adult-oriented end.
- Conference-style events, including the inaugural New Mexico Wildlife Conference Workshop & Symposium scheduled for November 6–7, 2026 at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
- Travel programs with partner operators, such as the Pantanal wildlife trips, which combine tourism with guided interpretation.
How to choose
| If you are… | Best fit |
|---|---|
| A teacher planning a unit | Classroom visit plus a field trip |
| A family wanting a weekend activity | Public talk, workshop or community event |
| An adult hobbyist | Photography workshop, conference, or travel program |
| A group with limited budget | Ask about free or low-cost community programming |
Next step: contact Hawks Aloft through Hawks Aloft, Inc with your group size, ages and preferred dates, and ask which program fits. Note that the organization is based in Albuquerque, so most in-person school programming is concentrated in New Mexico; if you are outside the region, ask whether virtual or traveling programs are available.
What avian research projects does Hawks Aloft conduct in New Mexico?
Hawks Aloft, Inc. is a Albuquerque-based 501(c)3 nonprofit incorporated in 1994 that describes its work as conserving indigenous wild birds and their habitats through avian research, conservation education, raptor rescue, and cooperation with other organizations. The research program is one of four named "What We Do" areas on the site, alongside Raptor Rescue, Conservation Education, and Avian Research.
The public homepage evidence is broad rather than project-specific: it names Avian Research as a core program but does not list individual study titles, target species, or survey sites. So the honest answer to "which projects" is that the organization publicly frames avian research as a standing program area, and details of specific studies are not visible in the supplied page content.
What the site does show about its research-adjacent work
- Raptor rescue is listed separately from research, which matters if you are looking for rehab or a bird in distress — that is a different track than a study.
- Conservation education is another distinct area, including educator-led activities; the raffle quilt story mentions Liz Roberts as senior educator, suggesting education staff work alongside research and rescue.
- Field travel and wildlife observation appear through trip offerings, such as a Pantanal, Brazil itinerary in October 2025 with Holbrook Travel and a Panama "River of Raptors" trip listed for October 2027. These are travel programs, not necessarily research projects, but they indicate an active field-oriented organization.
- Events include a photography workshop on birds of prey and an inaugural New Mexico Wildlife Conference workshop and symposium at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
How to find the actual project list
If you need named studies — species monitored, banding stations, nest surveys, migration counts — the homepage excerpt is not enough. The practical next step is to look for a research or projects page on the organization's own site, or contact them directly and ask for a current project list and any published reports. That is also the fastest way to learn whether they accept volunteers or citizen-science helpers, which many bird conservation groups rely on for field work.
For context on the wider research landscape in the state, you can compare with other New Mexico organizations such as Audubon or Central New Mexico Audubon Society, and for national bird research and population data, USGS and Cornell Lab of Ornithology are useful references.
Decision criterion: if your interest is volunteering, ask about field schedules and training; if your interest is citing research, ask for peer-reviewed publications or annual reports rather than program descriptions.
User reviews (0)