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Spring Greetings from Roger

Greetings everyone,
A quick update from the 3 Creek Ranch Nature Center, and a friendly reminder that if you are here or passing through this spring, please stop by the Nature Center to say hello.  Better yet, given the mild winter this year the snow is quickly coming off the valley floor and the valley hiking and biking is very pleasant.  There are a number of wonderful shorter hikes available to us, and the bike riding in the park is always spectacular. The wildflowers are starting to come up earlier than expected, and the many songbirds are arriving back to the valley almost daily. I am also busy outdoors with stream surveys, so joining along is a great ‘hands-on’ way to learn more about the conservation work we continue to do on our creeks.
We have a new guest at the raptor center, a Merlin.  Merlins are members of the falcon family, and are bigger than a Kestrel, but smaller than a Prairie of Peregrine falcon.  I flew this female Merlin as a falconry bird this past fall and winter, and she is now she is settled in for the molt season.   Please stop by to see her and learn more about these amazing birds first hand.
I look forward to seeing you and hopefully sharing time outdoors in this beautiful valley.
My very best to you and your family,
Roger