Couple aims to educate about birds of prey

Anne Schnell and her husband Paul Schnell moved to Noxon in 2021 to continue their mission to educate people about birds of prey and the importance of securing their habitat. Anne began her journey with raptors while a professor of Environmental Conservation and Horticulture at Finger Lakes community college in New York state. She said she was doing research on songbirds when a student, who was volunteering with hawks, invited her to join them. From then on she was captivated.

Schnell has led education programs with raptors for many years and is a general falconer. She also has more than a decade of experience in capturing and banding wild raptors and decades of experience studying and working with raptors. Schnell currently works with and lodges ten raptors: Leopold, a Bald Eagle; Ellis, a Golden Eagle; Alaric, a Martial Eagle; Hilda, an African Hawk Eagle; Goliath and Andromeda, Eagle Owls; Coda, Odin and Maylin, Harris's Hawks; Marlee, a Barn Owl; Defiant, a Peregrine Falcon; and Charlie an American Kestrel.

The birds she has had longest are the Haresse's Hawks. They are the most popular birds because of how well they bond with people and because they can talk up a storm. They are also quick to train, learning to land on your hand in two weeks, particularly as a juvenile bird, Schnell explains. Maylin, who just turned one, lives with her parents. Her name means to survive, because she got very sick when she was a baby.

Enthusiasts can schedule an appointment at montanaseagleexperience.com to experience the birds at her home. Her programs consist of a one-on-one experience with the raptors. "Having a very personal experience is something people will carry with them," Schnell explained.

Schnell has also traveled with some of the birds locally to educate students and community members in a classroom setting. She explains to people how to build habitat and how to make nesting boxes; benefits, such as a screech owl for keeping down mice; falconry; and relating bird families to our families. "It's a lot of work but a labor of love," said Schnell.

She said that the number one problem for raptors is a loss of habitat. American Kestrels are in decline everywhere and according to Schnells, out of 70 species of birds of prey, half will be extinct in the wild in our lifetime. She explained that birds of prey are an indicator of environmental health as a whole.

"People are very fascinated about birds of prey and their role in nature. My goal is to give them a meaningful experience that will leave an impact on their life," said Schnell. When asked about the highlights of her career, Schnell shared that when she has had someone in the audience who is afraid of birds, feeling the joy of having a raptor land on them is a highlight. "I've seen people cry with tears of joy."

For more information, visit http://www.montanaseagle

experience.com.