Raptors of the West, Captured in Photographs

Published: October 9, 2011

Bitterroot Valley raptor advocate and educator Kate Davis joined photographers Rob Palmer of Colorado and Nick Dunlop of California in compiling a stunning collection of photographs of birds of prey.

More than 400 images offer an amazing look at raptors in their natural habitats, from the Arctic tundra to the desert of the Southwest.

In a break from tradition, birds are arranged by breeding regions and habitats instead of the more common taxonomic order.

While the information is accessible and interesting, even to the most casual bird enthusiast, the photographs are riveting. From a snowy owl outstretched in attack mode, to an osprey nabbing a fish, to a bald eagle snatching a red-winged blackbird in mid-flight, Raptors of the West is full of breathtaking photos – images that most of us will never witness, and that attest to the enormous patience and skill of the photographers.

Davis notes in her introduction that “raptor” and “rapture” both stem from the Latin word “rapere,” which means to seize or carry away. And, she admits, the trio that created this book is “enraptured with raptors,” in much the same way she hopes readers will be.

Davis is the founder of the nonprofit Raptors of the Rockies rehabilitation center in Florence. She has also written Falcons of North America (with Palmer) and Raptors of the Rockies. This latest project was published by Mountain Press Publishing, Missoula, and sells for $30.

– Kristi Niemeyer