HAYDEN — For once, Janie Veltkamp set down the magnificent educational birds and permitted herself to be celebrated.

"It's a rare thing — we don't usually brag about our volunteer work, but it's important that people understand that volunteering can still change the world today. Volunteering changed my life," said Veltkamp, who is the founding director of the Birds of Prey Northwest nonprofit. "We like to remind the kids that volunteering isn't about working for no money. It can change your life sometimes to volunteer."

Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lt. George Farragut Chapter honored Veltkamp following a Birds of Prey presentation Friday morning at the Hayden Eagles, where a golden eagle named Dakota was among a few of the honored feathered guests.

Regent Michelle Fansler presented Veltkamp with a DAR Community Service Award to recognize the 35 years she has devoted to rescuing the region's wild raptors and tirelessly working to educate the community about the importance of their preservation.

"Our community service award committee gets to give two awards per year to someone in the community that has been doing excellent volunteer work," Fansler said.

Janie beamed a brilliant smile at her husband, Don Veltkamp, as she showed off the framed award.

"I'm proud of this girl," he said to the group.

Along with Dakota, the Veltkamps brought a northern saw-whet owl named Sawyer, a red-tailed hawk named Rusty, a great-horned owl named Tigger and a vocal peregrine falcon named Luna to the presentation to share their stories with DAR.

Janie, who has a four-year nursing degree, wasn't always on a trajectory to become a raptor biologist. She discovered her passion for birds of prey when she was in medical school on her way to becoming a doctor.

"After 10 years in college I took a summer off, in 1990, and I volunteered on a peregrine falcon reintroduction project," she said.

"I didn't even know what a falcon was at that time," she continued. "They handed me one of these sexy endangered falcons and I held that peregrine falcon and it spun its head around and looked up at me and I had an epiphany. I said, 'My gosh, if we could wipe you off the face of the earth with our careless habits or we could restore you to your full glory, sorry Mom, I'm not a doctor today.' I changed my major the next month to biology, I have a master's degree from Purdue and the rest is history."

The DAR ladies also recognized Bardenay Restaurant and Distillery for its fundraising partnership and positive relationship with the patriotic nonprofit. The DAR Lt. George Farragut Chapter has held fundraisers at Bardenay for the past six years during which a portion of food sales go to the organization, averaging about $1,500 in one night that supports the community service projects DAR conducts throughout Kootenai County.

The ladies will hold another fundraising day at the Coeur d'Alene restaurant in November 2025.

"It makes me proud of the company I work for," Bardenay assistant general manager Korrin Ator-Hudson said after accepting the award. "It feels good to be part of the community. To see what these ladies are doing as well, firsthand, is an awesome experience."

Birds of Prey Northwest’s mission is to educate the public about birds of prey through on-site and virtual live raptor presentations and other outreach. The nonprofit provides medical treatment to injured, sick and orphaned wild raptors with the goal of returning them to the wild.

Call Birds of Prey at 208-245-1367 if a sick or injured bird is found.

Info: birdsofpreynorthwest.org

    Janie Veltkamp and golden eagle Dakota make an appearance Friday at the Hayden Eagles during a Daughters of the American Revolution meeting.
  

    Daughters of the American Revolution Lt. George Farragut Chapter Regent Michelle Fansler shakes Bardenay assistant general manager Korrin Ator-Hudson's hand Friday after presenting her with a community service award in recognition of Bardenay's longstanding partnership with the nonprofit.
  

    Great-horned owl Tigger turns his mighty head toward the camera at the sound of the shutter Friday as he sits atop Janie Veltkamp's arm.