'Eagle cam' advocate dies helping with Mpls. tornado cleanup

MINNEAPOLIS -- A man using a chainsaw to help clear a tree from a blocked roadway collapsed and died, his family said Monday, the second confirmed death related to a tornado that tore through Minneapolis over the weekend, injuring dozens of people and destroying hundreds of homes.

Family and friends of Rob MacIntyre said the 53-year-old collapsed about 6 p.m. Sunday, not long after helping clear the tree that was toppled by the tornado.

MacIntyre was president of the Iowa-based Raptor Resource Project, the organization behind an "Eagle Cam" in Decorah that has attracted worldwide attention over the Internet. The group issued a statement mourning his death.

"I have some bad news. Rob MacIntyre has passed away," wrote webmaster Amy Ries. "Rob was the President of the Raptor Resource Project. He was very involved in our work, rappelled with us, and established a new falcon nest last year at Riverview Towers. Rob gave me (Amy) rappel lessons at his home in North Minneapolis, using a large tree in his yard. He was a great guy, always very enthusiastic and encouraging, and he sure loved to rappel. He caught Amy when we were banding at Greysolon in 2006 and named her "Amy" (she was an unbanded adult falcon). We have many great memories of Rob and are shocked and saddened by his passing."

The RRP's Facebook page is stacked with tributes to MacIntyre and the impact he made with his life. LINK