From a new hawkwatch to inspiring the next generation of conservationists, we couldn’t be more excited about our latest Jerry Liguori Raptor Conservation and Education Scholarship awardees! Our 2023 awardees exemplify Jerry’s passion for teaching others about raptors and their value and pursuing further knowledge on their migration. We were able to award $10,550 for these projects thanks to our supporters like you. We put out a call last month to meet a $25,000 match made by a generous donor, and you all came through! Thank you for allowing us to pass these funds on to create an even more significant impact on raptor conservation than we could do alone.
Sara Camnasio – Sonoma County Feminist Bird Club, California
Sara is one of four co-leads of the Sonoma County Feminist Bird Club, a friendly group of bird nerds committed to creating a safe and welcoming space for everyone, regardless of their identities, to learn about birds and their environments. Through the club, Sara brings her community of birders to areas they normally don’t have physical access to or feel welcome in. She fosters inclusivity by assuring events are free, beginner-friendly, and accessible to all. Funding from HawkWatch International will allow the club to provide additional outings and provide training sessions to club members. More specifically, we will provide funding for a raptor expert to lead hawkwatching trips and the time for the leaders to plan and organize the trips. We know how critical talented staff are to making programs like this successful—and how difficult fundraising for this can be—so we’re thrilled to support Sara and the Club in this way.
Jordan Jarman – Murray School District, Utah
HawkWatch International first met Jordan when she expressed building a partnership with us to further her student’s learning. We piloted a curriculum with her at East Hollywood High in West Valley, UT, where her 9th-grade biology class learned about raptors and their impact on the ecosystem in the classroom, reinforced by hands-on science monitoring a nest box and analyzing video captured in nest boxes of prey deliveries. We are supporting Jordan in growing this work by developing an in-depth curriculum on raptors to get her students excited about science and learning more about their local environment. We will fund Jordan’s time developing this program and providing more nest boxes for cavity-nesting raptors that her students can monitor.
Alfredo Beltrán Santos, Mexico
Alfredo’s love of birds began in a place near and dear to our heart—the Veracruz River of Raptors. He started training as a raptor counter at 15 and has since served 12 fall seasons at the site. For the past four years, Alfredo has monitored the raptor migration in Colombia, but he is now returning to his roots in Mexico. HawkWatch International is excited to support his work scouting a site in eastern Mexico to monitor the spring raptor migration. Funds will contribute to site exploration, counter training, and providing gear for the count.
If you want to help us continue supporting more projects like these, you can make your gift to the scholarship fund.
This blog was written by Sammy Riccio, HWI’s Donor Engagement Coordinator. You can learn more about Sammy here.
Photo Credit from top to bottom:Â Feminist Bird Club photo by Jeffer Giang
