Meet the Winners of the 2026 Jerry Liguori Raptor Conservation and Education Scholarship

Luis holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences with a research focus on biogeography and evolution, through which he developed strong expertise in evolutionary analyses and modern biogeographic methods. Although his academic career began with spiders, over time he developed a deep appreciation for nocturnal raptors. This interest, along with his passion for science communication and community engagement, led him to begin researching the owls of Baja California.

For the past year, Luis has focused on Western Screech-Owls, learning more about the species’ evolutionary history, biogeography, and conservation in the region through field surveys, bioacoustic monitoring, and phylogenetic analyses of museum samples. Funding from the scholarship will allow Luis to enter the next phase: translating scientific knowledge into concrete conservation actions through a community-based outreach program. More specifically, funding will be put towards educational materials, workshops, and filming a documentary that they will share with community partners, schools, and wildlife sanctuaries.

Sean serves as the Executive Director and founder of the Wild Bird Research Group (WBRG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to avian research, conservation, and public engagement based in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond. Sean has extensive experience in bird monitoring, habitat management, conservation education, and wildlife photography. His work has included establishing and managing long-term bird banding stations, American Kestrel conservation programs, owl migration studies, and collaborative research projects with landowners, conservation organizations, and public agencies.

Jami is a biologist at Glacier National Park, coordinating many wildlife monitoring and community science efforts. This includes the park’s Hawk Watch, which Jami has coordinated since 2018.  

Glacier National Park boasts one of the most important Golden Eagle migration routes in North America, with up to 2,000 Golden Eagles counted at the Lake McDonald Lodge Hawk Watch site during September-October. It is also one of the most visited sites at the park, seeing three million visitors annually. Funding from the scholarship will support training for volunteers on monitoring procedures and educational interpretations for hundreds of visitors. Funds will also help to organize and publicize the Raptor Migration Open House during peak migration season.   

Alexandre has been the Director of the Tadoussac Bird Observatory since 2021, where he leads research aimed at improving our understanding of avian migratory behavior alongside a team of passionate ornithologists. In this role, he organizes the annual Côte-Nord Migratory Bird Festival, leads various birdwatching activities, and practices bird photography and recording. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Hawk Migration Association and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists.

The Tadoussac Bird Observatory monitors the fall raptor migration along the St. Lawrence River of both diurnal and nocturnal species. In addition to their long-term datasets on species composition, timing, abundance, and sex and age ratio, the observatory prioritizes training the next generation of biologists through their Young Ornithologist Workshop and during the Côte-Nord Migratory Bird Festival. The scholarship will support early-career ornithologists by creating standardized training materials to improve raptor identification skills and ensure consistency in monitoring protocols in French and English, enhance outreach materials for the general public, and develop school-based workshops.