If you’ve been on social media lately, you’ve likely seen the trend asking you to share your “violent jump from 2019 to 2024.” Although we wouldn’t use the word violent to describe the last five years, they’ve certainly been notable. From scientific firsts to the growth of our team—beyond the borders of the United States, even!—we’ve been able to do so much thanks to you. As we round out 2024, we wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the most exciting things you’ve made possible this year.
Welcomed the Tubac HawkWatch to the Migration Network
This spring, we partnered with the Tubac Nature Center to lead the spring migration count at the Tubac HawkWatch in Arizona. After creating the site 11 years ago and leading the count on his own, Peter Collins passed the torch our way. The Tubac HawkWatch has made a great addition to our network not only for its accessibility for visitors but also because of the scientific value of studying many of the poorly monitored species that fly through, such as the Common Black Hawk, Gray Hawk, and Zone-tailed Hawk.
Went Viral
We put a lot of effort into our social media game because we love being able to connect with you, the folks who make this work possible! Plus, it is the one place where we can have a bit more fun in the way we share science with you. This year, we had a few posts reach huge audiences, including, most notably, photos taken of our Golden Eagle Winter Feeding program, which were re-shared on the Nature is Metal account and picked up by Outdoor Life and Peta Pixel. Our One Rat Got Away fundraiser also made news, getting featured on Gizmodo. We’re thrilled that these moments helped spread the word about the importance of raptor conservation.
Created a New Community Science Opportunity
What are American Kestrels eating? You can now help us find out! We added a new volunteer opportunity where you can get involved in research from home. With your help, we’re reviewing footage captured with nest box cameras to see what parents are bringing into the nest to feed their families.
Hosted Two New York Times Best Selling Authors
Jennifer Ackerman joined us at our home base in Salt Lake City, UT, this summer to with us what she learned while writing her latest book, “What an Owl Knows,” featuring our research studying small forest owls. Scott Wiedensaul joined us in Arizona to give two lectures on bird migration in Tucson and Tubac, Arizona.
Put Out the First Transmitter on a Flores Hawk-eagle
In collaboration with Usep Supraman and the Raptors Conservation Society, Dr. Megan Murgatroyd placed the first transmitter on a Flores Hawk-Eagle this year. With only around 500 individuals left in the wild, it is critical that we learn more about their home ranges, habitat preferences, and behavior to determine how we can conserve this elusive species.
Tracked Multiple Generations of Golden Eagles
We’ve been following the journey of Golden Eagle “KD” through a transmitter since 2019; she even showed up on our trail cameras in Utah’s West Desert. This summer, she had her first nestling, “WH.” For the first time at HWI, we placed a transmitter on two generations of eagles! In doing so, we learned that WH sadly did not make it—a common fate for young raptors, particularly as habitats continue to shrink and degrade.
Celebrated 30 Years of Bonney Butte HawkWatch
To celebrate HWI operating the Bonney Butte HawkWatch since 1994, we traveled to Oregon to host a slew of activities. It was great to see former crew members and partners from over the years join us again for a day of hawkwatching at the site or a game of raptor trivia at Migration Brewing in Portland. Cheers to 30 more years!
Hazel Rocked On
It was hard to imagine what the Corpus Christi HawkWatch would look like without our longtime migration crew member and friend, Dane Ferrell, who died last year. But thanks to the generosity of people who knew and loved Dane, we were able to carry on his passion for education by introducing over 100 youth to the magic of raptor migration. Because of people like you, Hazel Rocked On this year, just as Dane would have wanted.
Developed New Technology to Study Eagles
In partnership with an eagle-eyed engineer, we’ve developed a new, non-invasive way to monitor eagles. After piloting and tweaking the model, we’ve created Passive Perch Scales that pair with a trail camera system to track eagle weight and behavior. We can’t wait to publish the schematics for wildlife researchers to replicate!
Welcomed a New Member to our Flock
Welcome Stax! This winter, we introduced a male Harris’s Hawk to our team of Raptor Ambassadors. He has done a great job transitioning into this new role and has already reached hundreds of folks with a message of raptor conservation.
This blog was written by Sammy Riccio, HWI’s Communications Manager. You can learn more about Sammy here.
These birds were handled for the purpose of scientific research under a federally authorized Bird Banding Permit issued by the U.S. Geological Survey and in accordance with all state permitting requirements.
