Jerry Liguori Raptor Conservation and Education Scholarship

There was almost nothing that Jerry Liguori loved more in life than raptors. From the moment he laid eyes on a group of Turkey Vultures soaring at eye-level at the young age of 16, he was hooked. He was mesmerized by their graceful, buoyant flight, and enamored by their size. The experience catapulted Jerry on a lifelong journey of studying raptors across North America.

That journey did not stop at contributing to scientific research and becoming an expert in his field. Jerry also used his skills in raptor identification and photography to educate the public. With hawks soaring above us each day, Jerry realized the power that raptors had to inspire. These magnificent birds were the perfect way to draw people into nature and conservation.

Jerry inspired tens of thousands of people together to conserve raptors and our shared environment during his career. As raptors around the globe face a growing number of threats, it is imperative that we continue his work. By introducing people to, educating them about, and supporting people in their own research on raptors, we aim to protect raptors in perpetuity, in honor of Jerry’s legacy.

Awarded each fall to celebrate the annual fall migration of raptors, the Jerry Liguori Scholarship will provide approximately $10,000 in funding in 2023, with average awards ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. The goal is to support raptor-centered efforts in the three areas Jerry was most passionate about: 

Identifying Raptors
Studying the nuanced shapes, behaviors, and features unique to different raptors is a life-long endeavor. Jerry was passionate about supporting those just beginning to learn raptor identification, as well as conducting novel research to learn more about the phylogeny of species.

Counting Migrating Raptors
Jerry knew that scanning the huge sky and using inflight identification skills to document migration was both fun and critical for science. That skill development—and the information it uncovers—is critical to the appreciation and conservation of raptors.

Educating People about Raptors
At any given point in time, there is a good chance that if you look up, you’ll see a raptor. Jerry knew that this accessibility meant that introducing people to raptors can open them to a whole new world where nature and conservation are witnessed and appreciated.