Meet the 2024 Crew: Goshute Mountains HawkWatch

Zach has worked with HawkWatch International as both an intern and a technician for the Cavity Adopting Raptor Ecology Studies (CARES) program and has served on the Goshute Mountain HawkWatch crew for the last three years. He is most excited about sharing the migration site with all of this season’s visitors. Outside of wildlife work, Zach enjoys all things boards and bikes. His favorite raptor is the Swainson’s Hawk.

Amanda is excited to be back for her second season of fall migration at the Goshute Mountains HawkWatch! She is looking forward to honing her ID skills and continuing to learn more about all the wonderful birds that migrate through the site. Amanda has a degree in Organismal Biology and Ecology from Colorado College and is originally from San Jose, Costa Rica. Before this migration season, Amanda spent six months working with the endangered Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk. Her favorite raptor to see during migration is the Northern Harrier since they are so unique and special. She is also an avid rock climber, hiker, and backpacker with a particular love of dogs.

Sebastian comes from Portland, Oregon and graduated from Santa Clara University with Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Science. He became interested in raptor research in college and spent two seasons studying Gyrfalcons, his favorite raptor, in western Alaska with The Peregrine Fund. Sebastian recently returned from Iceland after completing a research project centered on Icelandic Gyrfalcons and is excited to apply his skills in raptor handling and data collection to his first raptor migration season. He is most looking forward to meeting his fellow crewmembers and any other visitors looking to experience fall migration at the Goshute Mountains HawkWatch. In his free time, Sebastian enjoys hiking, birding, and listening to podcasts.

Minnesota born and raised, Kaia is a recent honors graduate from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities who received her degree in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology. She completed her thesis on a correlational analysis capturing trends in sparrow populations and also spent three years banding songbirds at Carpenter Nature Center. She spent the last three summers nest monitoring shorebirds, common eider, and other tundra nesting birds in the remote Alaskan Arctic. She is looking forward to banding raptors and playing the guitar. She enjoys cross-country skiing, biking, running, and just getting outdoors in general! Her favorite raptor is the Snowy Owl because she got to see owlets this past summer in the Arctic and they are the fluffiest, softest birds ever.

Natalie first fell in love with raptors after spending a few weeks visiting her dad, who was a 2023 crew member at the Goshute Mountains HawkWatch last fall. She is excited to officially be a part of the team and build on everything she learned last year during her extended visit. 

Natalie has a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Utah. She spent the last year ski patrolling at the Utah Olympic Park in Park City, Utah. After spending this summer watching a Red-tailed Hawk nest with two nestlings, they are currently her favorite raptors.