45 Years of Counting Migrating Raptors in the West: What Have We Learned?

Founder of HawkWatch International, Steve Hoffman will chronicle efforts to develop an expansive raptor migration monitoring network in the western U.S. over the past 45 years. These studies have yielded important scientific information about the health and population trends of more than a dozen raptor species that migrate through western North America. Enroute from northern breeding grounds (many originate in Alaska and northern Canada) to spend the non-breeding period in more southern climes (as far as south as Argentina!), these apex aerial predators serve as valuable indicators of largescale ecosystem health and change. Steve will summarize key findings from these monitoring efforts, emphasizing the potential value of these long-term data sets for evaluating future climate change impacts on not only our majestic raptors, but also on overall ecosystem health and biodiversity.

Transportation: Self Drive

Meal: Cocktails (21+ only) and appetizers provided

Cost: $60

Speaker: Steve Hoffman Conservationist, Founder, HawkWatch International

Steve has devoted his entire 45-year career to wildlife conservation. After 10 years of government service (primarily as an Endangered Species Biologist for the US Fish & Wildlife Service in the American Southwest), in 1986 Steve founded HawkWatch International. He has authored more than 50 publications/manuscripts on raptor migration, ecology and conservation, and endangered species management. Steve continues to coordinate the local Bridger Raptor Migration Project (through Bozeman-based Sacajawea Audubon Society), and also runs his own nature-based tour company, Merlin Birding & Nature Tours, LLC (headquartered in Bozeman). Steve has given dozens of public presentations on the identification, natural history, migration and conservation of North American raptors. He received his Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology from Utah State University (1979).

Part of the Verde Valley Birding and Nature Festival