PRESIDENT-ELECT

Ruth Tingay

Ruth is seeking re-election for a second term as RRF President. A British-based researcher, Ruth has studied raptors on six continents over the last 17 years and is currently involved with projects in Scotland, Cambodia, Mongolia and the Solomon Islands. She doesn't have an undergraduate degree but received her MSc (2000) and PhD (2005) from the University of Nottingham (UK) for her research on the Madagascar fish eagle. She has strong connections with many US-based colleagues and has benefited enormously from the early career training & support she received from two leading US raptor research institutions (The Peregrine Fund & Hawk Mountain Sanctuary), with whom she continues to collaborate and whose philosophy of science-based conservation continues to influence her outlook. She has authored and co-authored a series of papers and has recently co-edited her first book. She is an active member of the Scottish Raptor Study Group, and a regular participant with the African Raptor Network and the Asian Raptor Research & Conservation Network. She also serves on the review board of the European Science Foundation. Ruth has been a member of RRF for 14 years. During that time she has regularly attended RRF annual conferences, was Chair of the Eurasian Committee for four years (2005-2009), has served two terms as an international Director (2004-2006; 2007-2009), was Chair of the 2009 Scotland conference organizing committee, and is currently serving as RRF President (2009-2011). If elected for a second term, Ruth's main objective would be to build on the momentum created by the current Board of Directors to widen RRF's international perspective, and to find ways of helping RRF to be as relevant to international raptor researchers as it is to our core US-based membership.

VICE PRESIDENT

Ted Swem

Ted Swem is the endangered species branch chief for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in Fairbanks, Alaska. In this position, he oversees the Service's efforts to manage threatened and endangered species throughout northern Alaska. He has been involved in a number of raptor management issues for the FWS, including delisting arctic peregrine falcons, evaluating the effects of timber management on Queen Charlotte goshawks, and implementing harvest of peregrine falcons for falconry. He began working with raptors in Virginia in 1970, and since 1981 has monitored populations of peregrines, gyrfalcons, and rough-legged hawks on the Colville River in arctic Alaska, documenting trends in abundance, productivity, and contaminant exposure. In his spare time, he studies hawk migration and the breeding biology of boreal and saw-whet owls, and serves on the board of directors of the Alaska Bird Observatory. Ted has a B.S. in Zoology from Colorado State University and a M.S. in Raptor Biology from Boise State University. He has been a member of RRF since 1985, has served as a North American Director, and is currently serving as Vice-President of RRF and as Chair of the Membership Committee. He also has worked with the conservation committee and the finance committee.

DIRECTOR, NORTH AMERICA #1

Jessi Brown

I first became interested in wildlife biology while earning my B.A. in Zoology at Ohio Wesleyan University. Encouraged by my mentor Dr. Edward H. Burtt, I turned from a planned career as a veterinarian and instead focused on the biology and conservation of wild birds. Before I entered graduate school, I joined the U. S. Peace Corps and served in Tanzania as a Community Based Natural Resources Management specialist. Having become fluent in Kiswahili and accustomed to African village life, I then volunteered for several months with The Peregrine Fund's Lammergeier reintroduction project in Kenya. When I returned to the U.S., after a few odd field jobs I worked for The Peregrine Fund as a field biologist with the project to reintroduce the Aplomado falcon to southern Texas. I also helped with the California condor reintroduction project in Arizona when the falcon field season was finished. My work with Aplomado falcons morphed into my thesis project for my M.S. at the University of Nevada, Reno, in Mike Collopy's Raptor Ecology Lab. I continued to work with Dr. Collopy on a Ph.D. project on the ecology of the Southeastern American Kestrel in Florida, which I hope to complete in May 2011. Although a relative newcomer to the RRF, I feel that my experiences in conservation and research projects in East Africa and the U.S., as well as my current status as an early career raptor researcher, will provide a unique and valuable perspective on the Board of Directors.

Greg George

Greg George is an assistant professor of Biology at Delaware Valley College (DVC) in eastern Pennsylvania. At DVC Greg teaches ornithology, ecology, and tropical ecology (an experiential course including field time in Costa Rica). He has spent the majority of the last five years studying the foraging ecology of Cerulean Warblers and the influence of silviculture operations on their population demographics at West Virginia University (WVU) while completing his Ph.D. in wildlife management. His interest in raptors culminates from 16 years of volunteering with the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary research department. His work with raptor migration at Hawk Mountain afforded him the opportunity to assist research crews quantifying raptor migration in the Florida Keys (1997) and Veracruz, Mexico (2000). Prior to his time at WVU, Greg was a raptor bander along the Kittatinny Ridge, north of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. His research experience is not restricted to raptors. Greg has worked on various projects associated with the conservation of Neotropical migrants including Ovenbirds, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Cerulean Warblers. Continuing his work on Louisiana Waterthrush, Greg expanded on his international researcher experience while investigating niche partitioning among a guild of obligate riparian songbirds in Costa Rica (2003 - 2004) for his thesis. He has been a member of the RRF since his undergraduate years and currently holds a master bird banding permit since 2006. Greg has a particular interest in the next generation of biologists. Understanding the importance of mentoring young biologists, as a graduate student Greg made a concerted effort to bring first year field technicians onto his research crews. He uses the same approach with his undergraduate students at DVC by providing them with the skills needed to land entry- level technician spots in avian conservation. As a director, Greg would like to work with raptor biologists entering the field and believes he would have influence in this area. Finally, his international experience combined with diverse research interests would serve the RRF well.

John Smallwood

John Smallwood has been studying raptors for more than 30 years. Most of this research has focused on the behavior and ecology of American Kestrels, and he currently is investigating the decline of this species in North America. His research has been presented in 34 published papers and book chapters, including the Birds of North America kestrel account, and 37 presentations at national and international meetings. John earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from Ohio State in 1987, and since 1994 he has been on the biology faculty at Montclair State University, where he teaches courses in ornithology, ecology, and conservation biology. John has mentored over 100 undergraduate and graduate students. John has been an active member of RRF since 1981, attending 20 meetings, presenting 19 papers, and frequently serving on the student presentation and travel awards committees. He also served on the publications committee, and chaired the search committee for the editor of the Journal of Raptor Research. He has reviewed dozens of manuscripts for the journal, and recently served as an associate editor. John currently serves on the website committee. RRF is the leading organization for the scientific study of raptors, and as a board member, John would like to help RRF use this position to affect real-life conservation issues.

DIRECTOR, SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

Raylene Cooke

Raylene Cooke is a senior lecturer in Wildlife and Conservation Biology at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. Raylene completed her PhD in 2001 with her thesis investigating the ecology of Powerful Owls in a continuum of habitats ranging from urban Melbourne, through the urban fringe to forests. Since the completion of her PhD Raylene has continued to undertake research on Australian raptors, with a specific interest in owls in urbanized environments. Raylene's main research focus is on examining how owls are coping with the pressures of increased urbanization and the subsequent increases in habitat loss and fragmentation. Raylene heads the Raptor Research Group at Deakin University and supervises a number of PhD and Honours students who are undertaking research on raptors. These PhD students are primarily undertaking ecological research (diet, habitat use, breeding, home-range size etc) but are also using innovative technologies such as genetic analysis, GPS tracking, geospatial modelling and palaeoecological studies to further increase our understanding of Australian raptors. Raylene is a current member of the RRF and will bring a solid knowledge of Australian raptors to the RRF board. Raylene has strong connections to the Australian raptor community and has affiliations with raptor researchers throughout south-east Asia. Raylene also has a very strong passion for the conservation and management of raptors and is very keen to see Australian raptor researchers develop strong partnerships with raptor researchers in the RRF.

Munir Virani

Munir Virani was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya. As a teenager, cricket took up most of his time. He was fortunate to play for one of the top cricketing clubs in Kenya for which the rewards for winning a tournament were usually a couple of nights in Kenya's elite game reserves and national parks. He utilized these visits to nurture and cultivate his interest in wildlife. He continued to play cricket with a great deal of passion, and with tours and competitions, Munir just managed to secure a place at Moi University for a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Management. This was short-lived as he missed his cricket and decided to transfer to Nairobi University where he could study and play cricket at the same time. However, in 1990 when he was selected for the Kenya Cricket Team to represent Kenya in the ICC World Cup in Holland, he knew he had to make a decision and ultimately chose studies over cricket. He always maintains that this was the best decision he ever made. He graduated with First Class Honors in Zoology and was selected by The Peregrine Fund to train as a raptor biologist under the legendary Simon Thomsett. Munir registered at the University of Leicester (U.K.) and did his Master's degree on the endangered Sokoke Scops Owl. He successfully completed his Ph.D research on Augur Buzzards at Lake Naivasha where he also studied African Fish Eagles. In 2000, Munir was sent to South Asia by The Peregrine Fund to evaluate the magnitude of declines of populations of Gyps vultures in the region. He set up a team of biologists and technical staff in India, Nepal and Pakistan and established a successful field and diagnostic research project that helped to identify the pharmaceutical drug Diclofenac as the cause of the catastrophic crash of vulture populations there. Munir is currently The Peregrine Fund's Program Director for Africa, and also conducts research in India on Gyps vultures. He currently lives in Nairobi with his wife and two sons. His interests are cricket, squash, singing, raptor watching and photography.

DIRECTOR AT LARGE, #1 and #4

Jim Bednarz

Jim Bednarz received his undergraduate degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology from New Mexico State University. He completed a M.S. degree in Animal Ecology at Iowa State University and his Ph.D. degree in Biology at the University of New Mexico. Jim has conducted research on six continents for three decades emphasizing avian population ecology and conservation. Most of this work has been focused on birds of prey and Neotropical migratory songbirds. Specifically, Jim has spent 8 years studying the ecology of the Galapagos Hawk, and recently has been involved in ecology and conservation research on Swallow-tailed Kites, Mississippi Kites, Red-shouldered Hawks, and Common Ravens. Jim has published over 130 scholarly works including peer-reviewed journal articles, monographs, book reviews, book chapters, conference proceedings, one technical book, and was the Editor of the Journal of Raptor Research for 5 years. He has served three previous terms on the Raptor Research Foundation, Inc. (RRF) Board, has attended every annual RRF meeting since 1993, and is the current Scientific Program Chair. Jim typically advises between 6 and 10 graduate students as a Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Arkansas State University. As a RRF Director, Jim would like to work toward increasing RRF's focus on conservation, continuing to improve the quality of the Journal of Raptor Research, and insuring the long-term stability and growth of RRF globally. Also, Jim will serve as a strong advocate and supporter for the involvement of students and young raptor biologists in the RRF.

Carol McIntyre

Carol McIntyre is seeking re-election for Director At-Large with the Raptor Research Foundation (RRF). Carol wants to continue working with the RRF board and membership to strengthen RRF's efforts at conserving raptors and their habitats by securing new and innovative funding mechanisms to ensure the financial stability of RRF, increasing and diversifying RRF's membership, increasing participation of students and early career scientists in all aspects of RRF, supporting the use of objective and peer-reviewed science for addressing conservation and management issues, and using science-based education to increase public awareness of raptors and their conservation issues. Carol is a sustaining member of RRF, actively participates in RRF's annual meetings, was a member of the local organizing committee for the 2003 RRF meeting in Alaska, and served as chair of the RRF nominations committee in 2008 and 2009. Carol's interest in raptors began along the Kittatinny Ridge in Pennsylvania during her undergraduate studies at East Stroudsburg University. Since 1985, she has studied the ecology of raptors including Golden Eagles and Gyrfalcons in Alaska. Carol has authored and co-authored many peer-reviewed articles on Alaska raptors and co-authored the Birds of North America Golden Eagle species account. Carol received her M.S. in Wildlife Management from University of Alaska-Fairbanks and her Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University. Carol currently serves on the board of the Alaska Bird Observatory, as chair of the Alaska Raptor Group steering committee (a subcommittee of Boreal Partners in Flight), and as associate editor for the Journal of Raptor Research.

Jemima Parry-Jones

I have worked with raptors for all of my life, and been a member of RRF for longer than I care to remember, regularly attending (and presenting at) the annual RRF conferences. I am the Director of the International Centre for Birds of Prey (ICBP) in Gloucestershire, England. ICBP leads the world in the number of raptor species bred in captivity and we share that knowledge worldwide, to assist in any good, viable conservation breeding programmes that need our help. I am currently one of the leaders on the captive breeding initiative to save the three species of Gyps vultures in India and Nepal, and have co-authored several papers on the vulture crisis in the Indian subcontinent. I have lectured and taught on university courses and teach on a daily basis to the visitors that come to ICBP throughout the year. In addition, I have run specialist training courses for police wildlife crime officers, CITES teams and RSPB investigations staff, as well as basic and advanced courses for falconers. I have written the husbandry guidelines for raptors in captivity, and these are used in many good zoos around the world. I have also published several books on falconry and captive breeding. I feel that RRF is, without doubt, the best and only serious membership group in the raptor field. I have previously served four terms as an RRF Director and would be delighted to get involved again.

Marc Ruddock

Marc was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and grew up in South Africa from where he obtained his primary interest in raptors, through involvement in ornithology, falconry and many years spent "raptoring" on family holidays and was always encouraged by his parents. He moved to Northern Ireland and completed his undergraduate and PhD studies at Queen's University, Belfast. His PhD research focused on ecology of the peregrine falcon and assessment of the impacts of predation on racing pigeons. Since then he has worked for Natural Research Ltd, Queen's University and the Golden Eagle Trust Ltd, mainly on hen harriers and peregrines. He has worked for governmental, private and NGO clients as a field ecologist gathering primary data at upland wind farm sites, monitoring numerous raptor species, but also has worked on Irish hares, seals, seabirds and porpoises and been involved with radio tracking ferrets and on several desk studies including assessment of disturbance to priority bird species and analyses of peregrine populations. Currently Marc works for the Golden Eagle Trust Ltd coordinating and participating in the National Hen Harrier Survey for the Republic of Ireland and is involved in delivering training workshops for raptor fieldworkers. He is a volunteer, and secretary, for the Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group where he is responsible for funding, research and management of raptor group volunteers. Throughout his raptor research and fieldwork he gathers great pleasure and knowledge from the project teams and the volunteers involved in raptor conservation and research, and he believes that inclusivity is essential to raptor work. Marc will bring a huge level of enthusiasm and commitment if elected to serve as a RRF director. In particular he hopes he can expand the role, presence and membership of the organization throughout Ireland.

Miguel Saggese

Miguel Saggese has been interested in birds of prey since 1984, when he joined the Argentine Wildlife Foundation's Raptor Group. He later co-founded the Argentine Working Group on Raptors at Aves Argentinas, the oldest ornithological association in South America. Miguel received a veterinary degree from the University of Buenos Aires, completed a three year residency and a Master's degree at The Raptor Center - University of Minnesota, and a Ph.D on avian infectious diseases at the Schubot Center, Texas A&M University. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor in avian/wildlife diseases and microbiology at the Western University of Health Sciences. In 1987-1988 he spent several months in the Patagonian steppes studying the breeding and feeding ecology of several raptors, the first study of this kind ever made on Argentine birds of prey. He also has studied the migration patterns of Osprey in Argentina and Uruguay and the nesting of Harpy eagles in Northeastern Argentina. Since 1995, he has been involved in several biomedical studies of birds of prey, like investigating the impact of West Nile virus on Neotropical raptors, monitoring the health status of the endangered Solitary Crowned Eagles and Patagonian peregrine falcons, and studying the prevalence of lead exposure in scavenging species. Overall, Miguel's main current research interests are breeding ecology, migration, conservation, education, medicine and the role of environmental pollutants and diseases on the dynamics of wild raptor populations. In 2001 he created Fororapaces, a raptor discussion email group that now includes more than 200 members, with the goal of promoting communication and collaboration between raptors researchers in Latin America. In recent years he has given several lectures, courses and workshops and trained biologists, veterinarians and students on biomedical sampling and management of birds of prey in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, USA, Peru and Spain. Since becoming an RRF Director three years ago, Miguel has continued these educational efforts and has promoted the inclusion of more Latin American raptor biologists, veterinarians and conservationists in the Raptor Research Foundation. He has achieved this by undertaking a recruitment survey amongst Latin American researchers (to understand why they were not already RRF members) and, since 2009, has co-ordinated the translation of Wingspan into Spanish. He is also currently co-leading the effort to overhaul the RRF website, which includes the preparation of a Spanish version, and he is co-leading (with Miguel Ferrer) the effort to translate the 2007 Raptor Techniques manual into Spanish. If re-elected, Miguel will continue working to promote the education of raptor researchers and students worldwide, increase the number of members from the southern hemisphere and other under-represented countries, promote networking and research collaboration between well established researchers and institutions with those needing mentorship, and enhancing the exposure of the RRF and its mission among the general public as well.

Sean Walls

For many years I have admired the RRF as a powerful combination of a passion for raptors and science, together with an appreciation of the other point of view; all essential for successful conservation. My fascination with nature led to a degree in Zoology from the University of Oxford in 1988. Since then I have been with Biotrack, involved in radio-tracking studies and supplying tracking systems used in raptor studies around the world. In 1990 I was fortunate enough to set up a project under the guidance of Robert Kenward to study the common buzzard where we are based in Dorset, UK. It lasted for 15 years, resulting in publications, a PhD from Reading University, and a buzzard I'm still flying to this day. I have been a member of RRF since 1994 attending almost all Eurasian RRF meetings since Canterbury (1993), together with several American meetings. Recently I have accepted an Associate Editor post for Journal of Raptor Research. With my 20 years experience in both research and business I would like to promote the philosophy of raptorphilia, science and understanding further into Eurasia to increase the global profile of RRF.