Meet the 2022 Spring Conservation Trainees
Posted on April 26, 2022 in General
It’s time to meet the spring 2022 class of Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Conservation Trainees! You might see them out on the lookouts or hosting programs throughout the count season, waiting to answer your questions and share information about our ongoing raptor research. Please join us in welcoming this diverse international class of trainees!
Matthew Bowers
Kenhorst, Pennsylvania, USA
“My name is Matt Bowers, and I am from the Reading, Pennsylvania area. Last summer I worked for Hawk Mountain as an American kestrel research technician in Central Pennsylvania, and I am looking forward to continuing at Hawk Mountain as a spring trainee! This traineeship is a great opportunity for me to gain additional fieldwork, education, and outreach skills before pursuing graduate school. Assisting with the spring migration count, interacting with the public, and working alongside my fellow local and international trainees will be such a rewarding experience.”
Matt is a Conservation Science Trainee who is assisting with American kestrel research in addition to regular duties at the Lookouts.
Catherine Boyle
Mohrsville, Pennsylvania, USA
“My name’s Catherine Boyle. I’m a local trainee from Mohrsville, PA. This spring, I am doing a hybrid traineeship in both conservation science and education. During my time here, I look forward to learning how to handle raptors, gaining experience with fieldwork, and building my skills in public education.”
Catherine Boyle is a returning Conservation Trainee who will be working with both the Science and Education departments, counting at the Lookouts, hosting educational programs, and assisting with broad-winged hawk research.
Diego Gallego García
Bilbao, Spain
“My name is Diego Gallego, and I am a biologist from Bilbao, Northern Spain. Nowadays, I am working on my PhD in biology, studying the movement ecology of the endangered Chaco eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) in central Argentina. For me, this traineeship at HMS is an excellent opportunity to learn how to connect science with conservation and education. Moreover, I plan to build expertise in my research skills, from fieldwork activities to statistical analyses. Finally, I hope to meet very interesting people and discover new projects related to wildlife conservation.”
Diego is a Conservation Science Trainee who is assisting with broad-winged hawk research in addition to regular duties at the Lookouts.
Jeanine Pamela Carvajal Masis
San José, Costa Rica
“My name is Pamela Carvajal, I'm from Costa Rica, and I have a bachelor’s degree in tropical biology. I was part of the team of counters during fall 2021 at Kekoldi Hawkwatch and that experience brought me to HMS as an education trainee. My main goal is to start an environmental education program at Kekoldi Hawkwatch, so that the counting site can be not only a nature conservation site, but also an opportunity for the community.”
Pamela is an Education Trainee who will be assisting with hosting educational programs for both public and private events at the Sanctuary.
Julia Runkle
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
“My name is Julia Runkle, and I am from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I recently graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a major in environmental studies and a minor in biology. I am passionate about wildlife conservation and hope to gain more experience in the field through this traineeship. In the future, I plan on continuing my studies in graduate school in the field of wildlife conservation.”
Julia is a Conservation Science Trainee who will be assisting with broad-winged hawk research in addition to regular duties at the Lookouts.
Tamara Russo
Argentina
“I’m Tamara Russo, I was born in Argentina and nowadays, I live in México. I studied art history at Buenos Aires University where I learned different skills to teach about the environment. While traveling through Latin America, the wildlife, birds especially, captured my heart and for 7 years I have been working to understand and teach about the challenges we are having now, as a society, with our ecosystem and biodiversity. In 2019, I worked at Veracruz River of Raptors on a project studying raptor migration in Mexico. This experience brought me to HMS, where I want to learn new abilities to protect migratory birds of prey through education, social media, birding, and by sharing experiences and knowledge with the other trainees and teachers from different cultures.”
Tamara is an Education Trainee who will be assisting with hosting educational programs for both public and private events at the Sanctuary.
Paula Orozco Valor
La Pampa, Argentina
“I am Paula M. Orozco Valor, I am from Argentina. I am a biologist and during my time at university, I started to collaborate in conservation projects with birds and ever since, my passion for this group has never stopped growing. Nowadays, I try to be involved in different projects, but my main research is based on the amazing American kestrel, or as we call it in Argentina, 'Halconcito Colorado.' Becoming an early researcher represents a challenge for me and I hope that this traineeship helps me to achieve my professional and personal objectives.”
Paula is a Conservation Science Trainee who is assisting with American kestrel research in addition to regular duties at the Lookouts.
Marzia Verduci
Villa San Giovanni, Italy
“My name is Marzia Verduci, and I come from Italy. I am a naturalist. My education is related to the conservation of biodiversity. I am very fond of any aspects of nature and its ecosystems. During my studies, I’ve developed an interest in birds, especially birds of prey. I’ve been involved in many projects related to raptor migration around the south of Italy. I hope that the traineeship at Hawk Mountain could help me to achieve my goal of becoming a nature researcher and to get more knowledge about conservation issues.”
Marzia is a Conservation Science Trainee who will be working on raptor migration timing data in addition to regular duties at the Lookouts.