How has the first month gone?
A "It turned out to be a great time to start. It has been very exciting because we are right in the middle of our fall field season when the raptors are migrating. I've been able to see what HawkWatch is all about and it has been great to meet some of the field crews."
Q What made you apply for the position at HawkWatch?
A "I have been doing conservation with the Nature Conservancy. I was excited to move to a smaller organization where I could have my fingers in a lot of different places. I like the idea of being in an organization that focuses on a specific animal species. Raptors are important as predators and as indicators of ecosystem health."
Q Where did you develop your interest in nature?
A "I backpacked in the Sierras of northern California starting at 6 years old. I was always interested in nature and when I was in grad school (she earned a masters of public administration with a focus on nonprofit management and environmental policy, as well as a masters of international relations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University in New York) I had the rare chance to take any class I wanted. I took wildlife biology, which had nothing to do with what I was studying, and I loved it. I wanted to fight the good fight."
Q Where do you hope to lead HawkWatch?
A "The core and heart of the organization has been and will remain long-term monitoring. From there, we have a real opportunity to take the data we have collected, 30 years worth at some sites, and really dive deeper into some of the scientific theories and go for some conservation solutions."
Visit www.hawkwatch.org for more information on HawkWatch International.
-Brett Prettyman
