OFFICERS & BOARD of DIRECTORS

President
term: 2011-2013

Ruth Tingay
United Kingdom
e-mail: dimlylit100@hotmail.com

Ruth Tingay is a British-based raptor researcher with field experience from North & Central America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Central & South East Asia. Supported by The Peregrine Fund, she studied the critically endangered Madagascar Fish Eagle for a M.Sc. (2000) and Ph.D. (2005) at the University of Nottingham, UK. She currently is involved with projects in Scotland, Cambodia, Mongolia, Solomon Islands and South Africa.

Vice President
term: 2011-2013

Ted Swem
Branch Chief, Endangered Species
Fairbanks Fish and Wildlife Field Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
101 12th Ave., Room 110
Fairbanks, AK 99701 U.S.A.
voice: 907-456-0441
fax: 907-456-0208
e-mail: ted_swem@fws.gov

Ted Swem earned degrees from Boise State University (M.S., Raptor Biology, 1996) and Colorado State University (B.S., Zoology). Ted has been involved in raptor monitoring projects in Alaska since the mid-1970s, and now works in endangered species management for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He continues working with raptors as an avocation, and enjoys birding, wildlife photography, exploring Alaska’s backcountry, and a variety of poorly-played sports. He served one term on RRF’s Board of Directors, and is in his second term as Vice President.

Secretary
term: 2011-2013

Greg A. George
Assistant Professor of Biology
Delaware Valley College
Doylestown, PA 18901 U.S.A.
voice: 215-489-2210
e-mail: gregory.george@delval.edu

Greg George earned his Ph.D. in Wildlife Management from West Virginia University in 2009, and since then he has been on the biology faculty at Delaware Valley College, where he teaches courses in ornithology, ecology, and tropical ecology. Greg is particularly interested in Neotropical migrants and migration ecology (raptors and passerines) and has regularly volunteered with the Research Department at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary since 1994.

Treasurer
term: 2011-2013

Angela Matz
Environmental Contaminants Program Leader
Fairbanks Field Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
101 12th Ave., Room 110
Fairbanks, AK 99701 U.S.A.
voice: 907-456-0442
fax: 907-456-0208
e-mail: angela_matz@fws.gov

Angela Matz earned degrees from the University of Maine (Ph.D. Wildlife Ecology, 1997), Western Washington University (M.S., Environmental Toxicology), and Santa Clara University (B.S., Biology). She now resides in northern Alaska where she works for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Environmental Contaminants program, and studies pollution as it affects wildlife, including raptors. She enjoys river trips and Alaska Combat Gardening in the summer, mushing and skiing in the winter, and balancing RRF’s books year-round.

President Elect
term: 2012-2013

Clint W. Boal
Assistant Unit Leader – Wildlife and Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology
USGS Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Department of Natural Resources Management
Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX 79409 U.S.A.
voice: 806-742-2851
e-mail: clint.boal@ttu.edu

Clint Boal earned his M.S. from the University of Arizona in 1993 where he studied food habits of Northern Goshawks, then earned his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in 1997 studying the demography and ecology of urban Cooper’s Hawks. Following post-doctoral research at the University of Minnesota, he became the Assistant Unit Leader of the USGS Texas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Texas Tech University in 2000. In his current position, he instructs graduate courses in wildlife ecology and continues to conduct research on birds of prey, passerines, and game birds in context of changing landscapes and climate.

Past President
term: 2009-2013

Leonard Young
1640 Oriole Lane NW
Olympia, WA 98502, U.S.A.
voice: +1-360-561-8125
e-mail: leonardyoung1@comcast.net

Leonard Young serves as Department Supervisor with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Lenny received an M.S. degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Montana in 1983 and worked for 5 years as a biologist with U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Snake River Birds of Prey Research Project before joining DNR in 1989.

Director At Large #1
term: 2011-2013

Miguel D. Saggese
Assistant Professor of Veterinary Microbiology and Avian/Wildlife Diseases
College of Veterinary Medicine
Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona, CA 91766 U.S.A.
voice: 909-706-3532
e-mail: msaggese@westernu.edu

Miguel Saggese earned a veterinary degree from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina; 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. As a veterinarian, microbiologist, and raptor researcher, his main interests are focused on investigating the role that infectious diseases have on wild raptor populations, the conservation and population ecology of Patagonian birds of prey, and the impact of spent lead ammunition on scavengers. As an RRF Director, his main interest is to promote education of raptor researchers and students worldwide.

Director At Large #2
term: 2013-2015

Jim Bednarz

Director At-Large #3
term: 2012-2014

Rob Bierregaard
Distinguished Visiting Research Professor
Biology Department
University of North Carolina Charlotte
voice: 704-516-4615
e-mail: rbierreg@uncc.edu

Rob Bierregaard began his life with raptors as a young falconer in 1969 and has been studying them ever since. His PhD thesis investigated the importance of competition in structuring raptor communities. He conducted the first nest study of the Crested Eagle and did some nesting and telemetry work with other Amazonian raptors. His current research focuses on Barred Owls in suburban habitats and Osprey migration, population dynamics, and ecology. He co-authored the Osprey account for the Bird of North America project and wrote the 81 species accounts for the Neotropical Falconiformes in the Handbook of Birds of the World. After 18 years at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte, he has relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Director At Large #4
term: 2011-2013

Carol L. McIntyre
Wildlife Biologist
Denali National Park and Preserve
4175 Geist Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99708, USA
voice: 907-455-0671
e-mail: carol_mcintyre@nps.gov

Carol McIntyre received her Ph.D. in Wildlife Science from Oregon State University in 2004. Since 1987, she has been a wildlife biologist at Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska, where her research focuses on the ecology of Golden Eagles, Gyrfalcons, and other birds. Carol also currently serves on the steering committee of the Alaska Raptor Group (a subcommittee of Boreal Partners in Flight) and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Raptor Research.

Director At Large # 5
term: 2013-2015

Torgeir Nygård
Senior Researcher
Department of Terrestrial Ecology (NINA)
NO-7485 Trondheim, Norway
office: +47 73801462
cell: +47 93466201
e-mail: torgeir.nygard@nina.no

Torgeir Nygård has a Ph.D. in raptor ecotoxicology from 1997, and has been on the staff at NINA since 1983. His research has focused mainly on raptor ecology and toxicology, but he also has been involved in research on seabirds. During recent years he has been using satellite telemetry to investigate the dispersal of Golden Eagles, White-tailed Eagles, Eagle Owls, and Gyrfalcons, and he currently is involved in risk assessments of raptors exposed to wind farms. During 2007-2010 he organized the collecting of White-tailed Eagles in Norway for reintroduction to Ireland.

Director-At-Large #6
term: 2012-2014

Miguel Ferrer Baena
Institutional Coordinator of CSIC in Andalusia
Spanish National Research Council
Avda. Mª Luisa, , s/n – Pabellón del Perú
41013 Seville, SPAIN
Voice: +34 954 232349
Email: mferrer@ebd.csic.es

Miguel is the Institutional Coordinator of the Delegation of CSIC in Andalusia as well as a researcher at the Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) where he was Director from 1996 through 2000. He has been the president of MIGRES Foundation since 2003, a research associate at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, an adjunct professor at Boise State University, a member of the Expert Group on Biodiversity and Global Change Council of Europe, and an adviser to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment strategies for conservation of Iberian Imperial eagles. His research is focused on the dynamics of small populations and the conservation biology of endangered birds of prey, particularly the Spanish Imperial Eagle. Other works have included studying impacts of wind farms and power lines on birds, methods for their study and approaches to mitigating their potential impacts.

Director Outside North America
term: 2013-2015

Jemima Parry-Jones
Director International Centre for Birds of Prey
Boulsdon House
Newent
Gloucestershire GL18 1JJ
United Kingdom
voice: ++44 (0)1531 820286
e-mail: jpj@icbp.org
website: www.icbp.org

Jemima Parry-Jones earned her MBE from the Queen in 1999 for services to bird conservation. She was born and brought up with falconry and the conservation of birds of prey, and since 1982 she has owned and run the International Centre for Birds of Prey through several changes while remaining true to its ethics. It’s the second oldest raptor centre worldwide and is open to the public. Jemima has written seven books and advised many people and projects on education, rehabilitation, and captive breeding. She currently is working with the RSPB, ZSL, and the Bombay Natural History Society on the vulture rescue project in India, working on captive breeding the three critically endangered species of Gyps vultures in South East Asia.

Eurasian Director
term: 2012-2014

Fabrizio Sergio
Associate Professor of Vertebrate Ecology
Estacion Biologica de Doñana
CSIC
C/ Americo Vespucio
41092 Seville
Spain
e-mail: fsergio@ebd.csic.es

Fabrizio Sergio earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from Oxford University (UK) in 2003. He worked as a contracted researcher at the Trento Museum of Natural Sciences (Italian Alps) between 1998-2004. Since 2005 he has been a researcher of the Estacion Biologica de Doñana (Spain). His research has focused on the behavior, ecology, and conservation of numerous diurnal and nocturnal raptors. He currently is managing an intensive demographic study on marked raptors in Doñana National Park.

Southern Hemisphere Director
term: 2011-2013

Munir Z. Virani
Africa Program Director
The Peregrine Fund
5668 West Flying Hawk Lane,
Boise, Idaho 83709 U.S.A.
e-mail: tpf@africaonline.co.ke

Munir Virani obtained his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and Medicine from the University of Leicester (United Kingdom) in 2000. He has been associated with The Peregrine Fund since 1992 and currently heads their Africa and South Asian Raptor Conservation Programs. His research has focused on Augur Buzzards, African Fish Eagles, Sokoke Scops Owls, and more recently on Gyps vultures.

North American Director #1
term: 2011-2013

John A. Smallwood
Associate Professor of Vertebrate Ecology
Department of Biology and Molecular Biology
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ 07043 U.S.A.
voice: 973-655-5345
e-mail: smallwoodj@montclair.edu

John Smallwood earned his Ph.D. in Zoology from Ohio State in 1987 and did his post-doc at the University of Florida. Since 1994 he has been on the biology faculty at Montclair State University, where he teaches courses in ornithology, ecology, and conservation biology. His research has focused on the behavior and ecology of American Kestrels, and he currently is investigating the decline of this species in North America.

North American Director #2
term: 2013-2015

Gerald ‘Jerry’ Niemi
Professor, Department of Biology and Natural Resources Research Institute
University of Minnesota-Duluth
5013 Miller Trunk Highway
Duluth MN 55811 USA
voice: 218-720-4270
email: gniemi@umn.edu

Jerry Niemi earned his Ph.D. at Florida State University (1983) and B.S. and M.S. at the University of Minnesota (1974, 1977). He was a Fulbright-Hays scholar in Finland in 1981 and retains close ties there with many scientists. He is also on the Board of Hawk Ridge Bird Observatory in Duluth and the Hawk Migration Association of North America. His research interests include birds of all shapes and sizes, conservation, forests, the Great Lakes, and sustainable natural resources development. He also enjoys cross-country skiing, bird watching, fishing, and his family.

North American Director #3
term: 2012-2014

Richard E. Harness
Certified Wildlife Biologist
EDM International, Inc.
4001 Automation Way
Fort Collins, CO 80525 U.S.A.
voice: 970-204-4001
fax: 970-204-4007
e-mail: rharness@edmlink.com

Rick Harness is a Certified Wildlife Biologist working with EDM International, Inc., an employee owned consulting company located in Fort Collins, Colorado. He has a M.S. from Colorado State University in Fishery and Wildlife Biology where he conducted his thesis on raptor electrocutions. In addition to his biological education, Rick has five years experience designing power lines and 30 years experience managing projects associated with protecting wildlife in their interactions with energy facilities. He is a contributing author to “Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines: The State of the Art in 2006” and collaboratively works on these issues both nationally and internationally.

Editor-in-chief of The Journal of Raptor Research
term: 2006-present

Cheryl Dykstra
Raptor Environmental
7280 Susan Springs Drive
West Chester, OH 45069 U.S.A.
voice: 513-779-1744
e-mail: cheryldykstra@juno.com, journalofraptorresearch@gmail.com

Cheryl Dykstra earned her Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995. She has worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and now is an independent researcher studying urban/suburban raptors, primarily Red-shouldered Hawks and Barred Owls. Her research interests include urban/suburban populations, reproductive success, habitat use, population dynamics, behavioral ecology, diet, and ecotoxicology.

Editor of Wingspan
term: 2006-present

Petra Bohall Wood
USGS West Virginia Coop. Fish & Wildlife Research Unit
322 Percival Hall, PO Box 6125
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV 26506-6125 U.S.A.
voice: 304-293-5090
fax: 304-293-4826
e-mail: pbwood@wvu.edu

Petra Wood earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees from the University of Florida in Wildlife Ecology where she studied Bald Eagles and American Kestrels. Since 1992 she has been working as a Research Wildlife Biologist with the US Geological Survey West Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. She is located in the Division of Forestry and Natural Resources at West Virginia University and holds an appointment as Adjunct Professor. Her primary research activities focus on how anthropogenic habitat changes, particularly from timber harvesting and energy development, affect wildlife populations, including raptors, in the Appalachian region. Petra has been active in RRF since 1983 and served for many years as Awards Committee Chair and as a Director.

Website Coordinator
term: 2010-present

Libby Mojica
Research Wildlife Biologist
Center for Conservation Biology
College of William and Mary
PO Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795 U.S.A.
voice: 757-221-1680
e-mail: ekmojica@wm.edu

Libby Mojica earned her M.Sc. in Wildlife Ecology and Management from the University of Georgia in 2006. She works as a full time researcher for the Center for Conservation Biology, where she manages and conducts research projects on Bald and Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons, and Ospreys. Her research has focused on migration behavior, satellite telemetry, movement ecology, and communal roosting.