Symposia
2019 RRF Conference Symposia
Vultures and Condors: Research and conservation challenges and shared lessons
Co-Chairs: Mary Ann Ottinger and Andrew Botha
Globally, vultures are documented as being the most threatened group of birds. The primary reasons for this loss are from secondary poisoning from toxic ammunition, retaliatory poisoning from loss of livestock, the use of vulture body parts for religious practices and the threat from livestock contaminated with pharmaceuticals. Both the Asian and African Vulture Crises have resulted in a suite of research and conservation actions including a comprehensive Multi-species Action Plan for African-Eurasian Vultures that provides a blue print for conservation action. Research and conservation actions for vultures are fraught with challenges at political, continental and grass roots level. Similarly, the global Wildlife Crisis encompasses dramatic losses in a number of species due to complex interacting factors, including loss of vultures, rhinos and many other species due to human and environmental stressors, including poisoning, traditional belief-based use of animals/parts, poaching, hunting associated lead poisoning, habitat loss, and climate related changes in resources. The main goal of this session is to highlight those challenges that researchers and conservationists face and share knowledge and lessons for success stories. This session will also bring together inter- and trans-disciplinary views, critical for making informed management and policy decisions. Speakers will address socioenvironmental factors, poaching and trafficking converging with criminality and profiling key trends delineating hotspots and current policies. The human factor also encompasses the human-wildlife-ecosystem interface as a powerful driver in this complex multidimensional system.
Falconry Ties to Research and Conservation
Chair: Nate Bickford
Falconers helped start the Raptor Research Foundation and have remained an integral part of the research centered around raptors and their habitat. Not all falconers are researchers nor are all raptor researchers falconers. However, where they intersect provides a possibility for some interesting opportunities to interpret data and design research from different perspectives. The results of this collaborative research can provide solutions for a wide audience. In this symposium we would like to have researchers that are falconers or researchers that have worked with falconers present their research in addition to providing and presenting their experiences and insights that may have been gained through their work with the different stakeholders. Sharing this unique insight of the experiences will provide benefits and improvements for collaborations in future research projects.
Impacts of Energy Development on Eagles
Chair: Rick Harness
Energy development, both traditional and renewable, impacts a number of raptor species including eagles. Bald and golden eagles are often found as victims of electrocution at power lines and as victims of collision with wind turbines. Blasting at mines is a known source of disturbance to nesting eagles and can result in the loss of nesting territories. In this symposium we synthesize some of the latest research related to understanding, minimizing, and mitigating impacts of energy development on bald and golden eagles. The speakers come from a variety of backgrounds, and their results will enable attendees to better understand current challenges while providing opportunities for future conservation research collaborations.
Symposium proposals or questions regarding symposia should be directed to Julie Garvin (email: [email protected]). General questions regarding the conference should be directed to Carin Avila (email: [email protected]).
Additional conference information may be viewed at: https://www.raptorresearchfoundation.org/conferences/current-conference