Hawk Mountain Biologist and Trainee Alumna Receive RRF President’s Award

Hawk Mountain Research Biologist Dr. Rebecca McCabe and Dr. Sophie Garcia-Heras, a 2017-2018 Leadership Trainee and raptor ecology researcher from France and Spain, have for several years collaborated as co-chairs of the scientific program of the Raptor Research Foundation (RRF) conference, held annually at different locations globally. Their excellent work over multiple years was recognized at the 2024 RRF annual meeting with the presentation of the prestigious RRF President’s Award by current RRF President Rob Bierregaard.

This award is given at the discretion of the organization’s president in recognition and appreciation of exceptional service to our society.

“There is a lot of work that goes into organizing an international meeting, not only the coordination that happens far in advance of the event, but also throughout the conference, to ensure everything goes smoothly and all logistics are covered,” explains Director of Conservation Science Dr. Laurie Goodrich. “This is another accolade for conservation science at Hawk Mountain, as well as for Rebecca and Sophie,” she adds.

The RRF annual meeting and conference was held in October in Charlotte, NC, and the 2025 conference planning is already underway, for San Jose, Costa Rica. RRF is the world’s largest professional society for raptor researchers and conservationists with a goal to accumulate and disseminate scientific information about raptors, host annual scientific conferences, provide competitive grants and awards to researchers and conservationists, and provide support and networking opportunities for students and early career raptor researchers.