A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT Join Us

ATOUR MARCH MEETING!

Thursday, March 2nd 7:00pmFoster Community Center, Room 213 200 N. Foster Ave, Lansing MI

Red-tailed Hawk Research and Migration

Speaker - Nick Alioto

Do Red-tailed Hawks migrate Strait?

Unraveling the mystery of a soaring migrant in the Great lakes region.

Join our speaker, Nick Alioto to learn about his current research, project background and why he was interested in studying Red-tailed Hawk migration Learn about migration routes and characteristics and wintering and breeding distributions on how this project started and why he was interested in studying Red-tailed

Nick is originally from Ontario, Canada and obtained his BS in 2016 from Bishops’ University in Quebec Over the past 6 years he has worked throughout the US and Canada on avian projects relating to movement ecology and banding. These projects include banding migratory owls in Northern Michigan, Eastern Whip-poor-will tagging in Illinois, passerine and owl banding in the boreal forest of Northern Ontario and diurnal raptor banding in Idaho and Michigan.

Nick is a member of Dr. Jennifer Owens’ lab and focuses on the movement ecology of Red-tailed Hawks migrating through the Straits region of Michigan. This project is a collaboration between MSU, Mackinac Straits Raptor Watch and The Red-tailed Hawk project. When he’s not calling out every Red-tail he sees on the roadside he enjoys birding, hiking, cross country skiing, and being decent at cooking.

Thank you all for participating in the Capital Area Audubon Society and for supporting us with your membership. If I have learned anything this past month, it is the value, support and beauty of our local community.

On February 13th, our Spartan community faced a senseless act of violence and loss of life. In processing the events that unfolded at Michigan State, I found myself seeking nature and spending time with loved ones, grieved that the students at our schools and universities could be spending more time in fear and planning for a violent encounter than time on a field trip or nature hike.

I reached out to students and staff to offer my support and our family volunteered to help welcome students back to campus on Sunday the 19th. The show of support, love, generosity, creativity and encouragement was stunning. It brought tears to my eyes. Our students feel loved. But ultimately, they need to feel safe.

I know this is a birding and nature club, but as members of our community and advocates for a healthy environment, we can lend our voices and our support to programs that make the Lansing area stronger and safer. Our students and children deserve better and they need us to help support them This month, our guest speaker Nick Alioto is a Fisheries and Wildlife master's student at Michigan State University. Nick studies Red-tailed Hawk migration and will share all about his work, but I want to share a little about the type of person he is.

I had the chance to get to know Nick over the last few seasons at the Michigan State Bird Observatory Each migration season, the MSBO trains new student interns and operates with a number of volunteers who are just learning about bird banding, migration, aging birds and the techniques used to safely handle wild birds. Nick volunteered his time and expertise to share with visitors and to help new crew members learn more about many of the birds they study.

He is knowledgeable, patient, encouraging and would help wherever needed. He even offered specialized training during his free time. He and I also connected over our interest in wild foraged fungi!

This is the type of passionate Spartan student that I get to work with year after year at the Michigan State Bird Observatory and my heart goes out to all the students, staff and first responders healing from tragedy.

Hugs to all of you.

Kristy Taylor CAAS Board President