If you’ve driven through the arid shrub-steppe landscape in eastern Washington and caught a glimpse of an impressive hawk in striking white and rust-colored plumage you’ve probably been treated to an increasingly rare sighting – that of our largest soaring hawk, the Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis).

Please join us as we explore unique aspects of the breeding ecology, winter ecology, and migration of this iconic hawk, and how we are working to recover this endangered species.

Jim Watson is a Wildlife Research Scientist with the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW) and the lead researcher for statewide raptor studies. He has spent the past 50 years studying raptors in the western United States and abroad. Jim’s research focus includes raptor population dynamics, migration ecology, and management of raptors in human landscapes. His recent work evaluates impacts of wind energy and lead contaminants on golden eagles and ferruginous hawks.