RAPTORS | Outing and In-Store Presentation

Saturday, August 22, 2026. Check back for details posted soon!

Hawks, eagles, falcons and owls, collectively known as raptors, make up one of the most charismatic bird groups on the planet. Often representing the pinnacle of the avian food chain, they possess a powerful presence and mysterious aura. Ornithologists have spent decades uncovering the mysteries of their evolutionary origins, predatory adaptations, and migratory behavior, and made discoveries that have deepened scientific and public appreciation for the group. Join Josiah for a presentation on raptorial birds, journeying from their evolutionary origins to the once very diverse raptor communities in pre-human North America, through to the physiological adaptations that make present-day raptors remarkably efficient hunters. Josiah will also discuss the raptor species of New Mexico and how to identify each, and will lead a walk prior to the lecture where attendees will have the opportunity to observe local raptors.

Our Speaker:

Josiah is a lifelong bird enthusiast whose passion began in childhood and grew into a career in ecology and ornithology. After studying Painted Bunting populations as an undergraduate at the University of Georgia, he now focuses his PhD research at UNM on how climate change affects migratory birds, combining field data, genetics, and computational methods to better understand how birds adapt to a warming world. 

REGISTRATION DETAILS COMING SOON!

New Mexico Wildlife Conference
November 6 & 7, 2026 | Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Albuquerque, New Mexico

The inaugural New Mexico Wildlife Conference will take place on November 6–7, 2026. Hosted in collaboration with Hawks Aloft, Desert Willow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, the New Mexico Wildlife Center, and the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, the conference will feature a full day of concurrent workshops followed by a day of scientific presentations. Speakers from universities in New Mexico and Colorado, Tribal Nations, and governmental agencies will share the latest research, conservation efforts, and best practices in wildlife care and management. The conference will also provide New Mexico wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians with the opportunity to earn continuing education credits, which are now required for licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the state.

To learn more about our friends at Hawks Aloft and their mission go here.