I am pleased to announce that our May speaker is raptor researcher Jeff Hays. Many of you know Jeff as our “local” raptor expert, as he has been associated with hawk & owl banding and research in Cincinnati since 1989. In 1989 Jeff began a long association with Raptor Inc., our local birds of prey rehabilitation organization. It was around that time that Jeff also became involved in the Cincinnati Peregrine Falcon hacking project. Jeff is still active with Raptor Inc. in all its facets and is their current Vice-President after many years as Treasurer. Jeff is also a licensed bird bander and a longtime member of the Ohio Bird Banders Association. Its Jeff’s proclivity for banding raptors that first pops into one’s mind when thinking about Jeff. If you ever saw a hawk or owl chick banded locally, chances are it was Jeff who climbed the tree. Jeff has been a raptor researcher since 1996 and he might be best known for his work with local Red-shoulderd Hawks. Jeff has co-written at least nine articles on Red-shoulder Hawk ecology that have been published in The Condor, The Wilson’s Bulletin and The Journal of Raptor Research. He has also co-written the Red-Shoulderd Hawk passage for Birds of North America (BNA). Jeff has also worked with several the Departments of Natural Resources of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin as well as the Hamilton County Park District.
Jeff brings all of this experience to his May program entitled “Raptor Banding through the Seasons”. Using a slide presentation, Jeff will walk us through what he calls “the perfect year of banding”. Beginning with local Great Horned Owl banding in March, and continuing well into July, banding Ospreys in Michigan’s UP, Jeff will walk us through a complete season, species by species, of raptor banding. Along the way, Jeff will give us his insights on the ecology of many species of eagles, hawks and owls. You might be surprised at the number of raptor species this includes. This should prove to be a fascinating program and one that you don’t want to miss.
Audubon programs are held on the third Monday of the month (not including January, July, August or December). We meet at 7:00 p.m. for light refreshments, with the program beginning at 7:30. We meet at the Winton Woods visitor center, located at 10245 Winton Road. To reach the visitor center from I-275, take the Winton Road exit, and go south. Just before the lake, turn right into the park. From the Ronald Reagan Highway, take the Winton Road North exit, and turn right into the park just after the lake.
Note that a Park District auto sticker is required – $3.00 daily or $10.00 annual for Hamilton County residents, or $5.00 daily or $14.00 annual for non-residents.