Scholarship Winner Becomes More Well-Rounded Naturalist

By Guest Blogger Luz Hernandez

​First and foremost, I want to express my sincere gratitude to all of the SFBBO donors who sponsored the Diurnal Raptor ID workshop scholarship for students from underrepresented communities in ecology.

The workshop allowed me to connect with and learn from experts, avid birders, and raptor enthusiasts from all walks of life. Our guide, Alvaro Jaramillo was engaging throughout the entire workshop. Mr. Jaramillo presented information that was accessible to all skill levels and even answered every single question that came up! I really ...

enjoyed the story shared at the very beginning regarding the Nahuatl legend of Tenochtitlan and appreciate that he connected it to the workshop theme. Another bonus was learning about the other participant’s birding adventures. ​

​It was illuminating to learn about the distinctions between juvenile and adult raptors. For example, when it comes to Red-tailed Hawks, the adults can be identified by a dark belly band and the famed rusty colored tails, while juvenile forms have brown banded tails and pale eyes in comparison. To add another layer of complexity, many of the raptors discussed in the workshop also come in rare pale and dark morphs, which was news to me!

​Similarly, the variations between the female and male American kestrels are easier to spot now. I can identify females by the streaked breast plumage, while the males have no streaks and instead display a cinnamon colored breast.

​As a science communicator, I am most looking forward to sharing what I learned from the workshop with classmates, colleagues, and friends. The workshop helped me become a more well-rounded naturalist. 

Luz Hernandez is a senior environmental biology student at Cal Poly Pomona. She first developed an interest in ecology, conservation, and wildlife biology while working at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles as a museum ambassador. Her interests led her to volunteer at the California Science Center as a terrestrial husbandry keeper. Currently she is an Education Specialist at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. She is passionate about science communication and wants to use her training and education to help promote inclusive outdoor classrooms.