Hey, Emma here!
I am super grateful to be back at the Crane Trust for my second year as the Lila O. Wilson Biological Monitoring Fellow! So far surveys have been going great and we (Science Team) are just wrapping some of our early summer surveys this month. We have plenty more to continue surveying before the weather turns cold though. I have enjoyed watching our bison herd grow as new calves are born and all of the birds that have migrated through heading north to their breeding grounds.
A memorable moment that occurred back in May when assisting with the Hall County Spring Bird Count is when I spotted a raptor up in the trees along the river. I did not get a great look right away but Abe (Director of Conservation Research) drove slowly by the trees for me to get a better look. The raptor was one I have been wanting to add to my lifer list… a Peregrine Falcon! I couldn’t believe that it was sitting in the tree unbothered and letting me grab photos and get a great look at it. Typically peregrine falcons nest on cliff edges or high ledges and that look over an open area. Another place you can find them nesting is on tall buildings in urban areas, which is why I was so surprised to see it! This peregrine falcon was the only one recorded in the Hall County Spring Bird Count 2025. I also saw another peregrine falcon a little over a week later not too far away from where I saw the first one. During our long-term monitoring bird surveys a peregrine falcon was seen on different occasions as well. A peregrine falcon is not a bird typically seen here at the Crane Trust, let alone two in close proximity, so we reached out to a bird specific biologist in the state and their reasoning would be that the falcons could be scoping out the land, not nesting yet. It was a fun find!
And speaking of exciting finds, we have a great addition to our team! Please join me in welcoming William Hamson, our Saunders Conservation Fellow. We’re so excited to have him on board and can’t wait for you all to get to know him!
Without further ado here is Will!
Photo by: Kylee Warren
Hi everyone!
My name is William Hamson and I am the 2025 Saunders Conservation Fellow. I graduated in January of 2024 with a bachelor’s in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Delaware. I spent most of my childhood in the deciduous woodlands and suburbs of southwestern Connecticut, fostering my love for the outdoors. As I entered into the conservation world, I decided I wanted to explore a variety of different aspects of this field. I worked in animal care at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, environmental policy at a small non-profit in New York, and most recently worked with homeowners on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts to improve biodiversity on their properties. I’m very excited to be out here at the Crane Trust to improve my skills in conservation research and field work. Everyday I learn something new whether it is a new plant I can identify or the call of a bird.
There have been so many amazing moments so far. My favorite moment would be when returning to our truck from a bumble bee survey, we found ourselves being circled and honked at by a Wilson’s Phalarope! These grey, white, and orange shorebirds are one of my favorite birds I have encountered so far. I cannot wait to learn more about the Central Platte River Valley and its wonderful assortment of wildlife. You never know what you can find when taking a walk through the prairie!
William Hamson, Saunders Conservation Fellow
Thanks for reading! Till next time,
Emma Richards
Lila O. Wilson Biological Monitoring Fellow
erichards@cranetrust.org