Beingolea Raptor Research Grant
Oscar Beingolea Raptor Research Grant
The Oscar Beingolea Raptor Research Grant provides financial support for field research on raptors in Latin America (including the Guianas) and the Caribbean. This grant was created in partnership with the Raptor Research Foundation (RRF). RRF was selected to manage the grant because of the organization's specialization in raptor research. We especially encourage projects that bring attention to poorly known species, systems, or questions, and those that include a conservation and/or community engagement component. Priority will be given to proposals from Latin American and/or Caribbean nationals or residents with limited access to other funding. Applications that do not focus on raptors in Latin America or the Caribbean will not be considered.
Oscar Beingolea with Shijai, an Orange-breasted Falcon
This grant was created in 2020 in honor of Oscar Beingolea (1959-2019), who devoted his life to the study of raptors in his native Peru as well as Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, the US, and throughout the Americas. Oscar’s fascination with birds of prey began with falconry, including working as a professional falconer for Fundación Ara in Mexico, and he pioneered the use of the Bicolored Hawk in falconry in Peru. A mentor to many raptor enthusiasts, Oscar nurtured a lifelong passion for Peregrine Falcons and also developed expertise on species including Orange-breasted Falcons, Bicolored Hawks, Tiny Hawks, Grey-bellied Hawks, and Harris’ Hawks. Oscar’s keen interest in raptor breeding biology led him to locate and monitor active nests of Peregrine Falcons and Orange-breasted Falcons in Peru, including the first breeding peregrines recorded in Lima. Oscar also served as a consultant for the Huayco Raptor Breeding Facility in Lima, where he helped breed Bicolored Hawk, Tiny Hawk, Aplomado Falcon, Bat Falcon, Peregrine Falcon and Ornate Hawk-Eagle. He worked with The Peregrine Fund in Panama and advised the Falcon Research Group’s Southern Cross Peregrine Project in Chile. His decades of field research on Peregrine Falcons in Peru informed numerous publications on both their breeding biology and migration, including linking wintering peregrines in Peru with their North American natal and breeding grounds. His raptor conservation work also called attention to the illegal trapping of Peregrine Falcons in Peru for use in pest control. The grant bearing his name will assist others in continuing his legacy of original inquiry, dedicated field research, and enduring commitment to asking and answering questions about raptor ecology and evolution.
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To apply, applicants should submit the documents listed below. Applications should be submitted in English but translation/editorial assistance is available to applicants whose first language is Spanish, Portuguese, or French:
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A cover letter highlighting the motivations, objectives, and expected outcomes of the study
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The applicant’s CV
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A proposal of no more than five pages, including:
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background and justification (need)
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study objectives and methods
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budget detailing how funds will be spent
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list of other funding sources, both requested and received
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expected results
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literature cited (maximum one page)
Amount: $1,000 + waived page charges (winner must be the first author and the paper must reflect what the grant was for)
Number of grants issued per year: 1
Deadline: June 30
Application Method: Applications will be received through RRF’s Member Portal. Applicants can create a free account to submit an application.