Welcome Adam

Adam Hannuksela joins the SJV as Science Coordinator (photo courtesy of Adam Hannuksela).

We are excited to welcome Adam Hannuksela as the newest member of the Sonoran Joint Venture Team! As the Science Coordinator, Adam will lead the Science Working Group, manage our Awards Program, and will work with partners to bring sound science to bird conservation. Adam was born in Arizona, later moving throughout the western U.S. and northern Mexico. Adam received his Bachelor of Science degree from Evergreen State College, and earned a Master’s degree in Biology from Central Washington University.

Adam hiking in the mountains of Sonora (photo courtesy of Adam Hannuksela).

In 2002, Adam helped found the Navopatia Field Station in southern Sonora. Since that time, he served as the Director of Research. In that position, Adam developed an internship and training programs for both American and Mexican students to learn about conservation biology, natural history, and field biology. He also monitored waterbirds in the bays of southern Sonora and northern Sinaloa. In 2006, he started a wintering landbird monitoring program that continues to be the longest running landbird monitoring program in the region. Adam has worked with diverse partners to help conserve rare habitats in Sonora. He has been intimately involved in the on-going creation of a protected area to conserve the unique pitayal habitat on the pitaya coast of southwest Sonora. In addition, he has worked extensively with other partners in Sonora and Sinaloa assisting with bird monitoring and conservation planning.

Adam extracting a bird from a mist net (photo courtesy of Navopatia Field Station).

While working in Sonora and Sinaloa for the past 17 years, Adam also worked half the year throughout the American west, allowing him to study and work with migratory birds throughout their annual life cycle. He has worked as a consultant and conservation biologist for universities, non-profits, all federal land management agencies, Native American tribes, state and municipal agencies, and private companies. Much of Adam’s work with birds includes extensive experience in shrub-steppe, forests, and other xeric habitats studying fire ecology, conifer removal, population biology, and grazing impacts on birds. He has implemented and designed monitoring programs in a wide array of habitats. He first began banding passerines in the late 1990’s. He continues to develop his skills and create opportunities for others through teaching banding classes.

In his new role, Adam is most looking forward to increasing coordinated bird monitoring and building capacity through trainings across the SJV region.

Join us in welcoming Adam to the SJV.