Vultures prevent disease, recycle nutrients, and even reduce greenhouse gas emissions — yet they face extinction at an alarming rate. These birds are the silent guardians of our ecosystems, nature’s clean-up crew that protect both wildlife and human health. Beyond ecology, they are also woven into human culture and history — from ancient Egyptian deities to Indigenous traditions that see them as symbols of purification and renewal.

In this special Talons of Hope episode for International Vulture Awareness Day, host Munir Virani speaks with André Botha — one of the world’s leading vulture conservationists and a longtime friend. From the savannas of Africa to the policy tables of international conventions, André has spent more than three decades fighting for vultures. Together, they share stories from the field, highlight groundbreaking solutions that are turning the tide, and celebrate the resilience of these remarkable birds.

This is a conversation of hope and inspiration — and a reminder that every one of us can play a part in ensuring vultures continue to soar in our skies.

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What happens when an injured hawk, eagle, falcon, or owl beats the odds, survives rehabilitation, and is released back into the wild? Do they truly make it? Do they matter?

In this episode of Talons of Hope, host Munir Virani talks with Dr. Christian Hagen — Senior Research Scientist and Associate Professor at Oregon State University — about a groundbreaking study that combed through decades of data on more than two million raptors. The results challenge long-held skepticism and reveal that rehabilitated raptors, especially long-lived species, can play a real role in offsetting human-caused losses.

From power lines to wind farms, the threats are daunting — but this conversation explores how science, policy, and even ancient falconry traditions can unite to give birds of prey a second shot at life. It’s a story of resilience, redemption, and hope on the wing.

In this compelling episode of Talons of Hope, Dr. Munir Virani sits down with one of the rising stars in global raptor conservation—Dr. Megan Murgatroyd, a field biologist, scientist, mother, and Director of International Programs at HawkWatch International.

From the cliffs of South Africa to the jungles of Indonesia, Megan shares her bold and deeply personal journey tracking and protecting some of the world’s most elusive and endangered raptors. Listeners are taken behind the scenes of her fieldwork: wrestling Verreaux’s Eagles, developing wind energy collision models for large eagles, tagging Flores Hawk Eagles with a toddler strapped to her back, and investigating the illegal killing of Hen Harriers on UK grouse moors.

Throughout the conversation, Megan reflects on:

• The early spark that drew her to raptors
• The resilience it takes to do fieldwork as a woman and a mother
• The powerful role of GPS tracking in both conservation science and advocacy
• How science can—and must—adapt to a changing climate
• The vital importance of storytelling and mentorship in inspiring the next generation of conservation leaders

What emerges is the portrait of a conservationist who brings equal parts grit, grace, and global thinking to the field of raptor biology. With humor, honesty, and depth, Megan shares lessons from the field—both scientific and human—that offer hope for the skies above and the communities below.

Featured Themes:

• Women in conservation science
• GPS tracking and real-time conservation
• Balancing motherhood with fieldwork
• Renewable energy and wildlife coexistence
• Illegal killing of raptors and policy implications
• Mentorship and building the next generation of raptor biologists

"Sometimes you have to climb a cliff with a telemetry unit in one hand and a baby carrier in the other—because the eagles aren’t going to wait." — Dr. Megan Murgatroyd