Meet Our Team

Marta Curti was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, She grew up on the outskirts of town and saw deer, coyotes, Red-tailed Hawks and Great-horned Owls quite regularly. Despite her interest in wildlife, she initially wanted to be a teacher.  She received her B.A.  in Communications/Creative Writing and an M.A. in Education. Her work as a field biologist began after she left the traditional field of teaching and began working as an environmental educator in a national park. During her free time, she volunteered to help the park biologists to learn as much as she could. She later worked  as an environmental educator in different national parks and wildlife refuges from Alaska to Arizona, and continued to spend her free time with the biologists helping in any way that she could.  In 2000 she was hired as a hack site attendant on The Peregrine Fund’s Aplomado Falcon release project and she was hooked! She quit her job with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and worked part time with The Peregrine Fund, doing surveys and helping supervise the falcon releases. After three seasons, and an additional winter working on the California Condor project, she became a full-time employee with The Peregrine Fund and was lucky enough to be able to go to Panama to work on the Harpy Eagle and Orange-breasted Falcon conservation programs. She currently manages the Hispaniola Project. 

Gabby was born and raised in Santo Domingo. As a child, she traveled the island with her parents. She grew up loving the mountains and was very curious about the animals that lived there but didn't have much knowledge about them. It wasn't until she grew up and started to immerse herself more in nature that she really started to feel a great connection with it and the natural space around her. She studied Hotel Management and in her third year, she realized that she really wanted to dedicate her time and knowledge to projects that were sustainable, such as sustainable tourism or projects that could leave a positive footprint on the planet. She first heard about the Ridgway’s Hawk Project in 2019 thanks to a photographer and conservationist friend. She began volunteering on the project and after 7 months, it was very obvious that she had fallen in love, not only with the species, but with birds in general. She feels very fortunate to be able to work on a project she is deeply passionate about, to be able to make a positive contribution to conservation in her home country.

Carlos grew up in a countryside located in the southern part of the central mountain range in the Dominican Republic; surrounded by forests, rivers, waterfalls and many birds. Having spent his entire childhood in the countryside,  he has always had a lot of appreciation and curiosity for nature in all its expressions, but especially birds. His first encounter with a Red-tailed Hawk occurred while he was playing in the river. The impression of seeing this imposing bird fly above him, sparked his interest and fascination with birds of prey early on. As a teenager he rescued a juvenile female American Kestrel named Kelly and this was how he discovered falconry. He came across the book “The Art of Falconry” by Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, and learned more about birds of prey, their biology, their care, the responsibility and ethics of the falconer. Though there were no other falconers in the country to mentor him, falconers in other countries provided guidance and shared their experiences, further encouraging his curiosity about raptors. Shortly after, he became a volunteer for the raptor rehabilitation program at the National Zoo, as a way of collaborating with the plight of birds of prey in the Dominican Republic. He passed his days between university classes and going out into the field to fly birds, looking for a balance between his academic training and being a falconer. At the zoo, he learned about the Ridgway's Hawk project and after several years as a collaborator, caring for some injured hawks, he officially became a part of The Peregrine Fund team. After more than a decade living with raptors, he is happy  to connect with people who have the same fascination for these species and assume the responsibility of preserving them.

Daniel "Henri" is a native of Sabana de la Mar, a community located on the outskirts of Los Haitises National Park. He currently leads a team of 3 field technicians in the region. 

"Pondo" was born and raised in the community of Los Limones, on the outskirts of Los Haitises National Park, the last stronghold for the Ridgway's Hawk. He has worked as a field techinician since 2015 and now leads a team of 3 biologists in the town of Laguna Cristal.

Estefany was born and raised in the town of Los Brazos. She began working on the Ridgway's Hawk assisted dispersal project beginning in 2019. She is currently living in Sabana de la Mar, another one of our project sites, working as a part time environmental educator. She is also in school to get her nursing degree. 

Kelvin hails from Laguna Cristal, a town on the edge of Los Haitises National Park. He has worked as a field techinican with our project since 2015.

Modesto "Samuel" Balbuena de la Rosa has been working on the Ridgway's Hawk Project the longest of nearly any other team member. He began in early 2000 helping to conduct the first surveys throughout Los Haitises National Park. He currently works as a field team member in Sabana de la Mar. 

Alberto is from the town of Sabana de la Mar and has been working as a biologist and climber as part of the Sabana de la Mar team since 2021.

Nicauris is one of our newest employees. She is from the town of Sabana de la Mar, on the edge of Los Haitises National Park - home to the extant population of Ridgway's Hawks. She works part time with us conducting educational activities in nearby communities.

Franklin hails from the town of Veron, about 10 minutes from our project site in Punta Cana. He started off as a part time volunteer on the project and in 2023, he joined our team full time.