My name is Teresa Ely, and I've dedicated the past 20+ years to following my passion for raptors — studying, banding, counting, and educating others about their conservation. My work has taken me across the U.S. and into Mexico, where I've contributed to long-term migration monitoring and grassroots field research. But in 2024, everything changed. The trajectory of my research was abruptly disrupted, and I've since been working hard to rebuild.

From the peaks of mountain tops to the remote desert, raptor conservation has shaped every part of my life. Now, I'm focused on a species close to my heart, the American Kestrel, and I need your help.

American Kestrels are North America's smallest falcon, and like many raptors, they are in decline. I'm conducting fieldwork in Imperial County, California, near the Salton Sea — a vital region for overwintering kestrels. This project involves banding individuals, attaching Motus radio transmitters and GPS/cellular units to track their movements, and collecting data that can inform better conservation strategies.

Your donation will directly support the purchase of transmitters - Motus tags and GPS/cellular tracking units - as well as other critical fieldwork expenses like transportation and data management tools. These funds allow me to continue building a scalable research model for kestrel conservation in California and beyond.

In tandem with this project, I’m also launching the Golden State Kestrel Research Network — a collaborative effort to unite researchers, land managers, and community scientists across California to improve monitoring and protection of this charismatic falcon.

This is grassroots research: just one biologist, a few raptor colleagues, years of experience, a lot of love for raptors, and involving a community who supports research and science. Any contribution, no matter the size, brings me one step closer to protecting these incredible birds.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

-Teresa

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Every dollar donated will go directly toward this project and its research — including the purchase of tracking equipment, field supplies, data tools, and travel costs needed to complete this project during January and February 2026.

I’m committed to using all funds exactly as outlined here:

*An amazing group of friends completed a Raptorthon and have already raised funds for 5 tags out of the 20 tags! Thank you Team G Gateus Raptoralium!

When that is reached, I would like to purchase:

*You can donate $2,000 for this specific transmitter before the goal for the Motus Tags are reached. Just email me or leave a note with your donation.

If the goal is met for all the transmitters listed above ($14,050) , any additional donations will go to the following travel costs:

And then... if we have raised funds over that, we will purchase more Motus tags for our project in Northern California studying Kestrel juvenile dispersal in Modoc and Siskiyou Counties.

Every donation makes a difference! GoFundMe charges a small processing fee, but you’ll see an option at checkout to cover it. If you choose that option, your full gift will go directly to supporting this cause.

Feel free to email me with questions: goldenstatekestrelresearch at gmail.com.

I have started an Instagram account (@goldenstatekestrel) to highlight tagged birds, and future projects. I have also started a professional website where you can learn a little more about this work: Golden State Kestrel Research Network