TALONS OF HOPE
TALONS OF HOPE
Podcast Description
Talons of Hope is a global journey into the world of raptor conservation, bringing you inspiring stories, cutting-edge science, and the voices of those fighting to keep birds of prey soaring.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes of raptor conservation, ecological health, and cultural engagement, featuring episodes that cover specific topics like the saving of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle, the integration of Indigenous knowledge in conservation strategies, and community-led efforts to protect raptor populations. An example episode is the in-depth conversation with Dr. Jayson Ibanez discussing conservation methodologies and cultural collaborations in the Philippines.
Talons of Hope is a global journey into the world of raptor conservation, bringing you inspiring stories, cutting-edge science, and the voices of those fighting to keep birds of prey soaring.
What does it take to bring a national bird back from the brink? In this opening episode of our three-part Talons of Hope special on the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund's signature project in Mongolia, Dr. Andrew Dixon—the Partners for Raptors Lifetime Achievement Award honoree and MBZRCF’s Science & Conservation Director—tells the inside story of how an Abu Dhabi–driven vision became one of the most ambitious raptor conservation efforts of our time.
Long before the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund (MBZRCF) had a name, Abu Dhabi’s leadership backed a bold, practical idea on the Mongolian steppe: build thousands of safe, well-sited artificial nests; partner with herder families and schools; and invest in young Mongolian scientists to lead the future. Five thousand “barrels on poles” later, those nests turned into broods—lifting fledglings, strengthening communities, and restoring pride in a bird that is both Mongolia’s national icon and deeply cherished in the UAE.
Andrew takes us from his first day on the steppe to the data and decisions that scaled a handful of prototype nests into a country-level grid—proof that when science, community, and long-horizon support align, raptors recover.
In this episode, you’ll hear about
- How 5,000+ artificial nests went from concept to population-level impact
- Why early Abu Dhabi leadership (pre-2018) and later MBZRCF backing were decisive
- Partnerships with herder families as hands-on nest guardians
- School links between Mongolia and the UAE that turned kids into young conservationists
- The metrics that matter: occupancy, fledging rates, and the ripple effects on steppe ecology
- The pipeline of Mongolian early-career scientists now leading field seasons and research
“Hope sounds like fledglings calling from a barrel that didn’t exist five years ago.”
Guest
Dr. Andrew Dixon — Science & Conservation Director, MBZRCF; recipient of the Partners for Raptors Lifetime Achievement Award; two decades leading Mongolia’s Saker Falcon research and conservation.
Call to action
If this story moves you, follow Talons of Hope, rate the show, and share this episode. It’s the blueprint for scaling raptor conservation—one nest, one herder family, one young scientist at a time.
Produced by Talons of Hope in collaboration with Vision Aquila. 🦅
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.