Michael Stewart

MICHAEL THOMAS STEWART

PhD candidate • Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Expertise: Songbird & raptor banding, wildlife monitoring, telemetry studies, spatial analyses, demographic modeling, research dissemination

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

2022−2027 (projected) PhD | Wildlife and Rangeland Sciences
Texas A&M University-Kingsville – Kingsville, TX
Supervisor: Dr. Ashley M. Tanner
Dissertation title: Habitat use, population demographics, and migration ecology of Gray Hawks in
the southwestern United States
2019−2021 MS | awarded December 2021 | Biology | GPA: 3.91
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Edinburg, TX
Supervisor: Dr. Timothy Brush
Thesis title: Home range dynamics and juvenile dispersal of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
2017–2018 GCert | awarded May 2018 | Graduate Certificatein Geographic Information Systems | GPA: 4.00
North Carolina State University – Raleigh, NC
2012–2015 BS | awarded December 2015 | Fisheries and Wildlife Science | GPA: 3.63, cum laude
Oregon State University – Corvallis, OR
2011−2012 MBA | awarded October 2012 | Master of Business Administration | GPA: 3.76
Webster University – St. Louis, MO
2008−2009 BSAST | awarded September 2009 | Nuclear Engineering Technology | GPA: 3.60
Thomas A. Edison State College – Trenton, NJ
2001–2003 BS | awarded January 2003 | Human Resources | GPA: 3.13
New School University – New York, NY

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2006–2019 Chief of Public Affairs Plans and Operations for US Army South, United States Army (Additional positions held over 13 yrs)
1999–2006 Supply Officer for USS Pelican (MHC-53), United States Navy (Additional positions held over seven yrs)

PUBLICATIONS

2026 Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Singh A, Clark WS, and Millsap BA. 2026. Home sweet temporary home: Patch use by unpaired Gray
Hawks in a highly fragmented, rapidly changing landscape. The Journal of Raptor Research. doi:10.3356/jrr2510
– – –
2025 Stewart MT, Millsap BA, Pyle P, and Tanner AM. 2025. A systematic review of age at first breeding in diurnal raptors of the United
States and Canada. The Journal of RaptorResearch. doi:10.3356/jrr2542
2025 Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Millsap BA, and Clark WS. 2025. Exploratory Movements and Natal Dispersal of Gray Hawks
(Buteo plagiatus) in South Texas, USA. Biotropica. doi:10.1111/btp.70068
2025 Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Millsap BA, and Clark WS. In press. Habitat loss and the behavioral effects on a female Gray Hawk (Buteo
plagiatus) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Human-Wildlife Interactions.
– – –
2024 Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Bilodeau SA, Millsap BA, and Clark WS. 2024. A Gray Hawk’s response to wildfire in Santa Ana National
Wildlife Refuge. Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society.
2024 Stewart MT, Farese ER, and Clark WS. 2024. Gray Hawks reusing old nests, just not their own. Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological
Society.
– – –
2023 Stewart MT and Clark WS. 2023. Response to: Gray Hawk nest with five fledglings in South Texas. Bulletin of the Texas
Ornithological Society.
2023 Clark WS and Stewart MT. 2023. The interesting story of the oldest known Gray Hawk. North Bird American Bird Bander.
2023 Stewart MT, Pyle P, and Clark WS. 2023. Molt and body measurements for Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
Journal of Field Ornithology. doi:10.5751/JFO-00389-940410
– – –
2022 Stewart MT, Clark WS, Millsap BA, Bibles BD, and Brush T. 2022. Adult home range size and juvenile movements of Gray Hawks in
the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The Journal of Raptor Research. doi:10.3356/JRR-22-23
2022 Stewart MT and Millsap BA. 2022. Challenges adapting a backpack harness for use on Gray Hawks. The Journal of Raptor
Research. doi:10.3356/JRR-21-31
– – –
2021 Stewart MT and Clark WS. 2021. White-tailed Kites breeding during winter in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Bulletin of the Texas
Ornithological Society.

MANUSCRIPTS IN REVIEW OR PREPARATION

In Review Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Singh A, Millsap BA, and Clark WS. In preparation. Scale-specific habitat selection by Gray Hawks
(Buteo plagiatus) across life stages at the northeastern edge of their range.
In Prep Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Singh A, Millsap BA, and Clark WS. In preparation. Behavioral flexibility in Gray Hawks: Activity
rhythms and energetic costs across urban and thermal gradients.
In Prep Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Singh A, Millsap BA, and Clark WS. In preparation. Contrasting predicted suitability for breeding and
unpaired Gray Hawks (Buteo plagiatus) across their current and potential range at the northeastern edge of their distribution.

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP ROLES AND WORKING GROUPS

2025–present Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee for the Raptor Research Foundation
2023–present Membership committee for the American Ornithological Society

GRANTS, AWARDS, & SCHOLARSHIPS

2025 $2,000 USD South Texas Quail Coalition Scholarship
2025 $1,400 USD Alec D. Ritzell Memorial Education Scholarship
2024 $584 USD Texas Ornithological Society research grant
2024 $10,000 USD US Fish & Wildlife Service research grant
2024 $1,000 USD BioOne Ambassador Award https://bioonepublishing.org/our-work/2024-ambassadors/michael-t-stewart/
2024 $500 USD South Texas Quail Coalition Scholarship
2024 $1,300 USD C.R. and Rebecca Palmer Graduate Student Scholarship in Wildlife Management
2024 $5,000 USD The William Burnham Memorial Fund of The Peregrine Fund Project title: Investigating Migratory Patterns and
Population Dynamics of Threatened Gray Hawks in Texas
2023 $1,320 USD C.R. and Rebecca Palmer Graduate Student Scholarship in Wildlife Management
2023 $975 USD South Texas Quail Coalition Scholarship
2009 Performance Award: Thomas Edison State College’s Arnold Fletcher Award for exceptional achievement in independent learning
2002 Performance Award: United States Navy’s Master Training Specialist designation

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2025 Guest Lecturer
    Wildlife Management Techniques (RWSC 3310)
  Raptor trapping techniques
Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
2023    Guest Lecturer
Wildlife Management Techniques (RWSC 3310)
  Raptor trapping techniques
Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Kingsville, TX
2001−2003 Instructor
Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, Ballston Spa, NY
Engineering Laboratory Technician (NEC 9502)

DATA RELEASES

2026 Stewart MT. 2026. 2026. Data from: Study "Multi-Scale Spatial and Movement Ecology of Gray Hawks in a Fragmented Subtropical
Landscape". Movebank Data Repository. doi:10.5441/001/1.664
(Under a one-year embargo and will be publicly available in July 2026)

PEER REVIEW

Ornithological Applications (1)
Journal of Field Ornithology (1)
Journal of Raptor Research (2)
Ecosphere (1)
The Southwestern Naturalist (1)

SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

American Ornithological Society: Life member
Association of Field Ornithologists: Life member
Raptor Research Foundation: Life member
Western Bird Banding Association: Life member
Wilson Ornithological Society: Life member

PRESENTATIONS

Select oral presentations
2025 StewartMT, Tanner AM, Singh A, Clark WS, and Millsap BA. Home sweet temporary home:Patch use by unpaired Gray Hawks in
a highly fragmented, rapidly changinglandscape. 2025 Annual Meeting of the Raptor Research Foundation, October 2025.San
Jose, Costa Rica.
2024 Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Millsap BA, Smith JA, Ballard BM, and Clark WS. Habitat Use and Population Demographics of Gray Hawks
in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. 2024 Annual Meeting of the Raptor Research Foundation, October 2024. Charlotte, NC.
2024 Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Millsap BA, and Clark WS. Natal dispersal and age at first breeding of Gray Hawks (Buteo plagiatus) in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas. 2024 Annual Meeting of the Raptor Research Foundation, October 2024. Charlotte, NC.
2024 Stewart MT, Tanner AM, Millsap BA, and WS Clark. Habitat loss and the behavioral effects on a female Gray Hawk in south Texas.
60th Annual Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Meeting, February 2024. Houston, TX.

Select poster presentations
2022 Stewart MT, Clark WS, Millsap BA, Bibles BD, and T Brush. Adult home range size and juvenile movements of Gray Hawks in the
Lower Rio Grande Valley. 2022 Annual Meeting of the Raptor Research Foundation, October 2022. Fort Lauderdale, FL.

PRESS RELEASE, NONTRADITIONAL RESEARCH OUTLETS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH

Community presentations
2025 Coastal Bend Audubon Society. “Habitat use and population demographics of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.”
Corpus Christi, TX.
2024 The Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. “Raptor banding and hawk migration.” Kingsville,
TX.
2024 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension: Raptor Week. “Habitat use and population demographics of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande
Valley of Texas.” Virtual.
2024 Texas Ornithological Society. “Habitat use and population demographics of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.”
Weslaco, TX.
2023 Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. “Habitat use and population demographics of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of
Texas.” Harlingen, TX.
2023 Spring Chirp Birding Festival. “Home range dynamics and juvenile movements of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.”
Weslaco, TX.
2023 Hawk Migration Association of North America. “Home range dynamics and juvenile movements of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley.” Virtual.
2022 Arroyo Colorado Audubon Society. “Population demographics and habitat use of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.”
Harlingen, TX.
2022 Spring Chirp Birding Festival. “Home range dynamics and juvenile movements of Gray Hawks in the Lower Rio Grande Valley.”
Weslaco, TX.
2021 Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. “Home Range Dynamics and Juvenile Dispersal of Gray Hawks (Buteo plagiatus) in the Lower Rio
Grande Valley.” Harlingen, TX.

RELEVANT TRAINING

Home Range Estimation in R workshop attendee, Raptor Research Foundation 2024
Bayesian Modeling workshop attendee, Raptor Research Foundation 2023
Harnessing Raptors with Transmitters workshop attendee, Raptor Research Foundation 2022
Yellow Rails & Rice Festival Banding Workshop, Jennings, LA. 2017
Advanced Bird-banding Course offered by IBP, Wolf Ridge, MN. 2017
Advanced Ageing & Sexing Workshop with Peter Pyle, Point Reyes, CA. 2016
Advanced Bird Bander Workshop, Powdermill Nature Reserve, PA. 2016
Introductory Bird-banding Course offered by IBP, Hurricane Island, ME. 2016
Yellow Rails & Rice Festival Banding Workshop, Jennings, LA. 2015

PERMITS

2019−present Federal Bird Banding and Marking Permit (master permit), US Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory
2020−present State Scientific Permit for Research (salvage of wildlife authorized), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
2020−present Federal Migratory Bird Scientific Collecting Permit, US Fish and Wildlife Service
2024−present Scientific Activity License (salvage of wildlife authorized), Arizona Game and Fish Department
2024−present Scientific Collecting Permit (salvage of wildlife authorized), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish