Letter to Utah Congressional Delegation in support of maintaining and strengthening the Endangered Species Act
April 2017 My name is Paul Parker and I am the Executive Director of HawkWatch International. I am writing to you today to share my thoughts about the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and to urge you to ensure its continued viability and utilization as one of our country’s most important…
Raptor Fun Facts: Built-in Gyroscopes
Sponsored by Have you ever watched a raptor perched on a windy day, hover in the air or perch on an object that is unstable or wobbly? Next time you see one in this type of scenario, check out how their body moves back and forth while their head…
Injured Raptors: What to Do
Just as we were closing the office yesterday, we received a call from an individual who had watched a raptor collide with his office window. The bird was moving but seemed to have trouble with its wing, leaving the concerned citizen afraid that the hawk was seriously injured. Unfortunately it…
Gunsight Mountain, Alaska: 2017
March 7th marked the start of HawkWatch International’s second annual spring migration count at North America’s northernmost migration site: Gunsight Mountain, Alaska! Cold but clear weather highlighted the first few days of counting with temperatures reaching -4 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 Celsius), not an uncommon occurrence in interior Alaska this time…
Swainson's Hawk-like Rough-legged Hawks
We are approaching the time of year in western North America when late wintering Rough-legged Hawks and early arriving Swainson's Hawks can be present at the same time. Particular Rough-legged Hawk morphs can have heavy bibs with lightly marked bellies and appear very Swainson's Hawk-like. This fact reminded us of…
Citizen Science: No Experience Required
“Do I need a background in science?” she asked. A woman interested in volunteering visited our office last week with this question. She had recently had a mesmerizing experience where she watched raptors soaring overhead and was now looking for a way to get involved with our work. Among the…
Raptor Fun Facts: Bald Eagle's Bill
Sponsored by Have you ever noticed that a Bald Eagle's bill is much larger than a Golden Eagle's? The reason for this is likely quite obvious. Fish, of course, is the main diet of a Bald Eagle, and salmon is a part of that fish diet--a significant part in the…
Where Do Canadian Ferruginous Hawks Winter?
Blog by Jesse Watson In early October we blogged about the Ferruginous Hawk project one of our biologists has been involved with in southern Canada. At that time, we posted a map showing where Ferruginous Hawks tracked from their breeding ranges in Alberta and Saskatchewan were located along their fall migration…
Raptor Road Trip: Tracking Birds of Prey Across the American West
Three friends hit the road to follow hawks and golden eagles on their fall migration, and to collect valuable data that will help scientists understand the birds' ancient journeys. ...read the full National Geographic article Here By Charles Post PUBLISHED February 9, 2017 With outstretched talons, a lone golden eagle…
Combined Count Data Reveals Shifts in Hawks’ Migratory Behavior
Bird species’ distributions and migratory behavior are shifting in response to changes in climate and land-use, but surveys that focus on a particular season can cause scientists to miss trends in the bigger picture. A new study from The Condor: Ornithological Applications tackles this problem by combining Red-tailed Hawk counts…