Hawkwatching

rdf:langString Hawkwatching

rdf:langString Hawkwatching (sometimes referred to as hawkcounting) is a mainly citizen science activity where experienced volunteers count migratory raptors (birds of prey) in an effort to survey migratory numbers. Groups of hawkwatchers often congregate along well-known migratory routes such as mountain ridges, coastlines and land bridges, where raptors ride on updrafts created by the topography. Hawkwatches are often formally or informally organized by non-profit organizations such as an Audubon chapter, state park, wildlife refuge or other important birding area. Some hawkwatches remain independent of any organizing structure. The overarching goal of hawkwatch programs is to provide long-term data on regional raptor abundance to help track population trends through time. Many North American hawkwatchers contribute their count data to the Hawk Migration Association of North America at hawkcount.org, a nonprofit website that coordinates hawkwatching data. Data may also contributed to other platforms such as eBird.