Raptor Research

Please join us as CVWO prepares to celebrate the 1 Millionth hawk to pass the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch! The Hawkwatch began in 1977 with volunteers and since 1995 the Observatory has hired seasonal staff to count and provide education to the public.

Based on our recent seasonal average of more than 18,000 sightings, the event should have occurred in the fall of 2022. The Hawkwatch starts in late August and it typically ends on November 30. We only needed 16,790 to reach our goal but we didn't meet that mark in 2022.

To celebrate, CVWO hosted the One Million Hawks Contest to predict the date and exact time that the 1 Millionth hawk will pass the hawkwatch platform at Kiptopeke Hawkwatch. Since we didn't reach that mark in the fall of 2022, we will plan to reach it in the fall of 2023! The contest includes fantastic PRIZES. Entries closest to the exact time will win from the generous prizes supplied and donated by partners and supporters!

Those that entered the contest for the Fall of 2022, will be contacted to place their new guess during the fall of 2023.

The rules are simple:

• 1 prediction per person sent via email or entry form
• Entry must include name, address and phone number
• If you are under 18, give the name and contact information of a parent or guardian
• No participation is allowed by CVWO Board members, advisors or staff

Prizes

Grand Prize

• Zeiss binoculars from Wild Birds Unlimited of Williamsburg and their Zeiss representative
  

Runner’s-up prizes:

• Hawk artwork and photos from Anna Stunkel, Karl Bardon, Jim Easton, Deborah Humphries and Steve Thornhill
• Hat, binocular strap and laminated hawk silhouettes from Hawk Migration Association of North America
• Membership or renewal package from American Birding Association
• Gift certificate to Buteo Books from Brian Taber
• Gift certificate from Backyard Birder of Williamsburg
• T-shirts from the Finch Research Network
• Hats, t-shirts and more from Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory
• And…what will we give to the lucky person who happens to be the first to see the 1 Millionth at
  the platform!?
  

Good luck everyone!

Sarah O'Reilly

Communications Specialist

cvwonews@gmail.com

CVWO conducts hawkwatches at Kiptopeke State Park on Virginia's Eastern Shore in the fall and at College Creek near Williamsburg during late winter and spring.

Since 1995, CVWO has conducted raptor research during fall migration at Kiptopeke State Park located on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Over this time, raptor populations have declined due to habitat loss, pesticides, and other factors. CVWO's research contributes to international databases, scientific insight and the preservation of these magnificent birds of prey. 

In the opening aerial scene of the video above, you can view the migratory route taken by 14 recorded species of raptors over the bottleneck of land that funnels the birds toward the Hawkwatch platform. There, CVWO biologists record information that is shared internationally with science databases like Hawkcount.org. 

A multi-authored scientific paper on the state of the world’s birds of prey and owls was published in September 2018 in Biological Conservation. According to the research, 18% percent of raptors are threatened with extinction and 52% of raptors species have declining global populations. Scroll down to see this season's Hawkwatch data as it was recorded onto the new Dunkadoo technology from the platform at Kiptopeke. 

VISITORS TO THE HAWKWATCH PLATFORM ARE ALWAYS WELCOME!

KIPTOPEKE

The Kiptopeke fall Hawkwatch was established by volunteers in 1977, and has recorded nearly 1,000,000 hawks and vultures of 19 species.  Experienced Hawkwatchers are hired each year to conduct the Hawkwatch, from September 1- November 30, assisted by a corps of dedicated volunteers. Visitors are always welcome. Hawkwatches are an excellent way to monitor population trends and promote conservation. A majority of hawk species in North America are showing declining numbers. It is one of the best places in the world to see migrating Merlins and Peregrines, with daily records of 462 and 364, respectively. To see Kiptopeke hawkwatch date, click this link: www.hawkcount.org.

COLLEGE CREEK

The annual College Creek Spring Hawkwatch, on the shore of the James River near Williamsburg, was established in 1997 and records an average of nearly 2,000 hawks and vultures each year. To see hawkwatch data, click this link: www.Hawkcount.org

Visitors are always welcome at Kiptopeke State Park to help us find birds and to learn about the amazing hawk migration. The hawkwatch operates daily, weather permitting, from September 1 through November.

Read about Hawkwatch in our newsroom here and our blog here.

Dunkadoo. It’s an unusual name. According to technology company's website, the Dunkadoo is an old New England term for the American Bittern and the name of a non-profit that has developed software tools for professional hawkcounters and other research scientists. The aim is to collect data, download, and share it using the global reach of the Internet, while saving valuable time for our hawkcounter at the end of a long day.  Using Dunkadoo our CVWO hawkcounter will enter data on a Galaxy tablet throughout the day which will automatically download to a customized web page on the Dunkadoo site. The data is used to create colorful charts, and graphs, which can be used for education and public outreach. The tool will also auto-submit the CVWO data to www.hawkcount.org. With this new tool CVWO can share our hawk watch data with a global community. We are excited to begin the fall hawk migration season with our returning hawkcounter, Anna Stunkel, and this great new tool!