Raptor Research

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.