New Content-wide Assessment of Raptor Population Trends
(Posted 2012-02-01)
A new report by the Raptor Population Index (RPI) Project shows that the majority of the 26 species of migratory raptors across North America are either recovering or in stable condition.

HMANA Research Award
(Posted 2011-12-01)
The HMANA Research Award supports field studies relating to raptor migration ecology and behavior, population monitoring, and conservation.

Hawkwatcher's Exchange forum
(Posted 2011-03-15)
A place where hawkwatch sites can post job notices for counters or volunteers or where counters can offer their services. It is also a forum for general raptor-related announcements and regional discussions

More news...

Links

Join in the fun and be part of a continental effort which directly supports raptor conservation, monitoring programs and your local watchsite.

Where is the best place in North America and what is the best date to find the most species of raptors in a single day? Raptorthon aims to find out, at least for the months of March, April and May. What is the maximum number of raptor species found in a single day in your state or province? Does anyone have a guess? Your participation in Raptorthon can help to answer these intriguing questions.

Who will find the most raptors in Texas, Pennsylvania, Connecticut? Hawk Migration Studies will have the answers. Raptorthon results by state and province will be published in Hawk Migration Studies.

Why should you participate in HMANA’s Spring Raptorthon?

Challenge yourself to find more raptors in a single day than you (or anyone?) has ever found before in your state or province.
It’s a fun time of year to get outside, count raptors and raise awareness of raptors and hawk watching everywhere.
Dollars raised can help support your local hawkwatch or another non-profit of your choice.
Raptorthon dollars will help to support and improve HawkCount.org, as well as the Raptor Population Index.
Raptorthon will also benefit HawkWatchFund, HMANA’s new program designed to provide grants to support hawkwatching and hawkwatch programs.
Your Raptorthon results will be posted in HMANA’s Hawk Migration Studies journal to compare with others across the continent.

New This Year! We are happy to announce that individuals or groups participating in Raptorthon on behalf of a Hawk Watch Site, and contributing net proceeds of at least $75 to HMANA and/or the HawkWatchFund will be eligible to sponsor their site’s pages on HawkCount, as a Raptorthon team. For details, click [HERE]. (And, of course, you and/or your hawkwatch organization are welcome to sponsor your site’s pages on HawkCount, regardless of whether or not you take part in Raptorthon).

Like Birdathon, Raptorthon is a sponsored Bird Count, but is focused on raptors.

Here’s how it works........

(1) Choose any ONE day from March 1 to May 31, 2012. Choose where you’d like to count; your local watch site, your backyard, or tour around anywhere to find as many species as you can. Choose to count by yourself, with friends, or as part of a team. Find as many raptor species as possible during that day (or include ALL bird species if you wish).
(2) Register with HMANA (either here online or by mail). Assign a percentage of your proceeds to a watch site or other conservation organization. Receive a free Raptorthon t-shirt for you and your teammates when you register!
(3) Find sponsors to pledge support for your Raptorthon either with a flat rate or at an amount for each raptor species and/or for each other species you find and identify (e.g. $2 for each raptor and 50¢ for other species). See HMANA website for how to find sponsors for your Raptorthon.
(4) Do your Raptorthon and enjoy yourself! Count for as few or as many hours as you like up to 24 hrs, it’s completely up to you.
(5) Report to your sponsors and collect your pledges.
(6) Send pledge money and a copy of your report to HMANA.
(7) HMANA will issue receipts to sponsors and distribute the money you assigned to a watchsite or conservation organization.
(8) All results will be presented in HMANA’s Hawk Migration Studies journal.

Sponsoring a participant or making a donation?

2012 Raptorthon materials:

Online Registration
OR
Raptorthon Registration Form (for printing and mailing)
Raptorthon Q&A
Pledge Coupon
How to find sponsors
Sponsor List form

Read about and support a participant in HMANA's 2012 Raptorthon:

To post your Raptorthon page here, please send it by email to Julie Brown.

Learn more about HMANA's new HAWKWATCHFUND!
Learn more about sponsoring a watchsite on HawkCount.org

Read reports from the participants in HMANA’s 2011 Raptorthon. They counted and had fun!

If you have questions or would like hard copies of the forms and instructions, please contact Julie Brown, HMANA Monitoring Site Coordinator at brown@hmana.org.